Western Oregon University - Yearbook (Monmouth, OR)

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1923 THE NORM . Aff, XT! I EOLA RURAL CENTER OAK POINT RURAL CENTER

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i ELKINS RURAL CENTER OJ O '-1 I FI WHON 61 SZ

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32 THE NoRM U 1923 Training Schools The Normal School in 1917 arranged with the rural schools of Elkins and Oak Point in Polk County, and Mountain View in Benton County, to become rural training schools for' students of the Normal. In 1921 Eola, and in the fall of 1922, Rickreall, became rural centers for this purpose, Mountain View and Rickreall are two-teacher schools, while each of the others has but one teacher. These teachers are the critics of all practice teaching in their respective schools. The first arrangement or plan of this work was to have student teachers work in the training school for a period of three weeks. One student began teaching the first Monday in the year and every Monday thereafter a new student commenced his training work, each student returning to regular class work in the Normal after three weeks in the rural center. However, with the growth of the Normal, new needs arose, one of which was a change in the plan of rural training. In the fall of 1921 a very satisfactory arrangement was instigated and as it was carried out proved much more practicable to all concerned in rural work. Now students go to the training school for periods of six weeks in groups of four or more. Nothing is left undone on the part of the critics, or the Normal School proper, through Mr. W. G. Beattie thead of all rural workl, to encourage each student to prove his worth as a teacher and a true citizen of the United States. The student leaves his rural training with a practical working knowledge with which to meet the problems of the teacher of today. ELKINS Have you ever caught the community spirit of Elkins? When school or neighborhood needs arise they are met courageously and effectively. Much new equipment has just been added to the school. That spirit is evidenced by an active rural Sunday School and a live Farmers' Union. This same attitude appears in the kindness and co-operation which have ever been shown the student teachers. One of the best homes of the center is opened as a boarding place. Comforts and conveniences are provided,-a place where the personality of a real home is ever present to inspire those whose work takes them there. . EOLA Eola, too, believes in doing things ! A more beautiful little spot on Oregon landscape is hard to find. Nearby are gentle, rolling hills of Polk County: at a distance flows the beautiful Willamette River. It is a place for the teacher to inculcaite nature-appreciation along with everyday subject matter. Here, too, we flnd excellent community interest. This was demonstrated recently by, the way in which the whole neighborhood turned out to witness a mock trial which was staged by the children on visiting day. Here we find the student teachers doing housekeeping in a private home. MOUNTAIN VIEW Mountain View, also, is a place which attracts our attention. Full of life and enthusiasm are the families of this community. To suggest the spirit of that particular feature of the center we might say, Mountain View once, Mountain View forever! Does the proximity of Mountain View to Corvallis have anything to do with it? '