The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-08
lature to intelligently present their
views to the legislature for their con-

lature to intelligently present their
views to the legislature for their con-
sideration.
There are certain subjects or prob
lens that are confronting you and to
which wish at this time to call your
attention.
Education.
The people of this state are deep
~ interested in the education Of their
children, and the United States CEN
sus reports of 1910 show that North
Dakota occupies a most enviable po-
sition. In that illiteracy in this state
is almost nil and that the state stands
we'll -At the head Of all Of the states
In that every citizen has at least soma
education. I believe strongly in rur.
al. and in the consolidated. country
school, for the reason that where
schools are consolidated in a school
township into one school rather than
into three or four or more. that there
is the opportunity. to. employ. more and
better teachers. and to give the pupils
a much better chance for education
where they can be divided into class
es and grades than is possible where
they are divided into many classes
under one teacher in a little country
school. By having stronger rural
schools, the day may be at hand when
they shall educate the children for
country life instead of educating the
country children for city life. One of
the problems of today is to keep the
farmers upon their farms and to keep
them from drifting to the towns and
cities. and one Of the main reasons
they advance for leaving their farms
give to their children better educa-
tton than the country. school affords
them. The consolidated country
school will take care Of this to large
extent, and at the same time will af-
ford social center, which is a neces-
sity In state like ours through the
long winters. and where the people
OF community may have the oppor-
tunity to get together for social recre-
alton and enjoyment.
Many Of the high schools In the
small towns in the state are opened
too early in the fall and before many
Of the boys. at least, can we'll be
spared from the work which they
have to do upon the farm, and 1t
would seem that II they were to COM
mence their activities about the first
Of October rather than earlier, that It
might be better, less expensive and
the attendance would be more uni
form.
The high school should be the peo-
PES academy helping to equip for
life's work the boys and girls who
cannot go away to school. The cours-
es Of study and the terms Of the high
schools should be so arranged as to
meet the needs Of and accommodate
the young folks both Of city and sur
rounding country. Efficient and prac-
tical high schools must sooner or lat
er relieve our state institutions from
doing secondary school work.
One of the big items. of expense to
parents are text books. We should
have uniform system Of text books
for the state. and believe that the
law could be SO framed and 80 safe
guarded for the, people to become the
prey Of any trust.
Institutions.
BY recent laws the penal and char
table institutions have been placed
under the care of board of control
The normal schools at Mayville and
Valley City and the new normal at
Minot are under the guidance Of a
normal board Of control. It will be
we'll to follow carefully tho reports
from these boards that you may de-
termine for yourselves as to the work
tngs Of the laws and as to the bene-
fit the boards are to the people Of the
state. The university, agricultural
college. school Of science. school Of
forestry and Industrial school are
each under separate boards of trus-
tees. and l would call your attention
to the report from the educational
system commission. and recommend
that you give careful consideration to
the question Of unifying and classify
Ing the educational system Of the
state. The state institutions are
heavy burden to the taxpayers, for
economy must be exercised in their
conduct that every dollar expended in
their support shall be for a dollar ac-
tually needed by them.
Systematic Accounting.
A uniform method of accounting
and reporting should be adopted by
the state. The same general system
should be used in every state lnstitu-
ton. and there should be a uniformity
Of system in every county auditors
and county treasurer's Office In the
state. A bank Is required to keep It's
books accurately, and every night at
Continued on Page ~