Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/243

 High School Legislation In Oregon 221 only leader in the legislature who could be depended upon to subject every other interest to that of the public schools. Without his leadership, the development of pub- lic high schools in Oregon would have been greatly de- layed. Immediately at the close of the 1899 session, the new state superintendent began a two years' campaign of edu- cation for high schools. He spoke for high schools at county teachers' institutes, at commencement programs and in private conversation. He urged others to talk about high schools, particularly teachers. When the legis- lature met in January, 1901, he and his close friends in the legislature were still in doubt as to the attitude that body would take toward a high school law. 37 With Dr. William Kuykendall, he had prepared a general school code including a high school clause. However, fearing that some of the legislators would be antagonized by the term, "high school," it was decided to substitute for it, "grades above the eighth grade." This section was as follows : "When one-third of the legal voters of a district shall petition the district board, requesting that grades above the eighth grade may be taught in such district, or when- ever the district board shall in its discretion think proper, it shall give twenty days' notice previous to the annual school meeting, or previous special election called for that purpose, that it will submit the question to the legal vot- ers of said district whether grades above the eighth grade shall be taught in such district, at which election the electors of the district shall vote by ballot for or against establishing such grades. All notices contemplated in this section shall be given as all legal notices of special school meetings. After said election the ballots of said question shall be canvassed by the district board, and if a majority of all the votes cast shall be in favor of estab- lishing such grades, it shall be the duty of the district board to establish such grades and determine what 37 The statements regarding Mr. Ackerman's activities in behalf of high school legislation is based on his public addresses and on many personal conversations with him.