The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-02

4
fences. 1t was discussed by Miss
Martha Fulton OF Mapleton. The gem
eral discussion OF the different papers
had to be omitted on account OF lack
of time.
Miss May A. Sutherland of Grand
Forks coupled some splendid ideas IN
the pages OF well prepared paper on
Some Ways Of Giving High school
Pupils More Training for the Duties
or Presiding over a. Home. II was
discussed by Miss Lillian Pearson of
Larimore. Remedy for High School
Lazineas was discussed by p. "A. NC
MILAN, superintendent of the schools
at Darlington; and How to Take Care
Care OF the Precocious and Retarded
Pupils, was discussed by Superintend-
ent Anderson OF Minnewaukan
Not the least interest was conferred
in the paper prepared by Superintend-
ent Alexander of Rolla, one Of the as
ISOLATION war horses and a veteran
teacher and principal of the state. He
has the authority for every word he
utters and when he gathers statistics
from official reports or from his own
private sources by request, he uses
them at their face value and Ii they
are misleading he goes for the COM
pliers and says they should have been
sure they were right before they went
ahead. He discussed the Preparation
Of High SchooI Pupils for Teaching.
His claim was that the normal schools
were not doing what they should for
the rural schools The average nor
NAL graduate was not thoroughly in
sympathy with the rural work
Through the medium OF statistics and
opinions expressed by normal authori--
ties in our own ana other states Gov
ering wide scope he proceeded to
show what was wrong and he suggest
ed some remedies. III 1t was demanded
that the high schools maintain a de-
partment for the training of rural
teachers, there would have TO be more
help and financial assistance would
have to be provided. The state would
have to do its share, and the county
and the district. All must share in the
responsibility. Mr.. Alexander read the
questions he had sent out on the sub
ject OF training OF rural techers ana
coupled with them the answers pro
and con. He said, eft you want to have
your patience tried, begin the gather
ing Of statistics" He touched very
strongly on the subject or vocational
teachers and made recomrn endatious.
At different stages the speaker was
loudly applauded and it is safe TO
say that his paper will be eagerly
sought when the association report in
detail Is printed. Some very valuable
additions and considerations were
made to the paper in the discussion
by J. c. West Of Webster.
This year the temper OF the high
school people was to accept the sug-
gestion which was made. that in the
election Of officers, the smallest high
schools OF the state be given repre-
sentation For long time the larger
schools had been having an inning
and in measure they were better
able to get into the limelight for the
Out-pouring OF benefits than the
smaller schools. The suggestions made
in the nomination OF Superintendent
Smith for president was carried out
almost unanimously. Superintendent
Burr -Tas elected member Of the
nominating committee to report a corn
of association officers At the close
Of the association meeting today there
will be a meeting of city superin-
SUPERINTENDENT
Hoover Of Fargo, and out Of it Will be
the organization Of society OF city
superintendent. a8
Abbott's Talk.
In discussing Some Phases Of the
Consolidated School Movement IN
North Dakota this afternoon. N. 6.
Abbott of the University of North
Dakota said In part:
ITO attempt to present in an ade-
quate manner all that is suggested to
North Dakota educators by the topic
Consolidation would require an
ambition and assurance equal to that
of high school graduate striving to
settle all OF the great questions that
confront the race. through the medi-
UNI or commencement Grafton.
THE general phases OF the move
ment have been and win be so ably
discussed in the other papers on this
programme and are so well known TO
educators In general that the most that
I shall attempt to do win be to add
thought or two on some special
phases Of the problem that are involved
In the adaptation OF the plan to con-
ditions as they are here in North Da-
kota.
Consolidation Means Efficiency.
Even among educators, 1t would
seem as though the word 'consoIidat-
ed was regarded as some kind of
q shibboleth, or a system OF educa-
tional magic by which conditions are
to be metamorphosed in some mystic
rious way. we do not always stop
to think that any combining Of the
work OF two or more schools formerly
separated Is consolidation In effectAN
Is an elimination of the useless waste
and duplication involved ilasthe opera
ton Of every little school OF ten pupils
or less and 1t is q fact IamentabIe
but true, that over ~ per cent Of the
rural schools OF this state are of that
size. In the maintenance and opera
ton Of many Of these little schools
there Is vast amount OF waste and
random effort, and any movement that
will eliminate at least part of this
waste is worthy OF our careful con-
sideration.