The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-17
CONFERENCE TODAY
IS LARGELY
ATTENDED
Many High School Principals
From Over the State Are in
Grand Forks.

The annual conference of high
school principals of the state was held
this morning at the state university.
Almost all of the first and second class
high schools of the state were repre-
sented, and a number of principals of
smaller schools were also in attend
ance.
President Merrif1eld presided as
chairman of the conference and State
Superintendent Stockwe1l took his
usual place as secretary. A number
of university professors and students
were also present.
Every year a number of questions
come up relative to high school
courses and classification.
Questions of more pedagogical
nature are usually reserved for dis
cussion and settlement at the annual
meeting of the State Educational as
sociation.
The morning session opened with a
discussion of the high school course
in English. On motion of Superin-
tendent Berg of Dickinson commit
tee was appointed to revise the course
in English and to report to the high
school board at such time as it should
require. A subsequent motion to
make four years of English constant
and compulsory in first class high
schools was lost by vote of 10 to 8.
The next important matter taken up
was that of giving proper recognition
to commercial work, that is. training
in business methods and practice.
Judging by the sentiment expressed
by various high school men from rep
resentative sections of the state, there
is a growing demand for work along
practical business lines. Among those
who took prominent part in the dis
cussion of this subject. were Superin-
tendents Godward of Devils Lake,
Ellithorpe of Williston, Gray of Graf
ton and. Hanna of Valley City. No
definite action was taken, however,
but such action will probably be taken
during the evening session.
The last important question dis
cussed during this session was that
of the proper recognition to be given
to music and drawing. Prominent
speakers on this subject were Super
intendents Berg of Dickinson, State
Superintendent Stockwell, Schmidt of
Jamestown, Jackson of Larimore, and
McNally of Mandan. 1t was felt by
some that music and drawing should
be made elective and not required, for
the reason that some pupils have not
the natural gift to acquire these sub
jects. To the motion of making these
subjects elective was raised the OBJ
lection, that if they were not made
school boards would oppose the ef-
- >1fv o1c f0 ;fo1
teachers for these subjects. The mat
ter was finally settled by the resolu-
ton OF the conference that these sub
jects be offered in the curriculum. but
be nevertheless elective: and If any
of these subjects be taken by students
in high schools full credit toward
graduation must be given by the uni
versity board of examiners.
The following high school principals
are in attendance: w. R. Decker,
Bathgate, Mn. Moore. Bismarck: P. T.
McNally, Mandan; G. c. Gray, Bis
marck; P: s. Berg, Dickinson: F. E.
Smith. Wahpeton; w. A. Godward.
Devils Lake; G. w. Hanna, Valley
City: c. Ellithorpe, Williston; E. R.
Mimic; G. w. Lewis. Lakota;
r. Hayward. Langdon; A. Hayward,
Cavalier; T. G. Pierceson. Drayton; r.
E. Smith. Hankinson; w. w. Reed,
Lisbon: R. B. Murphy, Tower City;
J. p. Williams, Churchs Ferry: s.
Henry Wolfe, Minot; L. F.. jackson,
Larimore; G. F. Foster, Harvey; G.
w. Cotton. Carrington; C. G.. Schmidt,
N. c. Macdonald, Lidger-
wood; John A. johnson, Hillsboro: f.
G. Hilborn. Enderlin; H. A. Tewel,
Cando; ]. E. Mccartney. Page.