The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-09
PLAN CHANGES in
THE SCHOOL LAWS
HIGHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL or
FlcERs ASSOCIATION MAKE
AN IMPORTANT MOVE.

I
Coppin, Ole ]. Moen, James McHugh
and e. s. Cameron, AS result Of a
recent consultation between Mr.. Bor-
man and County Superintendent
Barnes, meeting of this committee
was held Saturday afternoon last, at
the county superintendent office to
consider possible improvements in the
school laws, and to formulate state
ment of recommended changes from
the standpoint of school boards.
Messrs. Borman, Moen, Cameron and
Coppin attended. Mr.. McHugh could
longer a member.
Superintendent Barnes plan is to
furnish a copy Of this statement to
every county superintendent Of North
Dakota, with the suggestion that it
be presented to the school officers in
each county at their next annual meet
ings. If the changes. recommended by
Richland county's legislative commit
tee seem good to school officers
throughout the state. 1t is expected
that they viii pass resolutions Of APP
prevail
A united demand from each of the
forty six counties Of the state ought
to have great weight with the next
Legislature. and would probably result
In changes which all school officers
everywhere in the state would recon-
mend as needed.
The committee made no attempt to
cover the entire field of desired
changes; but a few conditions that are
unjust In the existing law were pick
ed out and alterations called for as
follows:
Sec. sos amended covers meetings
of the district school board. Members
receive IS per year for their services.
or 81 for each quarterly meeting. II
is recommended that they receive 81
for each special meeting which they
attend, (not exceeding eight in any
one year, and also ten cents a mile
for distance actually and necessarily
Travelled between their homes and the
place of meeting in their districts. for
every meeting they attend.
In order to put no school officer tn
loss of money in attending annual
meetings Of the school officers. il Is
recommended that members and clerks
shall likewise receive the ten cents
mileage and 50 per day for distance
sumed in attendance.
"A request was made that the com
mittee on revision of the school laws
Whlch 10 to report at the next meet
ing OF the legislature, provide an ar
rangement such that entirely separate
divisions be made for laws covering
common school, special and independ-
emit school districts. with possibly a
fourth division covering provisions
which apply to all school districts in
general. If this cannot be done. a
compilation excluding provisions in
tended for only special and independ-
ent districts would save confusion.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Cameron.
1T was recommended that the state
high school board be enlarged. Under
Sec. 1881 it now consists OF the gov
erior, superintendent of public instruc-
ttion and president of the state uni
Iversity. The two added members
should be appointed by the superin-
tendent of public instruction, one of
them city superintendent in a dis
trict maintaining a first class high
school and the other a county superin-
tendent. In this way it is Thought
that the value of the high school would
be conserved from the bottom as well
as the top, and by men Of whom some
at least would be Immediately familiar
with actual conditions.
The committee recommended state
aid to country schools kept up to GER
tain standards of attendance. length
of terms and equipment. This is done
with success in other states such as
Minnesota; 1t does not cost Taxpayers
a cent extra. A bill favoring state
aid for country schools was introduc-
| ed last winter, but failed in spite of
ten thousand petitions. It chouId not
be left to die year hence.
Other propositions discussed by the
committee were: A reduction of the
present three mile limit for compul-
sorry attendance to two and one-half
miles; move to abolish the Office OF
school district treasurer and have
his work done by the county treasurer;
a yearly optionsto the count superin-
tendent with the county commission
ers of taking mileage for his travel. as
at present, or mileage plus So per day
for livery hire. or his actual and nee
essary travelling expenses; provision
whereby the sheriff would investigate
cases Of alleged non-attendance at
school; and finally the formation OF
county normal schools such as were
provided for in bill introduced al
Bismarck last winter. AS far as Rich
! land county Is concerned, favor was
shown for the formation at the state
school Of science of a normal depart
ment where eighth grade graduates
doing two years OF normal work might
receive certificates qualifying them as
second grade teachers anywhere in the
state. Last winter a. ten and one hali
months course was provided for at the
state normal schools. 1t consisted ot
a professional review OF the common
school branches, together with ply
siology, civics, methods of teaching
practice and observation, and not less
than one years course in elementary
agriculture and nature study 1t ii
open to Eighth grade graduates, sew
enteen years old or more. Under Hmi-
tations those completing this course
receive a certificate valid as second
grade in any county of North Dakota
AS regards the county superintend-
ent's mileage, experience In the Red
river counties-with tie county-seat
| located on the eastern boundary--has
shown for years that the present ten.
cent mileage cannot cover actual ex-
penses OF travel In visiting schools II
the best advantage, as they are In ses-
sion only from o'clock until 4. With
a yearly option, superintendents feel
| ing handicapped by .le mileage clause
might elect TO have simply their ex.
Ipenses paid. Doubtless tt has evel
lbeen intended that the superintendent
shall at least make expenses on thu