The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1913-04-05
DICKINSON INSTITUTE
WAS GREAT SUCCESS
Attendance from Stark and Billings Counties About 5o Not Wsandns
Bad Weather Good Lecturers a Competent Instructors Present.
Plea for Consolidation Of Rural Schools Teachers Drove Long
Distances Over Bad Roads b Reach Dickinson Meeting

The teachers insti tute held here this
week will 60 down in history as one Of
the most successful and interesting edu-
cational meetings ever held in this
part of the state. Success was due to
the large attendance of teachers, to the.
able instructors and to the splendid lee!
lures by some of the best educators I'M
the state. II.
Supt. Marie Ackerman and Deputy
Fern Wilson, and a good corps of Bill
lines county teachers were here to CO.
operate with Supt. c. E. Ward and his
deputy. Mrs. Ward, and the Stark and
Dunn county teachers. Prof. Hollis
was in charge of the institute and was
assisted by Supt. P. S. Berg. Miss
Mary O'Brien and Mr.. Waldron, accord
ing to the program given in the PRESS
last week.
Monday evening Prof. Hollis gave a
very fine talk on the rural schools. The
ideal educational system for the country
school will not be reached until there is
consolidation, Prof. Hollis said, but
consolidation of country schools is yet
long way off and in the meantime we
must turn our efforts to improving the
one-room school house. A farmer, US
ually, does not realize the value of
education to his children, and while be
spends money freely for the most up
to-date machinery for his farm, he is
reluctant in paying moderate school
tax and for SIS month less a school
district will often sacrifice good. live
teacher for less capable substitute.
Country school teachers can stimulate
interest by having a garden and Inn
proving the grounds as we'll as white
washing the walls and getting some
good pictures--pictures that tell a story
and arouse the best feelings Of human
ity. Prof. Hollis also believes in
weekly programs, debates outside
speakers and contests in school work.
An honor roll is good too and an organ
or phonoeraph in country school is of
more value than the ordinary teacher
realizes. Money for these things could
be raised by basket socials and enter
tainments by the pupils.
Following Mr.. Hollis fine address
Miss Olive Whaley rendered good
vocal solo and Miss Elanor Davis also
delighted those in attendance with a
piano solo. Then there was a social
hour and reception by the local teach
ers. Ice cream and cake were served
and the teachers enjoyed the get-ac-
quainted and informal session as much
as any part of the program.
Miss O'Brien had the primary work
and her instructions we're very interest
ing. This is a difficult phase of the
teachers work and many were benefited
by these daily sessions.
Civics and advanced arithmetic were
given by Supt. Berg and it is not every
institute and but very few schools in
the state that have an instructor like
Mr.. Berg.
Supt. L. r. Waldron of the local ex-
pertinent station had class each day
for instruction in agriculture. This is
q subject in which the teachers every
where should take more interest. Mr.
Waldron's talk on Mature Study is
given in another column.
C. H. Dale of Dovre district, in Bill
lings county. gave a very instructive
and interesting talk on Wednesday
afternoon. Dovre district is one Of the
few school districts in western North
Dakota. where they have consolidation
and it is working out splendidly. Mr..
Dale is a very fine instructor and every
patron of the district is pleased with
the results. The school house is stu
ated in about the center of the district.
which includes one township, and the
residents pay for the conveyance of the
pupils. They have spendid two-room
school house and about 80 pupils en-
rolled. The basement is fitted fo,
gymnasium work and they have basket
ball and football and many other things
that the ordinary rural school does no,
have. MI. Dale strongly advocates
this system for country schools.
Mrs. Guy Hunter also gave a talk on
Wednesday afternoon on the Woman
Suffrage movement which was followed
BY an interesting discussion on this
topic.
On Wednesday evening Prof. Vernon
Squires Of Grand Forks gave very
interesting talk on American Wa,
Songs and Ballads. The speake,
made the subject both instructive and
interesting. He admonished the teach.