The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-18
Worst Has Brilliant
Vision Of the Future;
EIIiott's Great Speech
Feature Session Of Grain Growers Convention Was the One
Last Evening at 0~psrahouSe
Auditorium Setting 5000, Universal Consolidated Rural Schools,
Splendid Roads Foresesn by Worst
Elliott Talked Of Relation Of Rairoading and Farming Should
Be Cooperation

the children's comprehension or ex-
perience. Best of all is the plan, now
quite generally adopted, for the or
~ganization and maintenance OF the
rural schools. In the first. place. the
school grounds are larger, but few of
them less than ten acres in extent.
The school buildings in the consoli-
dated districts are mostly three or
four-room houses with additional
work shops and laboratories. The
easements are specially fitted up for
manual training and shop work.
Girls have departments where sewing
and cooking are taught. Coffee and
tea are served for the MONDAY lunch
.eon. A special laboratory Is provided
for elementary agriculture where in
struction is given and where specimens
of grains, grasses, weeds, etc, are
stored for exhibit and demonstration.
In addition to the regular class
rooms. each schoolhouse Is provided
with an assembly room where the dis
trict agricultural club meets fortnight
" to discuss subjects that are of gener-
al interest to a farming community.
Here also is maintained a lecture
course during each winter. the facul-
ties of the agricultural college, the uni
versity and the normal schools con-
tributing chiefly to these entertain
ments. The children also organize
literary societies and occasionally give
a public entertainment. In short, the
consolidated school has become the
social center for the community, where
meetings of every character are held
whether for amusement or for the dis
cussion of business or civic questions.
They now enjoy at these social CEN
ters wholesome amusements, with less
Inconvenience and greater edifcation
for themselves and for their children,
than the cheap and garish attractions
the towns formerly provided for them.
The School Principal.
Under this arrangement, it has been
found possible tc make rural teaching
a profession. Country principals are
paid 500 per month n upwards, to-
gether with the proceeds Of the dem
onstration plots. and the gardens
which are maintained on all school
grounds and which the children take
great delight in cultlvating, under the
direction of the principal. They do
this for recreation as well as for in
%struction.
The mor progressive among the
consolidated schools have provided a
cottage for the principal teacher; also
a. COW, several pigs, and some chick
ems. This, at least, enables the prin-
cipal to engage in the teaching pro-
fession for life and many have settled
themselves thus in permanent homes
on the school grounds.
1t is quite generally conceded now,
that the influence of at least n man
in every school, has a salutary effect
upon the character of the boys. They
mingle together in the class room, in
the fields and gardens. and among the
domestic animals. and the school it.
self becomes a part Of life instead of
preparation for something indefinite.
Moreover, the principal. being the
graduate of a course in agriculture,
has proved invaluable as a local adj
wiser and statistician for the commune
ity. The school and the families of
the district are thus brought into sym
pathy and close mutual relationship
with each other, a condition that did
not formerly exist.
The initial expense for establishing
these consolidated schools seemed
~burdensome at first. and considerable
opposition was manifested on that ac-
count, but for the sake of the future
usefulness and c~ontentment OF the
children, the work of consolidation
was accomplished. Those who stood
out for the children and their welfare,
as against mere expense. won the day
and now everybody is pleased.
The country would as soon go back
on the recall of public oniciaIs, as to
return to the one-roofn schoolhouse
for the training of their children or to
the village for their social enter
tainments.
Farming communities have decided
once and for all time that their child
rem are more precious than their dol
lars--dollars that are now so easily
made since they are pursuing better
farming methods. They have decided
that the children OF the rural districts
shall have the best and most practical
training that a good school a afford.
instead of the three RS and a few
frills that savored Of city ideals. And
inasfuch as the farmers taxes mainly
support all the state institutions, as
we'll as the state government and
since farmers have finally decided to
take q strong hand in the management
Of public affairs, they have wisely de-
Icided. among the first improvements,
to see that the rural districts, where
the wealth is created, shall come into
their own. In matters educational.
Compulsory Attendance.
The legislative assembly, at its last
session, repealed the law requiring
compulsory attendance: 1t having be-
| come entirely obsolete. All the child
rem now are eager to attend school
since they see and understand thai
the subjects they may study and tbs
work they are permitted to do, while in
school. are exactly what they will have
ia think about and do all through life
Previously, they had to take every
thing on faith and, Ia consequences
many had to be driven to school; but
now, since their vocational interests
have been given consideration and
their social needs taken into account
they cannot be kept away from school
Hence. to blot out the evidence of mis-
taker but Well meaning theorists this