The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-03-24
URGES ADOPTION Of THE
NEW SCHOOL UNIT PLAN

by M D. SlJNo.
Oregon's new school district law au-
thorzed by the passage Of House Bill
No, 215 is characterized by prominent
educators and editors as the best school
district law in the United States.
There was a time many years ago
when the little old red school house"
served the purpose of the then isola-
ted communities very well, and there
are some who think it is still good en-
ough.
4 The demand for secondary education
was for many years supplied by relig
ious and private academies, but these
were in the main fee schools and did
not serve all the people. Then came
slowly but surely the free public high
school For awhile these were mostly
located in towns and cities, but the
consolidation idea has been developing
and there are many rural high schools
small proportion of the children Of the
land especially those in the rural COM
munities are adequately served; this
condition being due principally to poor
housing and equipment, unframed
teachers and lack Of funds Every child,
poor or rich, city or rural, should have
an equal chance, under equal conditions
to get an education that will make him
first class citizen, able to satisfactor
lily perform the ordinary political dut-
les of civil life; make him economic
ally independent-self and
so train him that he will know how
to spend his leisure time profitably
without interfering with others,
The idea back of the new law is to
supply these equalizing conditions and
influences, to raise the standard of rur-
al education, and to secure efficient SUI
pervision of the same.
This act applied to Morrow county
would put all the schools of the county
under the jurisdiction of the county
board of five members. Since there is
would be Heppner, that would have 500
pupils on the census, If they have
they would be town district and
would retain their present organiza-
tion. All the other schools would be
under the county board. The theory is
that it Is far easier to secure from
the county five very able men than
| 150 or more as at present required
The county district board assumes con-
| troll of all school property and all in,
debtedness against the same. within
| the district The first county board
would be made up of five chairmen of
existing boards and at the next an
nual election new board would be
elected. There would be a regular
meeting place.
The duties of the new board would
| be:
To employ a school clerk, fix his com
schools, fix his term Of office and com
pensation including necessary thavel.
ling expenses, present superintend.
ents would serve out their terms)
To employ a school clerk fix his com.
pensation. bonds, etc.
To employ all necessary assistant su.
perintendents, supervisors, teachers
janitors, and assistants and fix their
compensation.
To lease and build school houses, buy
and lease lands for school purposes
furnish all supplies, etc,
To prepare annual budget, levy taxes
make annual printed report to tax pay
ers, consolidate schools and arrange
for transportation Of pupils, fix tuition
and determine boundaries to be serve,
by each school house. etc.
1t will be seen that provision is mad
for efficient supervision of all schools
that consolidation will be encouraged
that economy in management and II
the purchase and distribution of sup
plies will be secured, and that TIL
blanket tax covering the whole count,
will lessen the tax for rs per cent o
the districts, which are now paying l
to 20 mills or more. Umatilla count
has figured that six mill blanket ta
will supply all the money now require
to run the schools Even the increase
Supervision charge would not raise tn
tax more than two mills
other features Of bill allow for tn
!, election of local school committee c
three the same as now. (Preser
boards serve until the next annual 81
ection) This committee cares for th
school property, determines its use fo
l civic purposes visits the school (sam
!, as now) reports to the superintendent
$ the progress and needs of the schot
{ and wishes Of the people concern!n
I same, and recommends improvement
ITnptinnaI ~, pnun