The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-29

which only shall be expended In the
support of said schools" The trainers
of our constitution understood the
character Of the obligation imposed by
the federal government and in section
153 of that document made this declar-
alton: 1T shall be deemed a trust
fund, the principal of which shall for
ever remain inviolate, and may be in
creased, but never diminished The
state shall make good all losses there
of" M
They also understood the national
educational policy first announced in
the ordinance Of 1887, and in sections
148 and 149 pledged this state to do
it's part In the following language:
THE legislative assembly shall pro-
vide at its, first session after the adop-
ton of this constitution for uniform
system of free public schools through
out the state. beginning with, the pri-
mary and extending through all grades
up to and including the normal and
Ecolleglate course.
Tn all schools instruction. shall be
given, as far as practicable In those
branches of knowledge that tend to i'm
press upon the mind the vital import
ance of truthfulness, temperance, pur-
ity. public spirit and respect for hon
est labor Of every kind.
Suggests a Change.
1T Is appropriate on this occasion to
suggest at least two particulars in
which, upon reflection, twill be found,
think, that we have been delinquent.
The first relates to the care and man
agement of the trust funds, and the
second to its use. Under the provisions
of our constitution the land grants and
funds derived therefrom are placed in
the care of the Board of University and
School Lands. which is composed of
| five members. The primary and para
mount duty Of these officers is to the
office which they are specially chosen
! to filL These duties are burdensome,
and of necessity practically require
their undivided attention Their ser
vices as members of the Board of
University and School Lands is neces-
sarily of a secondary character. 1t
! therefore follows that the management
, of the school lands and school funds is
largely left to subordinates. When the
state was in its infancy and the school
funds were small, this organization
was adequate. 1t is now manifestly
inadequate. At this time, the interest
bearing school funds, including bonds,
mortgages and contracts, amount to
$20,S80,747.73. This is approximately
three times the amount of the entire
capital of the state banks of this state,
and in $S,000,000 in excess of the entire
capital stock of national bank and state
banks, Manifestly, the management of
this great and constantly increasing
! fund is a business proposition and
should be dealt with as such. We as
a state owe it to the federal govern
ment and to the citizens of the future
to administer this trust with the high
est fidelity and according to the best
known business methods.
| / desire to submit this question to
the educators Of this state and to those
who are interested in the cause of edu-
cation: Have we not reached the per-
iod in our states development when the
administration of our school lands and
our school funds shall be put upon a
different basis where they will be pro-
tected by the same business Judgment
experience and skill which are applied
to the administration of private funds
of such magnitude?
DepIores Jealousies.
My second suggestion relates to the
unnecessary waste resulting from local
! jealousies between state institutions.
There is a general tendency upon the
part Of the public, as well as those d.
rectly interested, to regard each state
institution as belonging to the COM
munity in which 1t happens to be To-
Gated; that is, the University as a
| Grand Forks institutions; the Agricul-
tural College as Fargo institution;
the normal schools as Valley City and
Mayville institutions; and the same as
to the other state institutions This is
all wrong. Each institution is but an
agency of the state in carrying out its
scheme of public education, and the
citizens of all parts of the state are
equally interested in them and in their
success. The evils of these local pre-
| JUDGES are manifold. They tend to
duplication of work and duplication Of
COURSES of study. and compel an appeal