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ities in the new districts that are being organized from time to time. All the difficulties, however, in the way of an efficient and permanent school system, will be removed only when we have secured a large number of people, thus making our school districts more populous and bringing the boundaries within smaller compass.

SCHOOL CENSUS.

The annual census made by school clerks in 1887, gives an enrollment of 87,217 persons who drew public school funds. The census completed March 5, 1888, gives an enrollment of 86,574, a decrease in one year of 643. It would appear from this that our State is on the decline rather than advancing. This is not correct; on the contrary it is well known that in addition to the natural increase in the State, the immigration from March, 1887, to March, 1888, was large. and in the major portion of it permanent. The decrease appearing above, therefore, is not real. The new law controlling the census report was approved February 17, 1887. Prior to that time the methods adopted in making the annual census returns were exceedingly careless and reckless.

It was not uncommon for children to be enrolled in two districts, and in some instances in three. The new school law requires each clerk to enroll for school purposes all persons in each district over four and under twenty years of age. This census must contain the ames and ages of all children of the school ages mentioned above, and shall also contain the names of all parents and guardians resient in the district. This enumeration is to include all youth who, at the time of taking such enumeration, actually dwell or have their home in the district. Whether such youth constitute a part of the family of their parents or guardians, or are in good faith and for a continuance of time, hired to labor or service in a family actually residing in such district. If a youth is staying temporarily in the district, and whose actual residence is in another district, such youth cannot be legally enumerated, but the temporary residence of a family in a district, if such family, at the time, have no other esidence, shall not exclude the children actually living in and elonging to such family from the enumeration. A youth can be gally enumerated in but one district, and that is the district in which he actually resides. The annual census is to include all children (whose parents or guardians are residents of the district) that are absent attending institutions of learning. The census must not include children who are attending benevolent institutions, as

deaf and dumb, blind and orphan asylums, in the district, but whose parents or guardians do not reside therein. The clerk must visit each home residence or place of abode in his district, and, by actual observation and interrogation enumerate the children of the

same.

The good results arising from the application of this law are apparent the first year. Fictitious results are no longer possible The school population now advancing public money is not an exag geration, but substantially and correctly represents the number of children entitled to draw a pro rata share of the district, county and State school fund apportionments.

COUNTY SUPERVISION.

There is too little importance attached to the office of county superintendent. In some counties, under the present system, it is a mere nominal office, and if the electors would exercise the same care which they take in electing other officers, the office would become a position of strength and value in our school system.

The office should be dignified and the officer encouraged by a salary sufficient in amount so that a person qualified to fill the place should devote his entire time to the work. In some districts the people seem to think that the education of their children is a matter of secondary importance and mistaken ideas prevail relative to real and true school economy. In such places there is no interest whatever in the work of supervision, and no encouragement ever comes from this direction. This lack of interest and appreciation on the part of school patrons must certainly tell against the advancement and promotion of sound and continuous educational development. The duties of the county superintendent, if well performed, are of wide range and great importance. He is required to be ever on the alert to discover new and better methods of instruction and management; he is called upon to examine critically the work in the several schools and to use his best influence in every possible way to improve the general school work. The office of school superintendent is, and has always been a potent factor for good in the best public school systems of the United States. There never has been a period in the history of public schools in Oregon when there was needed for their successful management and supervision more vigorous work and enlarged experience than the present. Our commer cial interests and internal improvements are rapidly developing and our school work should keep abreast of this advancement. This is

the demand of the hour, a point of needed advance and may be secured by a proper, wise, just and active supervision of our schools. It will require all the time, strength, ability, best thought and most studious care and attention of our county superintendents. For all this, they should be paid a living salary.

TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS AND CERTIFICATES.

The new law relative to teachers' examinations and certificates, approved February 21, 1887, is as follows:

