High School Legislation In Oregon 217 books had been selected for some high school subjects, in addition to those chosen for the grammar school branches. The following appears among the Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Education printed in 1874 : "In high schools and other schools of advanced grade, the following named studies together with such others as the directors may prescribe may be taught in addition to those above mentioned (the common school branches), to- wit: Higher Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, General History (Advanced), Composition, Physiology, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany, Bookkeeping, and Science of Government (optional)." 28 For twenty-six years this regulation stood unchanged except for the addition of Hygiene and Vocal Music in 1887, 29 Astronomy and Geology in 1891, 30 and Latin and Physical Geography in 1900. 31 This meager statement at least gave official sanction to any efforts by school boards to establish high school grades. However, the state sup- erintendents as well as other educators of the state real- ized that, if a system of high schools was to be built, it must be founded on something more substantial than the regulation of a state board. State Superintendent Irwin voiced the general sentiment of school men in the follow- ing recommendation to the legislature in his biennial re- port of 1898 : "The law should be so amended and made definite in its statements that any city or town may be authorized to establish a regular high school, of four grades or less, providing the legal voters vote to establish the same and will vote the estimated amount to sustain such a school
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28Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Ore- gon. 1874. p. 34. . _ 29 Seventh Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Oregon. 1887. p. 24. . 30 Ninth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction ot Oregon. 1891. p. 146. 31 Fourteenth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion of Oregon. 1900. p. 69. 32 Thirteenth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion of Oregon. 1898. p. 228.
