Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/172



162 JOHN C. ALMACK

In 1917, a law was passed authorizing districts to use public schools for training school purposes. This measure was en- acted to make it possible for Monmouth to utilize the public school at Independence, two miles from the normal. About 180 pupils were added by this arrangement, making a total of about 400 pupils in the training school.

The report of a visiting committee of the legislature on the training school facilities at Monmouth has been referred to. Notwithstanding the adverse account, $50,000 was set aside for a new training school building. This building was con- structed in 1915. It is unique in that the designers had a specific purpose in mind: that of providing a model training school. It has valuable original features in arrangement of rooms and of equipment.

Two other improvements have been made in the way of buildings. One is a new assembly hall completed in 1917, capable of seating 1,000 people. The other is a new dormitory for women, built at a cost of $50,000. This accommodates 120 students, is beautifully and tastefully furnished, and well equipped. Adjacent to it has recently been built a small house known as the senior cottage. This building was paid for from surplus funds in the dormitory budget.

The year that the legislature made provision for the rejuve- enescence, of Monmouth, a law was approved that is of great significance to the development of normal schools. This was the elementary teachers' training act. By this law a normal training course may be given in any high school in the state, provided the enrollment in the class is not fewer than eight. On the completion of the two year course, a certificate good for two years entitling the holder to teach in any rural school or elementary grade in the state is issued. Nearly all the accredited or standard high schools of the state offer this course. The high school has thus become a competitor of the normal.

In 1913 Monmouth asked the legislature to make an appro-