The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-02-06
Walter R Siders Of
Idaho Named As New
Head Of Fargo Schools
Three Members Of the Board Of Education Bitterly Opposed
Change in the Superntendency
Vote Stood Six to Three Committee Reports That Sdcr Has
Excellent Recommendations
Change Was Decided on at an Executive Session Of the Board
That Was Held on Jan.2

schools required a change in tho
superintendency Upon motion duly
passed IL was decided to make a
change. The president of the board
was instructed to inform Superintend
ent Hoover of the action of the board
and was also instructed to Immediate
w take up the matter of securing an
other superintendent. The president
OF the board reported to us that ne
had Informed the superintendent OF
the boards action.
Since that time your teachers COM
mittee and school betterment COM
mittee have co-operated with the
president of the board in investigating
available candidates. Persons having
the special qualifications for our situa-
tion and conditions are few. Mr.. Sid
ers is one OF these and in our judg-
ment the most desirable. and at the
request OF the committee has Sub
mitted an application which is fled
herewith, which sets forth the con-
ditions upon which he has become q
candidate. Before submitting his ap-
plication, Mr.. Siders, at the request
OF the committee, came to Fargo and
met each member of the board person
ally, also called upon superintendent
Hoover, and made such an examina-
tion of our school situation as he could
within the time at his disposal, and
also met as many citizens as possible.
Mr.. Siders is Az years of age, was
born In Iowa, and is of German
American descent Is married His
wife is a university graduate. He was
educated in the public schools of Free
mont Neb., and graduated from the
normal and scientific course of Free
mont college spent one year in the
University of Nebraska specializing
in history and English; later in the
University of Chicago specializing in
philosophy and education. He taught
one and one-half years in the rural
schools OF Dodge county, Neb.; three
years principal Of schools at Crawford.
Neb,; four years superintendent OF
schools at Alliance, Neb.; one year
principal OF high school, Wahoo Nep.:.
for fourteen years he has been super
intendent of schools at PocatelIo, Ida.
city Of about $4,000 inhabitants, and
has now before him q request to sign
a three years contract at an advanced
salary. lie IN a. member OF the ns
tlonaf committee of education Of the
National Educational association; was
formerly a member OF the educational
council of Nebraska. was president ,,f
the Idaho State Teachers association
and member OF the executive com
mittee of the Idaho State Teachers
association; is chairman OF the Iegis-
=
tion of Educational Supervisors; is a
member OF the National society for
promotion Of Industrial Education.
and president Of the Idaho Council
Of Education.
Among his more notable educational
contributions we may mention an ad-
dress before the National Educational
Association at Chicago in 1909 on the
subject How May the Individual Be
Reached. a discussion OF the group
system OF teaching devised for the Po-
catello schools Also an address be-
fore the National Educational associa-
tional at Denver in 1909,
on the subject, Does the Elementary
School. Curriculum Meet Existing
Needs? Also before the same associa-
tion in 1912 an address on The ReIa-
ton Of the American High School on
the Grades Below.
He Is aIg6 author OF course OF
study for Idaho elementary and high
schools. Harmoni7ing Rural, Village
and City School Systems, which publ
cation Is now in its fourth edition.
He is also the author Of A Code OF
Laws for Idaho schools. adopted by
the legislature in 1911, Mr.. Siders be-
ing secretary OF the commission pre-
pairing the law.
He lis also the author OF a num-
ber Of series OF lessons on InductIye
lGACuIHR OF MDraiDs
Mr. Siders has been engaged IN con-
Quoting Institutes In Nebraska and
Idaho for eighteen years. For eight
consecutive years he has conducted
the Pocatello Joint Institute. which
has a national reputation and is re
puted to be the largest educational
gathering in the northwest, which
institute has departments for superin-
tendents and principals, for high
school teachers. for grammar grade
teachers, primary teachers, rural
teachers, for teachers Of music. draw
ing, manual arts, etc.
His work in idaho has given him a
national reputation and made him
known to the leading educators Of the
country, q large number OF whom have
commended him to us in the highest
terms Among these are DIR. Charles
RI. Rudd Of the school OF education.
University OF Chicago; DR.. Edward G..
Elliott. teachers training school, UNI
versity of Wisconsin: DR.. James Al.
MacLean. president Manitoba uni.
versity. Winnipeg, who was for ten
years president OF the University Of
Idaho: Supt. Carol q. Pearse.
Milwaukee, Wis. ex president
of the National Education as
sociation: Pres. p. T. F'airchiId, presI-
of the agricultural college OF New
Hampshire, who is now president III
the. EationaI Educational association:
Supt Frank @. Cooper OF Seattle.
Continued on Page Seven.