The Dickinson press., 1910-01-22
lUlAL SCHOOL PROBLEM
STATE AID ADVISED

The most important Of the recent State
Educational Associations at Minot was
the centesine Of the attention of all
educators upon the importance of the
Rural School in the educational econ
omy Of this state. The couny guperin-
tendents at their conference last August
said I'VE believed that the most i'm
portant single educational interest in
North Dakota 10 the rural school," The
State Educationl Association at Minot
said. I'VE recognize the rural school as
the most important factor in the edu-
cation of the state" That being &C.
cepted. it would appear that the rural
school deserves larger consideration at
the hands of those who determine the
educational destinies of this state, who
mould the educational thought and
train the educational leaders of this
state. Their. is an insistant demand
for our institutions of higher education
to grapple with the problem Of the rural
school and solve it. We do not mean to
say that these institutions are not doing
much to help in this work. Our Normal
schools are providing special courses for
rural school teachers. Our Agricultural
college is pushing the teaching of ele-
mentary agriculture in the rural school.
The University men are giving much
time and thought to the consideration
of this problem. The committee of
seven is made up of lei taken largely
from those who teach in the higher
institutions. These things are good,
but they do not reach the seat of the
difficulty. The Rural school needs many
specific things, we shall not recount
them here. but most of all it needs
stimulation. This stimulation can
come only. in our judgment, through
state aid. State aid for the rural school
means, first. standardization, second,
closer supervision. third. stimulation
of interest in the rural school. and as a
result of these three things will come
all the other improvements which are 50
essentially and vitality necessary.
Ten years ago our high school system
was scarcely worthy the name, today
as a result Of the stimulus of state aid
our high schools rank among the very
best in the northwest. We have earn
estIy petitioned for a little aid for the
rural schools at the last three sessions
of the legislature. We have met with
bitter opposition, always in the upper
house. The committee on appropria-
tions in the senate is composed with
few exceptions, of men who live in oul
towns and cities and who represent Their
our special interest which is usually
some state institution. We readily
recognize that the demands for these
institutions during the past few years
have been heavy but with all thes'
demands have generally been just. We
have been proud of our growth rs {
state. We have been eratiAed with the
wonderful development of our safe edu'
cational institutions, yet we firmly be.
lieve that the most pressing demands
> at least for heavy appropriations TO
: permanent improvements, have beer
met for the present, that there is not
now any valid reason why the SAT-
Educational Institutions should Absorb
all the funds available for appropriation
for educational purposes. A careful
study of appropriations made by tn
' Legislatures Of 1907 and 1909 shows tina
81, 345. 600 was appropriated to eigh
state educational institutions namely.
the University, the Agricultural college
with its experimental stations and work
the two Normal schools the Normal ant
Industrial school. the school Of Forestry
the Science school and the State Higl
school. This vast amount wat largel!
for permanent improvements. Add t
: this practically 1925. 900 more raised b!
direct tax for maintenance for til,
: years 1so7-os-09 and 10 and you hav
: s.. 265. 600 expended by the state upol
! higher education in. four years. Thi
is proper. Not a cent too much. How
ever. let us not forget that the rura
school is the foundation upon which al
this s~uperstructure must rest. If tn,
rural school is weak the whole educa-
tional system is weak. The institu'
: tions Of higher learning can help solv.
the rural school problem by saying tt
the next legislature, we individual,
! and collectively ask that when tn,
amount set aside for education is de
termined upon. that first of all not les
than $50. 600 shall be set aside as an an
nual appropriation to aid to stimulate tn
rural school and thus solve the ruraI
school problem. We commend this t,
their earnest consideration.
;. w. T. STOCKWELL.
A NIGHT RIDERS RAID,
The worst night riders are calomel
croton oil or aloes pills. They raid you