The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-05-07
TEAcHERs TRAINING.

sGASneHS TRAINING.
The following interesting letter
Aas been received from Miss Candis
Neason q the fsculty Of the State
Assmal school, and like oth.4 arti.
oses from Miss Nelson's pen is so
full Of arcttcal information tat we
arc glad to give it space in these
columns:
North Dakota Is one of our great
rural states. We are proud of her
acres. q her institutions, of her men
a Vrde that refuses to sit down
and be satisfied with what has been
attahed along any line and much less
along the line Of education.
n the state we have roughly 200
consolidated and over 300 partially
consolidated rural schools, and the
number Is being increased rapidly.
These schools are demanding better
prepared teachers and they are get
ting them. They are asking for at
least high school preparation and
Some professional training. Graded
schools Of the state are also asking
Tor better teachers and tehy are get
ting them. We must still regret. how
ever. the large number of one room
isolated schools, too many of which
arc still taught by the eighth grade
graduate.
4 child is a precious heritage. It
has capacities and powers gathered
slowly. patiently from Ill the past, the
unfolding Of which makes or mars it.
1t needs the guidance of a trained
teacher with knowledge. at her com.
mand and love in Ter heart, to bring
u safely to the good Of complete liv.
Ing.
Fought, our United States commits
siouer Of rural education, in his book
on 'The American Rural School"
enumerates what he says worthy teach
er must heve, "a sound body. and good
health; good common sense; natural
aptitude and insight into things edu-
cational; a social and agreeable ma
ture; patience, sympathy, and love
Tor children" The mere possession
at these natural qualities, while very
essential" he declares. lis not in itself
suf11cient.to make the teacher. There
must be added an acquired training
~ academic and (2) professional"
Seeley, in his School Management"
sAys. III the school trustee thinks that
his neighbours daughter, who has mere
" completed the district school course
and secured third degree certificate,
knows enough to teach the little child
ran of the school, and will answer as
well as the thoroughly equipped teach
er, he makes a fundamental mistake"
He further adds that, 1.-The least acade-
mic training that the teacher should
possess is that Of full high school
course" and from this no educator
who has the interests of our schools
and ou- children at chart will dissent.
Sometimes we look back on the
good old days Of the district school,
With its poorly prepared teachers, and
count on our fingers the men and wo-
men who have made good and try to
convince ourselves that this is proof
OF the efficiency Of these schools when
rs ! matter Of tact, it is only proof
that thesepeople had good gray mat
ter that made good in spite of poor
conditions. Even Jim Hills testimony
counts for naught when he chooses
to send his own sons through high
school, then to eastern colleges and
finally abroad to get the best posi-
bio training and culture. as rural
state we are hardly ready to allow a
CAPITALIST to dictate to us in the edu-
cation Of our sons and daughters, if
he chooses to advise that we keep our
children in ignorance that they may
be more subservient to orders which
means money to him and possibility
Tor ms own children.
The best Is none too good for our
boys and girls, be they dwelleers In
the villages Or on the farms.
4 CANDlS NELSON,
Valley City State Normal.