In each county there shall be a board of county examiners composed of the county superintendent, who shall be ex-officio chairman. of the board, and two competent persons, who shall be appointed by the county superintendent, and shall serve one year from the time of their respective appointments, and each member of said board shall receive for his services the sum of three dollars per day for the time actually employed in conducting the quarterly examinations hereinafter provided for. The board, two of whom shall constitute a quorum, shall hold quarterly examinations, commencing at noon on the last Wednesday of each of the following months, viz.: February, May, August and November of each year, at such places as may be designated by the county superintendent (who shall give ten days' notice of all examination), publicly examine such persons proposing to teach in the public schools of the county as to their competency to teach the branches prescribed by law; and such board of examiners shall issue certificates as hereinafter provided to all such applicants as shall pass the required examination and satisfy the board as to their good moral character and ability to teach and govern schools successfully; provided further, that the time hereinbefore stated for the commencement of the quarterly examinations of each year shall be absolute and uniform in each and every county in the State. Boards of examiners shall be paid for their services as provided for in this Act, which claims for services shall be certified to by the board of examiners and audited by the county court, who shall order warrants drawn quarterly upon the general fund of the county. Certificates issued by the county board of examiners shall be of three grades-first, second and third, and shall continue in force respectively two years, one year, and six months, as follows: Certificates of the first grade shall not be issued to persons under eighteen years of age nor to such as have not taught at least twelve school months with approved success. Certificates of the first grade shall certify that the person to whom

issued is proficient in and has passed satisfactory examination in the branches required by law; provided, that persons who rece first grade certificates shall make a general average of not less th ninety per cent. of all questions asked, and in no case shall a p son receive a certificate of the first grade who shall fall, bel seventy per cent. in any one branch. First grade certificates sh be valid only throughout the county where given, and must issued at the quarterly public examination; provided, that a fi grade certificate valid for two years may be renewed by the coun superintendent by and with the consent of the county board examiners for two years longer upon the payment of a fee of t dollars and fifty cents to the superintendent, which fees shall paid by him to the county treasurer and shall be credited to t general fund of the county. The superintendent shall receipt: all moneys received and shall take receipts for all fees paid into t county treasury, which receipts shall be kept on file in the office the superintendent. No first grade certificate shall be renewed mo than once without re-examination.

Ninth Certificates of the second grade may be issued to perso of not less than seventeen years of age, who have taught successful not less than three school months, and who shall fully satisfy t examining board as to their ability to teach all the branch required by law; provided, that persons receiving second gra certificates shall make a general average of not less than eigh per cent. in all the branches prescribed by law, and in no case sha a person receive a second grade certificate who falls below sixty p cent. in any one branch. All second grade certificates must obtained at public examinations and shall not be issued to the san person more than twice, and then only upon re-examination. tificates of this grade shall not be renewed, and shall not be val out of the county where given. Certificates of the third grade sha be valid only throughout the county in and for which they we granted for six months, and must be obtained at public examin tions; provided, that persons who receive a third grade certifica shall make a general average of not less than seventy per cent. all branches required by law, and in no case shall a person recei a third grade who falls below forty per cent. in any one branc Certificate of the third grade shall not be renewed, and shall not issued to the same person more than once. A fee of one doll: shall be charged for each certificate obtained at the public exam nations, which fees shall form a fund to defray the expenses teachers' county institutes. All fees received for certificates at pu

lie examinations shall be receipted for by the superintendent and shall be paid by him to the county treasurer, taking his receipt therefor. All fees received from this source by the county treasurer must be credited to the county institute fund. Temporary certificates or permits may be granted by the county superintendent on examination in case of necessity, valid only in the county where issued, and valid only until the next regular public quarterly examination thereafter held by the county board of examiners; provided, that no such temporary certificates or permit shall be granted more than once to the same person, nor to an applicant who failed in examination at the last regular public examination held by the county board of examiners. The county superintendent shall charge a fee of two dollars and fifty cents for each and every examination for a temporary certificate or permit, in advance, which fee shall be paid by him to the county treasurer, taking his receipt therefor, and which shall be credited to the general fund of the County. In lieu of the fees heretofore received by the county superintendent from fees for teachers' certificates he shall receive annually the sum of two dollars and fifty cents for each and every district in his county making the usual annual report as required y law as set forth in section 42 of the school laws, which amount shall be allowed and ordered paid out of the general funds of the County by the county court.

The reports from the county superintendents give assurance that the demand for enthusiastic, progressive teachers is rapidly growing in all parts of the State and that this growth is the immediate result of the new law. Teachers generally are awakening to the importance of their work, and each term shows an improvement over the previous one. They are displaying greater interest in their profession, adopting better methods of instruction, and striving for higher grades of certificates and for better and higher attainments in the branches and text books in which they are giving instruction. The number of first-class teachers falls far short of the demand, and, while the number is gradually increasing, under the new law, still it is not so large as the public school interests require. There is a tendency among school directors in some districts to employ cheap teachers, claiming that their schools are not advanced and third grade teachers who will work for very little salary will do just as well in their schools as those holding higher grades and more competent in management and experience. This is a great mistake. In such cases the fact is not recognized that the continual employment of low-grade teachers produces poor schools. Another result

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