Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-07-09
MAY ASK help
FROM congress
Country Student Problem to
be Important One Before
Educators
Various Candidates for PreSi-
dent Ply Campaigns
Vigorously

CHICAGO, July 9.--Confronted by
the demand that congress be asked
to appropriate money to relieve what
was termed "the lowly. heart rend.
ing and tragic condition of rural
schools of the country" the National
Educational association opened it's
fiftieth annual convention today. Re-
ports had been submitted that OF the
2O,O0O,000 school pupils in the United
States 12,000,0O0 were being educated
in rural schools and that only one
third of the country boys and girls
were making satisfactory SHOWING.
Would Call In Government.
Thomas H. Harris. state superin.
tendent of schools at Baton Rouge,
La, declared before the vast assemb.
lage of educators that the condition
of the rural school was becoming so
deplete that the government should
provide both money and methods to
remedy the situation.
"The fear of federal interference
with the state control of schools
should be set aside in the interest of
the rising generation" said Mr. Har-
ris. "The national supervision of
country schools Is an absolute neces-
sity. Our country needs better edu-
Gated rural citizenship" Mr.. Harris
left it to the convention to decide wha
steps should be taken to induce the
federal government to lend assistance.
To Be Important Matter.
1t is likely the rural school problem
will be one Of the most important to
come before the session. Already a
special committee appointed to in
vestigate the subject had decided to
have a large appointment of field
workers to travel over the country in
the interest of the country schools.
The report will be submitted later.
Other speakers were Jacques w.
Redway, Mt. Vernon, N. Y, who
traced the history OF the organization;
Thomas w. Bicknell. Providence, r.
L.; James, NJ. Greenwood, su7erin-
tendent OF schools, Kansas City, Mo-;
Ellen c.. Sabin, president of the Mil
waukee Downer college, Milwaukee,
and Carol G. Pearce, president of
the association.
Campaigns Go On.
No final action was taken on busi-
ness but the Campaigns" Of the var
ious candidates for president were
carried on vigorously. The contest
was enlivened by the introduction of
q new candidate, western delegates
urging Homer S. Serley, president of
the state teachers of Cedar Rapids,
Iowa. Other candidates are: E. T.
Fairchild, Topeka, Kas.; Miss Mirace
Strachan. Brooklyn, N. Y, and JOS
eph S. Swain, president of Swarth-
more college.
fractional Fight.
The fight of the progressives and
conservatives for control in the ma
tional education association overshad-
owed interest in educational subjects
on the program for discussion at the
second days work of the fiftieth an
nual convention. The final test of
strength between the factions is ex-
pected this afternoon at an adjourned
meeting of the board of directors 1t
was believed it will then be. decided
whether the directorate will bar from
the meeting all but active members OF
at least thirty days standing. II this
is done it win be blow to several
thousand teachers wko have been en-
rolled less than thirty days.