The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-07-31

Good work with eight grades IN tn
average country school under the Az
erage country teacher Is m attempt. n
the impossible. Some better modihcs-
ton must be found. This opens me
whole problem of consolidation, trans.
pOrtation, suitable buildings, proper
grading and suitable teachers. IN
solving this problem the Normal
school must do its part.
The course of study In our NORTH
Dakota country schools, tho rapidly
improving is still copying too largely
from the curricula of the public
schools Of Chicago or Boston, or per-
chance from q country school oPerst-
ing under New England conditions
Some subjects must be thrown out.
The content of other subjects must be
ruralized and made conformable with
Dakota conditions. The Dakota rural
schools must teach the boys and girls
love of Dakota rural conditions;
must open their eyes to the beauties
Of nature in Dakota, must give them
an improved comprehension OF the
dignity and science of North Dakota
agriculture. Agriculture, manual
training, domestic science, must be
given places in rural education.
The North Dakota rural school, its
teachers, its courses Of study, its
school buildings, its grounds, must be
planned to supply that universal want
Of the human heart, the call for social
intercourse. It must be community
social center. We must cease filling
our insane asylums with our farmers
wives. sent there because for years
they suffered from the lack Of human
neighborly companionship. We must
make the way of Mrs. Farmer easier.
1t is the privilege and duty OF the
Normal school to help in the solution
of this problem by putting in the ru-
raj community the biggest single fac.
tor possible, properly trained ana
inspired teacher.
Thruout our public schools, both
city and rural, there is great gap
open between the facts taught in the
school and the facts needed outside OF
the schools. How better to improve
our selection of facts, how better to
modify our methods and discipline so
school and life shall be one, so that
there shall be no cataclysm between
graduation and life is task for the
Normal schools as being most direct
ly connected with the great public
school system.
It has been urged and with some
Justice that the graduates of our pub
lie schools, instead of becoming bet
ter citizens, have often, by reason OF
their education, become sharper ras-
Gals. That this is in any large meas
ure true or that it is the fault OF the
public school l do not believe. Civic,
social and economic conditions have
had more to do with bringing about
any possible lowering Of the average
ethical standards than have the pub
lie schools. In fact, believe the pub
lie school has been one of the great
conserving forces in this problem. Yet
the fact remains that the conditions
must be faced and the public schools
must do their part in reaching the
hearts and ideals of the young people
of the land. Our young people must
receive instruction and training in eth
les, in morality and in religion. They
must be sent out as citizens not only
Intellectually capable, but possessed OF
moral fibre capable of withstanding
temptations and determined to remain
loyal to high ideals.
AS the science of hygiene and phys.
ical well-being has advanced it has
been found practicable to include moi
only instruction but of late actual
practice in physical education. If the
public schools should teach the pupils
nothing else except to care for theil
physical organisms and how to be
the more efficient human beings the
schools would justify their existence
OF all the subjects taught in our pub.
lie schools there is none concerning
which there can be less doubt or less
controversy as to it's value to the pu
pills than the subject Of physical edu
cation and personal and community
hygiene: The further development
of this science rests in part with tn
normal schools.
This great instrument, the public
schools, has been found so convenient
so thoroughly organized, and so read
lily adaptable to the needs of the ma
ton that number of splendid move
ments for the betterment of mankint
have received their chief impetus il
the public schools. These campaign
have been carried on as additions t.
the regular curriculum. ! like to cal
them the public school crusade
against intemperance; against tuber
culosis; against unsanitary conditions
against the house fly, if you please
and of late that magnificent crusad
in favor of peace, the public schoo
war upon war. If thru the boys an
girls in the public schools we can has
ten the day when the curse Of alcohc
shall be banished from the land, whe
tuberculosis, typhoid fever and unsan
itary living conditions can be don