Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-18

The Minnesota Bankers association
are giving a good deal of attention
to education. They have gone to the
trouble and expense of sending COM
mittee to investigate the matter This
committee examined into conditions
both in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The
conditions are similar enough in
North Dakota to make the report of
interest and of value, and especially
as it came from a body of conserva-
tive business men who are Interested
in the welfare of their state.
Below excerpts are given from the
report made by }. Chapman, Jr., vice
president of the Northwestern Ma
tional bank Of Minneapolis:
Your committee Oh agriculture was
appointed at the last meeting of the
Bankers association at Minnesota, be-
cause of desire on the part OF the
bankers of this state in the first place
to know something about this cOnd1-
ton in cur state, and secondly to see
If there was any way in which we
could help adjust it.
We took up the work assigned to
us with full realization Of it's mag
nitude and the difficulties in the way
of obtaining the necessary information
and data upon which to construct con-
illusions. In the first instance, large
number of letters were addressed to
prominent bankers and citizens
throughout the state, requesting ans
Wers to certain Undergraduates there
in contained. These interrogatories
covered generally the subject of agri-
culture and agricultural education in
Minnesota, and quite a large number
of replies were received and more or
less useful information was obtained
by this means. We also visited our
own agricultural school, as we'll as
the agricultural school at Madison,
Wisconsin, and collected data and sta
tistics from number of other sourc-
es. AS result of these investiga
tiOns and researches we have arrived
at several general conclusions which
will be stated more or less in detail.
Probably the matter of most i'm
portance for consideration is the fact
that there is in Minnesota no system
attic plan for the giving of instruc-
ton in agricultural subjects in the
rural communities. There is only one
general scheme of education in the
state alike for all children, irrespec.
tive of whether they are to be law
yers, preachers, merchants, farmers
or mechanics. If this general scheme
leans in any one direction, it is to-
ward fitting students for the profess
sional classes. Practically nothing is
being accomplished in an educational
way to interest children in the farm
and farm life, or in any branch of
agriculture. We have also been i'm.
pressed with the fact that there is
practically a total lack of interest
among school teachers, especially
those in the rural schools, on the sub.
ject of agriculture. Many of these
rural school teachers coming from the
larger towns and even cities, find
themselves thrust into an environ
ment that is altogether uncongenial,
and there is a consequent lack of
between them and their pu-
pills, not only as concerns the school
work, but also the method of living.
the salaries paid to all
grades of rural teachers are too small.
An increase in their salaries would
result in the procuring of better
teachers and better results in every |
department. of instruction.
There is expended annually in the |
state of Minnesota for education, the
um of $14,000,0O0, and we are strong
y of the opinion that if very much
anger portion of this large sum could
re devoted to practical instruction in
agriculture and industrial training,
he standard of our citizenship would
re very materially raised. 1t is a
act that a large majority of our
Dung men and women, after finish
ng their education, however elabor-
te and complete, find themselves to-
ally unprepared for the battle of life
nd are compelled to accept positions
f character much lower than their
lherent ability deserves. We cannot
30 strongly urge the adoption of an :
ducation system which will equip our
Dung men and women with the sort {
knowledge that can be put to some
tactical purpose.
We made considerable inquiry into '
le compulsory agricultural education '
| law of the state of Wisconsin, and I
elieve that very good results have {
cen obtained through the enforce
ent of this law UnQuestionably, f
lch a law should be passed by the {
gislature of Minnesota, notwith- f
anding the fact that it is not looked