Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/268



EDUCATION IN THE OREGON CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1857*

By IRA W. LEWIS

In considering the educational provisions in the Ore- gon constitution provided by the state convention in 1857, the readiness and the lack of opposition to the educational measures put forth makes it evident that the people of Oregon were prepared for the organization of a state educational system. A large number of the people who had emigrated from the central states 1 which had favored educational development, brought with them the same or similar ideas toward education. The condi- tions in Oregon, namely the sparseness of population and the difficulties of conveyance due to lack of roads, weather hindrances and the rough country, caused a slow varied progress, that was controlled by local conditions and group sentiment. The economic status in those pioneer days of the majority of people was not sufficient to aid materially in overcoming the natural handicaps. The progress as a result was retarded although the majority of the people were in favor of it. Some however, as shown by the editorial in the Oregon Statesman, 2 clung to the more conservative aspect and preferred the private schools to the public free schools.

The tendency toward better education became active in 1849 through Rev. G. H. Atkinson of Oregon City. Through his efforts a state school system was provided for, including a state superintendent of public instruc- tion, district trustees, methods of granting teaching cer- tificates, board of supervisors, irreducible school fund and a two-mill county tax. The development of Oregon received a big set-back on account of the discovery of gold in California which caused nearly half of Oregon's

University School of Education.
 * Prepared under the supervision of Dean H. D. Sheldon of the

1 Especially from Illinois and the adjacent states.

2 See Oregon Statesman, Sept. 29, 1857.