The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-28


B VALLEY CITY NORMAL 81
There was larger enrolment in
mechanical science at the Valley City
State Normal during the recent sum-
mer term than ever before, tine pupils
were more advanced, and a higher
grade of work was accomplished.
Courses were offered In pattern max
Ing and in upholstering, In addition
70 those usually given. A number of
graduate students took the work, as
did several school principals, and one
city superintendent. When men hold
ing college degrees and positions OF
large responsibility in the educational
field, will take time to pursue a de-
mite study of this new science, we
may reasonably expect their efforts
TO aid greatly in strengthening the
movement in our public schools. Al
though welcoming pupils OF every
grade qualified to enter the course,
the department is especially interested
In those who, because of their train
Ing and experience, are able to go
deeply into the fundamental princi-
pies Of the work II liz pleasure to
assist such persons to qualify for
teaching or supervising mechanical
science work. There Is a constant
call for teachers of experience and
broad training, to fiji responsible
positions where this new subject is
an important factor. Every superin-
tendent, principal, and teacher, having
ability along mechanical lines, should
earnestly consider spending at least
one summer in this study. The de-
partment here has already numbered
among its students graduates OF Ober-
lin, the University of North Dakota,
and other advanced institutions. To
accommodate these mature students,
the work in the summer school was
extended three weeks. It is hoped to
arrange the work so that full eleven
weeks summer course can be offered
In 1912.
The new officers Of the junior class
for the fall term are:
President-Mr McLees
Vice President-Miss Ellingson.
Secretary--Miss Campbell.
Treasurer-Miss Gilbertson.
Coach Rodewald reports the boys OF
the football squad as working hard and
faithfully these days. A mass meet
ing Of the students was recently held
in the Normal auditorium, and the
following officers were elected for the
athletic association:
President--Chester Smith.
Secretary-Frank Greene
Treasurer-Earl Fritch.
The lineup of the football team is
as follows; Ends, Rude and Gardner;
tackles, Fritch and Chilberg; guards,
Granger and Hussey; center, Grot-
berg; quarterback, Delaney; half
backs, Cowdry and Bublitz; fullback,
Smith. Elmer Cowdry has been elect
ed captain of the team. The first game
of the season is arranged for Satur-
day, Oct. Fl, with the team from En-
derlin.
The conception Of Prof. M. c. James
Of the department of agriculture OF the
Valley City normal of the aim and
scope Of the teacher Of elementary
agriculture in. the district and graded
schools, is that the basic principals
OF soil conservation. plant nourish-
ment, the habits OF noxious plants and
the nature Of diseases OF plant life,
should be instilled into the minds of
the child along with arithmetic, CIV
les, elementary science and literature
He would not teach the child to farm
but the bacis principals OF successful
farming. He would not teach the
child how to pillow. how to set the
clevis, to take more or less land or to
pillow deeper or shallower. but he would
teach him why blowing is necessary
and what Is the best blowing. The
notion that agriculture belongs alone
to an agricultural college is vigorously
denied by Mr.. James. The elementary
department Of agriculture bears ex-
actly the same relation to an agricul-
tural college that the preparatory
school does to the university. Ele-
mentary agriculture Is compulsory in
the local state school. Every teach
er who takes course I'm her chosen
profession must take work in Pro-
lessor James department. The course
Is not elaborate, 1t Is agriculture In
capsule form for the teacher to carry
w klAG DOSS nIA BIA 40 VI NhH BhAlEs \ LAG
rudiments OF plant nourishment are
taught. both from textbooks and from
simple experiments; also the basic
facts concerning the conservation Of
moisture; some of the underlying prin-
cipals OF plant selection and breed
ing: the nature and prevention OF
plant disease and the nature and how
to best destroy noxious weeds COM
mon to North Dakota. All OF the work
Is supplemented by garden experiments
and laboratory work. Everything is
simple and only elementary principals
are dealt with. Most OF the teachers
who come in contact with the school
children in North Dakota are unable
to attend an agricultural college and
the simple work done under Mr.. James
means that they will so out over the
state and create an interest In scienti-
fic farming and gardening which
means more profitable farming and
more students at the agricultural coli
legeA.
wHffam LAughlin OF Valley City who
Ii principal of the schools at Buch-
anan and who graduated recently from