The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-12-30

the present term.
Legislation Enacted.
The legislature of 1909 provided for
a commission to recodify the school
laws of the state. This commission
consisted of Attorney General Miller
and E. ]. Taylor, who was deputy su-
perlntendent of public instruction, ex-
ofhcio members, and Prof. Joseph
Kennedy, dean of teachers college of
the state university: Prof. A. D.
Weeks, in charge of the teachers
course at the state agricultural COL
leSe, and Prof, r. M. Black, member
of the faculty of the state school of
science.
The commission organized and aft
er months of work drafted d bin which
repealed practically all the education
al laws and substituted therefor new
legislation and such of the old as was
The bill became law and went into ef-
feet July l, 1911. 1t has, therefore.
been in force only one year of the
time covered by this report.
Board of Examiners.
The most sweeping change made
by this law was in the certifcation Of
teachers. A board of educational ex-
aminers was created consisting Of
five members, Of which the Superin-
tendent of public instruction is ex-
ofticio secretary. The appointive
members of this board are Prof. Jo-
seph Kennedy. Prof. r. M. Black,
Supt. W. E. Hoover and supt. P. S.
Berg. A complete report of the Off
cial acts of this board will be found
in this report to which the attention
of the public is specially directed.
The results of the labors of this board
have been beneficial in the extreme
and although the board has had
charge of the issuing of certificates
for only one year, it can be safely
said that the present method of Ger
tificating teachers is much better than
that provided for in the laws prior
to July 1, 1911 1t is to be hoped
that the present law will not be Sc
riously interfered with by legislation
until it has had a more rigid trial
than one years existence can give it..
State Aid Law.
The legislature of 1911 also enacted
a law providing for state aid to ru-
raj, graded and consolidated schools
and created the Office of inspector Of
such schools. This law also has been
in force only one year of the period
covered by this report and the re-
suits already apparent justify its en-
actment. A complete report Of the
operations of this law will be found
in another part Of this volume. In
order that the ends desired from this
law be attended it will be necessary
that the appropriations for the sew
eral classes Of schools be very mate
rally increased, especially the amount
as aid to consolidated schools. This
also will be discussed under another
heading. I also commend the chap
ter on consolidation of schools by
Prof. c.. c. Schmidt, which is repro
duced in full in this report, to the
careful study Of all interested in this
subject.
Agricultural Education.
This branch of education is receiv-
ing a great deal of attention and is
being emphasized in every depart
ment of education in the state. Up
to July 1, 1912. no county had voted
on the proposition of establishing a
county agricultural training school
under the provisions of chapter 265,
session laws of 1911. 1t is expected
that several counties will take action
during the fall Of 1912 and probably
we shall have a number of these
schools in a comparatively short
time.
The state high school board acting
under the provisions of chapter 40,
session laws of 1911, designed the
high schools at Beach, Darlington,
Grafton, LaMoure and Velva as agri-
cultural high schools. These schools
will begin their work as agricultural
high schools with the beginning of
the fall terms of school, The pros
poets for excellent results from these
schools is particularly bright. The
legislature of 1913 will be requested
to provide for five more such schools,
and at the end Of another biennial Pc
riod it will be possible to report on
the direct effects of the educational
legislation of 1911.
Higher Educational Institutions. !,
The higher educational institutions
of this state have made wonderful
growth during the past few years and
| fullest capacity to provide for those
seeking admission. That these insti-
tutions are among the most important
] forces for good in our state needs no
elaboration, The legislature can well
| afford to be as liberal with all these
| institutions as the finances of the
state will permit
| Our high schools are rapidly i'm
creasing both in number and effici-
ency. The courses in these schools
are being prepared with a view to en-
phasizing industrial education. All
first class high schools now offer
courses in manual training and do
meStic science, and most of them Of
fer agriculture. The state should
greatly benefit from this teaching If
| it is properly done and the pupils are
! taught dignity of work 1t is to be
hoped that the industrial training that
the rising generation Is receiving will