The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-24

Wahpeton Globe Gazette: Last week
Supt. #. r. Barnes spent a half day
at Doran, seven miles southeast of
Breckenridge, where they erected a
school house to serve an entire dis
trict containing twenty-four sections
of land. 1t was built m is oper-
ated under a wise new Minnesota law
which makes it possible to construct
and maintain it without ~appreciable
added direct expense to the district,
the added money coming from special
appointments of the state funds.
The school district at Doran is assess
ed at 1904, 900, and is actually worth
in the aggregate about $1,000, 900, MAX
ing it much like the township school
districts of North Dakota.
The new school was the first to be
constructed in Minnesota under it's
new law. Its enrolment is ninety
seven of whom sixty-five are trans
ported in three agons and thirty
two come from Doran village. The
wagon boxes have side benches and
are covered with V something
like prairie ~schooners. Each has plen-
ty Of robes and blankets. In two an
oil stove aids in keeping things warm.
Some of the children's feet sometimes
get cold, which might be remedied by
using foot-warners like liyerynaen's.
A half dozen would be ample for any
rig. To use them would do away with
the need of an oil stove.
The school building is a handsome
two-story structure over a very high
basement. The total cost was $15,-
600 in round numbers, of which the
state furnished $500. The balance
was met by a 4 per cen loan for
twenty years from the state, payable
in instalIments after ten years. The
peculiar conditions in Minnesota make
it reasonable to think that the in
creasing revenue from it's school lands
will make the state apportionments so
much larger by that time as to pro-
vide thus the means whereby to meet
he annual installments. Meanwhile
the district receives $1,000 extra year
ly from the state towards maintaining
this as a standard consolidated school.
and $500 further as a state graded
school, or $2,100 in all, pretty nearly
enough to make up for all the added
expense of the new improved condi-
lions. The old plan was to run four
separate schools for seven or eight
months each year with the usual drags
on county school work. The usual
wages were S45 to $50 per month. The
consolidated school pays it's primary
and intermediate teachers, Misses Pet
erson and Roen, experienced normal
graduates, $50 per month. The next
one, a state science school graduate.
Miss Purdon, who teaches domestic
science also, gets $65 per month.
The principal, a Fargo college gradu-
ate, Mr.. Sonquist, is paid $50 per
month. The term for all is nine
months. The janitor gets $40 per
month. The three drivers receive $40.
$45 and $50 per month respectively
for the school year.
One thing to the advantage of the
locality is that only three homes Of
the district sending children to school
are without phones. Hence in emer-
gency a'drive for a day might be dis
continued very easily. In fact, how
ever, this has newer been necessary so
far. and the new school has been in
operation since last fall. Inspection
OF the teachers records fairly amaze
n familiar with the usual country
school attendance as he realizes that
the majority of the pupils has been
present every single day since school
began after the Christmas holidays,
a period covering the longest spell of
severe cold that most old settlers can
recall. Around Doran is has been al
most out of the question to keep the
children at home under these new
and improved school conditions.
One teacher said that one boy in her
room was almost too sick to be there
but he had begged his folks to let him
come as he couldn't bear to miss a
a from the new school now.
Under these arrangements, it is
possible to have all of the first grade
children in one room. The number
at present is fifteen; the ages are 6
and Z. The attendance is very regular.
Some parents living two to four or five
miles distant have been keeping their
~6-year-old children home during the
winter months, which strikes one as
wise if they are not dressed properly
for the cold. Those who go have nc