Western Oregon University - Yearbook (Monmouth, OR)

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'7 '1', 4,? Year 1922 OREGON NORMAL SCHOOL Page 15 uniform eighth grade examinations, and state library law. He wrote Oregonis compulsory school law, secured a minimum term of six months of school, and a county school levy of eight dollars per capita. His contribution to the educational up-building in Oregon was a large one and in my judgment will never be equalled by any successor in the office in which he, served with such distinguished success. In every schoolroom and in every schoolhouse in the state there is today an echo of good which Mr; Ackerman did for the citizens of Oregon. BEN W. OLCOTT. Governor. Acknowledgement 2t x HEN John H. Ackerman accepted the presidency of the Oregon N ormal School, he brought to it a ,wide'experience, mature judg- ment and an undivided interest. He was one to whom his work was the first law of life. i L In all his associations with his co-workers, he has emphasized, that the best one had to give, was the only thing one was justified in offering to the normal. All associated with him in the interests of the school, stood behind President Ackerman in any issue which arose, certain that the question was vital to the good of the school, that every, angle of the situation had been examined, and that all concerned would be given his .due. Was it a policy that created in the heart of each member of the faculty the assurance that President Ackerman was particularly inter- ested in the success of his department? As the head of the house he rejoiced in the individual achievement of each one. itThat a house united, stands? has always been one of the tenets of our faith, as a school. In difficulties we never failed of support or advice which met the immediate need. As one member of the faculty once said, ilPresident Ackerman always helps you out of a hole, even if it is your own fault you are in it? Somehow he always understood how one happened tobe in the hole. - A man who embodies high ideals and such complete dedication to a cause is always an inspiration; when he combines breadth of vision with unusual ablity for practical detail, he becomes a creative force; when, in addition, he possesses the understanding heart which wins and holds the love and respect of his associates, such a man leaves a memory which will stand for all time. The Oregon Normal School, with her ideals and standards, is his material monument. The work of her students is, and will be a memorial which has no limitations, because it is a memorial of the spirit.

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Page 1.4 OREGON NORMAL ,SCHOOL Year 1922 I President of the Normal AM GLAD to have an opportunity to express, publicly, my appre- ciation of the remarkable work which Mr. J . H. Ackerman accom- plished for education in Oregon in the positions of State Superin- tendent of Schools and president of the Oregon Normal School. I know that Mr. Ackerman had been a factor in educational life and in the lives of his students as a teacher in Portland for many years and as a county superintendent, but I never knew him until after he became State School Superintendent. - Mr. Ackerman came to the normal school at a time when it was necessary to formulate a policy for normal training in Oregon, as the many inadequate schools had been discontinued and the school which was reopened, was to be planned on new lines. Mr. 'Ackerman brought to this normal school work a wide knowledge of school affairs, keen interest in schools and in teaching as a profession, and the most sympathetic understanding of the Oregon situation. He visited normal schools thrOughout the country,'se1ected an excellent faculty, and created the Oregon Normal School which is now a monument to his sagacity, his public influence, his patience, and his tolerant sympathy with the people whom he was elected to serve. ' It was always a pleasure as a member of the Board of Regents to work with Mr. ,Ackerman. His Was the guiding spirit and his the vision which kept the board as a unit, full of enthusiasm for the school. The board was entirely sympathetic with the high professional and per- sonal standards established by its president. Mr. Ackerman,s great educational work in Oregon should be made a matter of public record, and the knowledge of it should be handed down to each generation of teachers in Oregon, that they may know who was the builder of the educational system in which they are privileged to serve. CORNELIA MARVIN, State Librarian. Educational Statesman R. ACKERMAN was Superintendent of Puplic Instruction from January 1, 1899, to January 1, 1911. At the time he began his first term, there was no state course of study and but two or three city systems followed a definite course. There were no high schools in the state excepting in Portland, Baker, Astoria, The Dalles and Ashland. Very few districts in the state levied a special school tax and the tax levied by each county did not produce sufficient funds to have more than three months of school in a majority of school districts. .. During his term of office he secured the enactment of the high school law, one requiring a uniform course of study for the elementary grades,

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OREGON NORMAL SCHOOL Year 1922 T6 PRESIDENT J. S. LANDERS This book is inscribed in grateful recognition of his services as leader, counselor and friend.