Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-04-25
County School Notes.
By Supt. N. G. Macdonald.

In preparing "School News and Notes"
the object will be to bring before school
officers and teachers matters OF special
interest to them and to the people
generally.
Until further notice, my Office days
will be Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The school population of Cavalier is
4O14. In this respect, it ranks sixth
among the counties of the state. Cass
heads the list, having 1925.
In looking over the sixth biennial
report, it is found that this county
leads in the number OF ungraded school
houses that were built during the past
school year, the number being II.
Walsh Is among the lowest having built
only one. On the other hand we have
the enviable record (?) OF having the
greatest number Of school grounds upon
which no trees are growing. A supsrin-
tendent in one OF the adjoining counties
took occasion to publish this in one of
the local papers there. 1t is to be hoped
that school officers and teachers will
remember this on the approaching
Arbor Day, and see il this record cannot
be given to some other county.
At present there are 1876 teachers
holding certificates in this county. OF
this number, four hold state certificates,
IA hold first grades, 80 seconds; and
the remainder thirds. Nine permits are
our which will expire on the last Friday
in May, 1901.
At the Fargo convention OF superin-
tendents held last month, four compile
ton examinations for common school
diplomas were agreed upon. Teachers,
encourage your pupils to complete the
common school course. Don't let them
fall by the way. If they finish that
course. the chances are that they will
not only complete the high scho course,
but the college as well.
Copies OF the state superintendsnt's
sixth biennial report are on hand.
Presidents OF school boards are entitled
to copy, and may secure one by calling
at this Office.
The course OF study is being mailed to
teachers as soon as the notice OF begin
ming school is sent in. It is mandatory
that the course be used and the schools
graded as outlined in the course ofstudy.
The course has been prepared at great
cost to the state, and its best educators
have assisted in it's preparation. 1t is
complete in every particular, and if
followed the efficiency OF the schools
can easily be doubled. This idea OF
having pupil in the sixth year in
reading, the third year in arithmetic,
and the first year in grammar, or some
thing like this, will not be tolerated by
the progressive and up-to-date teacher.
No excuse will be accepted at this office
from teachers for a failure to use the
course in the schools.
Monthly review questions are sent
| O1uCC vi vi dUOuC luc 1olA vi
each month. These questions are pre-
pared by the state superintendent and
are based upon each months work cut.
lined in the course. Ii the school is not
graded, those questions cannot be used
Teachers grade the papers and place the
standings upon the pupils report cards
and at a later date will report the re-
suit of each examination to this Office on
a blank prepared for that purpose
These mon hv examinations will sys.
tematize the work OF the district schools
and thus greatly increase their useful
ness. Other counties in this and other
states, are using them with much sue.
cess.
Under authority OF school laws 1899,
section GIL, uachers' associations have
been organized for this county. For the
present the county will be divided into
three districts, and will be known as the
Hannah, Langdon aud Milton. Teachers
living nearest those towns will be en-
rolled for that particular district Each
ASSOCIATION will meet at least one Sat-
urday in every two months. The pur-
pose OF these institutes or associations
is for normal instruction, the study OF
methods OF teaching. organizing. CLASH
flying, and governing schools. The first
sessions will be devoted to discussing
and studying the course OF study. These
monthly meetings are held regularly in
nearly all the counties in the state, and
while they will greatly increase the
work of this Office, vet it is felt that the
schools require such and that the time
spent in this way will be by no means
lost.
A teachers district association has
been appointed to be held at Milton on
Saturday. May 4th. At this meeting
the course OF study will come in for it's
share OF discussion. The following is