Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/106



96 JOHN C. ALMACK

Oregon's. Washington, a much younger state, supports three normals, has an enrollment nearly six times as great, employs six times as many teachers, and devotes ten times as much to the maintenance of the teacher training schools. Yet the population of the northern state is only one and three-fourths times that of Oregon. So far as California is concerned it excels Oregon in normal school education to such an extent that there is really but little value in the comparison. The population of the former state is about two and one-half times that of Oregon; but its normal school enrollment is twelve times as great, it expends twenty times as much, and has ten times as much equipment. In 1916 Oregon had 146 graduates from its normal school ; California had 1960. These statistics show that the three western states considered lead Oregon in the preparation of teachers, though the development of the states themselves (in the case of Washington and Idaho) has been more recent than that of Oregon. 2

What are the reasons for these differences? Does Oregon have an adequate supply of well-trained teachers? Is the experience of Oregon in relation to normal schools an unique one, or has it parallels in the history of other states? What light does the history of normal school education in the state throw upon the problems of education that must be solved in the present? These are some of the practical questions in- volved in a study of normal school history and present con- ditions.

Regarding the qualifications of teachers and the number required, the facts are these : 3

Grade of certificate Male Female Total

Life 359 1269 6173

Five year 187 726 913

One year 525 2692 3217

Special Ill 140 251

County and City 4 5 9

Temporary 47 128 175**

2 Report of state superintendent 1917.

3 Report of state superintendent 1917.

vailing teacher shortage.
 * Many more temporary certificates are in force now on account of the pre-