Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-07-10
A NEW YORK e

famous all over the United States. No
young state ever before achieved such
distinction in 50 short a time. The fol-
lowing correspondence, which explains
itself, is not only complimentary to the
state, but a very %flattering endorsement
of the sagacity and ability of the present
administration.
In May last the following letter was
received by Governor Burke from Col.
George T. Balch, auditor of the board of
education of the city of New York:
New YORK, May 9, 1891.
Hon. Andrew H. Burke. Bismarck, N. D.,
DEAR SIR: Some weeks ago my es-
teemed friend, MI. L.. w. Holsti, of the
Children's Aid society suggested that I
send you q copy of my little book on
Teaching Patriotism" 1 hesitated to
do so, however, as it looked too much
like forcing myself upon your attention.
On Thursday last at the exercises con-
nected with the presentation of the
"Rhinelander Memorial School" to the
Children's Aid society, on which occa-
sion the venerable president, Mr.. VIM.
A. Booth, presided, I was present and
was shown by Mr.. Booth your last letter
to Il think) Mr.. Holsti, in which you
spoke SO feelingly of what you owed to
this society. The tenderness, as we'll as
the manliness, of that letter, and the
manner in which your sentiments found
expression, so touched me that I at once
decided to send you my book, feeling
that, with the knowledge that I had read
V0rr 1offor -o,,1I o~~rooso%o tho
motives which prompted the act. the
book goes to you by mail; if received,
please accept it with my compliments
and my hearty good wishes for your fur
Their promotion and continued prosper
ity.
For nearly five years I have been very
greatly interested in our tenement
house problem" and two years ago wrote
q history of it's growth and social effect
for the last fifty years. Out of my study
OF this subject grew my pres
n interest in our public
school system and particularly my
interest in the work and aims of the
Children's Aid society. Very early in
my investigation of the subject of the
bearing of education on the tenement
house system, my attention was directed
to the relation of public education to
patriotism and good citizenship, and in
connection with thus part of my subject,
in January and February, 1889, I made a
most thorough and critical examination
of the twenty-one schools of the society
and through this inspection the acquain-
lance of that noble mar Mr. Holsti.
If you will read the preface of my
book you will find there the result of
that examination set forth, and also an
outline of what I am ~endeavoring to do,
in the way of assisting the teachers of
the society in the great work in which
they are engaged. Last fall I undertook
to compile what I call "a consensus of
the opinions of state superintendent of
public education and of other public
men On teaching patriotism in the public
schools, together with the school statis-
tics of the several states"-my labors on
this work Ehave brought me into colrss-
pondence with all the superintendent
Of public instruction throughout the
United States and I have necessarily
collected a good many volumes of their
reports and other educational literature
of the day. My correspondence with the
educational officers of your state has
been an exceedingly pleasant one, and I
have found the people of North Dakota,
as indicated by the character of the leg,
lslature and the laws, not only among
the very foremost as regards their inter-
est n public education, but I can truly
say OF Professor Ogden, your present
superintendent, that by his manner of
discharging his great trust and IN his
official utterances he has shown himself
to be one Of the most advanced, as we'll
as one OF the most experienced and prac-
tical educators of his time.
The "course OF study" he has planned
and recently published for the use OF
your schools, is really far in advance of
anything I have found in use in other
states. He is the first educational exec
utive to recognize in his official curri-
culum the great Importance of training
our children in patriotism and good
citizenship, and while several OF. his CO.
workers in the same field have voiced the
Importance of recognizing these subjects
IN the schools, he is, rs far as my know
ledge goes, the first state superintendent
who has given practical form and value to
these opinions through the machinery of
the teachers institute. I say this with a
considerable knowledge of what has been
and is being done in other states and
hence do not hesitate to assert that to
Professor Ogden's profession II skill and
ability, North Dakota owes it, that to-
day, in the verylheyday of her youth, she
is found in the front rank of the states as
regards the great question of employing
the best methods for the public educa.
ton OF her children. While I am conf
dent that no n appreciates more fully
than yourself the Importance Of the du-
ties of state superintendent of public
instruction., or that the present
incumbent fulfls every promise
his friends may have made regarding his
eminent fitness for his office, I feel sure,
nevertheless, that the knowledge of the
facts l have here presented will prompt
you to give even a more hearty support
to his efforts and promote more earnest
ly than ever the grand work he has 80
auspiciously begun.
| a offer no better evidence of my
opinion of the value of his services in the
cause Of public education than the fact
that | have asked him to-day to send me
a sufficient number of copies of his
"Course of Study" that I might put a