The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-12
Aggregate for public education
(1,74e,5R@

:. The report will decidedly favor and defend
ne township system % opposed to the district
plan. The experience Of twenty months justi-
hes this. The practice under no law is perfect
but tho condition is far better in counties
where this system has been in operation than
It was in tho same under the district plan. It
has handled public money and made report of
II responsibility, point never before reached in
Dakota school AFFAIRS 1t has improved the
character Of the schools; promoted economy;
out increased taxation; has greatly increased
the credit Of school corporations; put the
management of schools into more capable
hands; relieved the counties Of local quarrels
over district boundaries; given to all the people
more equal and uniform school advantages,
the great object Of any law, and enabled the
people to plan permanently and cooperate In
one community without need Of future divis-
ions; distributes school houses more equitably
having never too many, and generally applies
the public money and directs the public enter
prise in educational matters in q more fair,
people. The exceptions to this in few To-
cailties reston neglect and violation Of the law.
few Inconvenience amendments will meet.
Section Sc of the law which places money
received from saloon licenses and fines in tho
county school fund mot opposition in Cass,
other counties, while great majority of the
counties seem to favor it Theincovenience to
some suggests the necessity Of adding . pro-
viso to that section that will turn all such mon
eys IN those counties into the county general
fund, as the best solution Of the question.
Indeed, extraordinary care will be taken.
Last spring committee Of the ablest county
superintendents was appointed to cooperate
In this work Several meetings and much cor
respondence have been devoted to the subject
The labor is not completed The main feat
MT fvNfN s11.v
school corporations and their boards. will re-
main, but various details will be better ad-
justed to practical needs and experience.
Great effort will be made to give all the sub
jects of the law the most easy and systematic
order and arrangement, while the whole will
made for pay of school township officers.
The law is recommended to apply to all the
counties, and to this end it is suggested that
provision permit, in some old counties, differ
emit boundaries for school townships and civil
townships. This will enable the accommoda-
ton of school township boundaries more easily
to existing boundaries ndschool houses. The
report urges that in the old counties all pres
emit districts must be modified and divided in .
few years, especially with the growth following
statehood, and that no law and no officers can
do this with equal justice to all. In counties
need in few years about 800 school districts
each, with 500 officers, rendering it necessary
to keep account with and receive reports from
6OO Of them. This is much worse than useless,
and it will require GU different changes OF
boundaries to reach this result, in each coun-
wrong to considerable part
II the legislature decide to preserve district
organizations where they now are it is recon-
mended that tho complete law governing them
be separately printed for their use
Many have recommended that county super
int ku HoN nkNl
that all school elections for boards of education
% we'll rs in townships and districts occur on
the same day
The territory is SO large that one man can.
not look after it Several suggestions are made
to meet this. One is that the Assistant Super
intendent have exclusive Jurisdiction over
north Dakota, with separate appropriations
for institutes and other purposes. This would
be better for both. The pressure of duty has
prevented visit to the Black Hills This re-
quires month which could not BIO given to it
The subject of the school lands is discussed
should not be sold for less than from $50 to $50
an acre, but meanwhile leased and the rents
used to support schools; or that tho lands be
sold only for period Of thirty years at the end
Of which time the title ehould revert to the
state for school purposes. The point is made
adopted except in the constitution. States that
have trusted all to statutes and executive Off
GERS have lost the large part Of the fund Each
Dakota should have fifty million dollars per-
mAnent school fund.
A recommendation is made that a general and
uniform law be passed for all boards Of educa.
ton and that all such corporations report a. .
class separately. These arc some of the lead
ing features of the report
Pierre has purchased ten acres Of
! land for a cemetarv