Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1908-08-07
'sUPER1NTENDENTs RESOLVE.
Meet in Convention at Rapid City and
Discuss Important Questions.

DISCUSS Important questions.
To the Superintendent of Public In
struction, South Dakota:
We, your committee, appointed by
you at Canton on July 3, 1907, for the
purpose of considering ways and means
of introducing practical instruction In
agriculture and other forms of indus
trial work into our public schools,
particularly the rural schools of the
state beg TO submit the following:
II We believe the only true education
TOR the country child is that which will
at him for we'll rounded and sue
cessful life in the country. We believe
the state should see to it that he re.
ceives every advantage which will tend
to produce in him desire to work in
telligently and successfully in his en-
vironment. Therefore, we would
recommend to you
lst. That each school follow and
demonstrate a list of experiments and
exercises provided by the Office of the
department of education, through the
county superintendent and report the
came to him at the close of the school
year or at some stated time during the
year.
2nd. That each county shall hold
contests in the different lines of this
work at some central place in the
county at least once each year, when
prizes shall be awarded to those who
excel in the different lines of work,
and that number of counties shall be
termed district where contests and
EXIT. rom the several counties shall
be held; and further that the prize
winners in the district contests shall
be e!iciele to enter state contest con-
ducted under the direct supervision of
the state department of instruction
3rd, That the whole course of this
work shall be supervised directly by
the superintendent of public instruc-
tion and his staff, thereby making it
uniform throughout the state as far as
the resources Of the different localities
will permit.
4th. That a course of industrial
work shall be definitely prescribed and
that each pupil be required to present
certificates testifying to a certain
number Of credits in the work before
rural school diploma shall be grant
ed.
5th. We would further recommend
that steps be taken to establish an ag-
ricultural and industrial school in
each county in the state and would
suggest that the county poor farm
which is found in many counties be
used as an experiment farm for that
purpose.
9Th. That the county superintendent
$ OF the state be requested to use their
influence with the members of the
legislature from their respective
counties to obtain an appropriation
of money sufficient to enable the
Superintendent of Public instruction
to carry on this work.
We believe that this work when put
before the people through the medium
Of the public schools will not only
make better farmers but by SO doing
be source OF economy by making the
same amount of labor produce vastly
greater results.
Chas j. Anderson.
Myrtle B. Farmer
Gerald E. Muller.
P. F. Nolan.
w. NJ Mair.
The committee on resolutions made
their report, which was adopted.
We believe in the improvement and
uplifting of the country schools, and
as means to this end we wish to EN-
phasize:
First. The need of more men in th,
teaching force.
Second. Better wages for bette
work.
Third. Better preparation on tn,
part of the teacher.
Sns We believe the scarcity of teacher
to be largely the result of:
First. The average short term o
work with its many and endless vaca
tions.
Second. The difficulty in securing
convenient or desirable boarding
places.
(: Third. The low wages general!
paid.
Fourth. The requiring of the jani
# tor work to be doue by the teacher.
Fifth. The poor equipment in mos
schools in the matter of heat
,ing,s> water supply, blackboards ane
other Anpplns.
We believe in the consolidation o
rural schools as an ideal condition ant
recommend it wherever practical
We express to the Ladies' Auxiliar!
OF the Business Mems Club our appre
&ciation of the pleasant reception ten
darad To us on Tuesday eveninp