The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1913-01-25
NORMAL FOR
DICKINSON
Eleven Counties West of the
Missouri Have Fourth of
State Area and Will Get
the Fourth Normal.

the Fourth Normal.
Dickinson is out for the normal school
which is certain to come to the south
western portion of the state within a
few years. By consulting the map
readers will see at once that Dickinson
is the logical center for such school
the fourth for North Dakota. The city
is on the main line of the Northern
Pa cific, half way between the Missouri
river and the Montana line and about
half way north and south in the south
western portion of the state.
Supt. p. S. Berg. one Of the best
posted men on educational matters in
North Dakota, spoke briefly on this
subject Wednesday night to an inter-
ested audience at the Commercial Club
room. He said in part:
When the constitution was framed
the Red River Valley territory secured
all the educational institutions, as a
glance at the map will demonstrate.
and it would seem that the representa-
tives from the eastern part of the state
were in absolute control and failed to
make any provision for the future Of
the western part of the state.
The area of North Dakota is $1,000
square miles and the Slope country
west OF the Missouri river alone, COM
prising II counties, has an area of
$4,000 square miles, or little over
one-fourth of the total area of North
Dakota. This territory. destined TO be-
come the richest portion of all North
Dakota. has no state educational insti-
tuition and the average distance to the
nearest state school, the Valley City
Normal. is 275 miles. II is still fur
ther 10 the MayvilIe Normal the Ellen
dale Industrial school, the ,Wahpeton
School of Science, the Agricultural COL
lege at Fargo and the University ct
Grand Forks These great distances
deter the greater number of our boys
and girls from going away to school.
The mill tax and appropriation
which Stark county is contributing an
,nually to state educational institutions
is $12, 600 and the II counties west Of
the river contribute approximately $80.-
600. What benefit do our people get in
return? How many students from
Stark. Dunn. Billings or any of the
counties west of the river are attending
normal schools? This territory already
has 100. 600 population. or one sixth of
the population of the state. and before
another census is taken oue population
win easily be fourth that..of the state.
Eastern states are increasing their
aumber. Of normal schools. Oklahoma
has S, Alabama 6, Maine S. Massachu-
setts 10. Pennsylvania 49,. Illinois Is,
Wisconsin and Minnesota S. Statis-
tics of the country show that less than
60 per cent of the nHai teachers have
normal training.
In North Dakota SO per cent Of those
presenting themselves for teachers Ger
tificates fail on examination. Permits
are necessari ly issued to many teachers
for rural school work. In great ma
jofity of these cases the teachers could
not pass an examination. The nafmal
trained teachers eet employment in
cities and villages and there are none
for the country. More are needed.
Especially is this true in Starl
and all the Slope counties.
II Dickinson had q normal school. al
least 200 students would be enrolled th.
first year and the number would in
crease rapidly and hundreds of our beg.
ana girls would soon become equippet
to give our7 ruEal sschools the 'teachinl
that they so much need. The norma
schools are now equipped to give pupil
from the 9Th grade a SPECIAL teachinl
course. and in the very near fatur.
special attention will be given to agri
culture. enabling the teacher to mor'
intellieently instruct the buys and girl
in the rural schools regarding thing
that they will put into practice on tn
farm.
c. E. Ward. county superintendent O
schools. spoke briefly Of the condition
in Stark county, showing the need of ,
normal school out here. He said tha
out of 131 applicants for certificates. 9!
hadsno normal training whatever an,
but one had taken q complete course
OF sfhe number ~ had no other trainin,
y than the Sth grade and AZ nothing be
yoIid the high school. Of the 1871:
pupils In the county outside Of Dickin
sonflast year, but eight pupils finishes
the:sth Grade and received diplomas.
Geo. Senour, representative for tw'
terms, explained how the constitution
had to be amended to get state insti
tuition. the resoistion passina two sue .ps: