Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-06-13

N. G. MCDONALD, INSPECTOR
OF RURAL SCHOOLS FAV-
0Rs THAT PLAN b
WORK WOUlO Be Improved
Where 1000 in High Schools Now
There Would be Nearly
r. p Twenty Thousand.

Fargo, N. d., June IN. C. Mac
Donald, superintendent of the rural
graded and consolidated schools in
this state, has just completed an in
spection of the Moore school in Ram.
som county, the Uxbridge in Barnes,
the Logan Center in Grand Forks and
the Russell in Rolette counties. These
are -four of the ten best in the state
and all are the open country CONSOLE,
dated, each being located in rural
communities. { "
"A trip to either or all of these four
schools would convince any one"
said Superintendent Macdonald, "of
the benefits Of the consolidated
school plan. Each school teaches, in
addition to the regular studies, agri-
cultural, music, drawing and each has
literary societies. They do work up
to the eighth grade and also carry on
high school work. These four have
312 students of which thirty-five are
taking high school work this year,
with indications of a greatly increas-
ed number next year. The four en-
ploy fourteen teachers and do the
work Of ssixteen one.room country
schools Y besides doing it so much
more effectively in the upper grades
and carrying OF high school work,
which would be entirely impossible,
of course, under the old system,
Counting all the grade work, the ex-
ira features and the advantage of
higher instruction the four schools
are certainly more than equal to the
work from twenty-five one-room
schools. In addition there is an in
creased attendance, longer terms OF
instructions and many other advan-
tages.
IF the rural schools of North Da-
kota were all consolidated and doing
high school work there would be at
least 10000 boys and girls, TO North
Dakota in the high schools instead
or 1000, as at present.
"One striking advantage of the con-
solidated high school work is the fact
that only a small percentage of these
could have that advantage were it
not for the consolidated system. In
many cases 1t would be a financial
impossibility for their parents to send
the boys and girls to the towns t.
school. We also find that the con.
solidated schools are a great aid to
the country life problem. They make
the boys and girls more satisfied WIN
home life, with rural conditions and
fewer of them are inclined to leave
the farm.
"One thing that appeals especially
To the boys is the fact they can have
all kinds of athletics, where a large
number are gathered in a consolidate
ed school. They have baseball teams,
football, basketball, track teams,
which would be impossible In the
small rural schools. The literary So
cfeties are also a great source of ell
tertainment and instruction to the
boys" ...t'.,.r. 80 -. 800
One thing brought out by Superin-
tendent Macdonald, not generally
known over the state, is the fact that
in some districts, instead of running
old-fashioned buses to hall the pupils
10 the consolidated schools auto
touring ears are being used In Vel
va auto transportation Tor the school
pupils has proven effective and cheap.
er than by team. Only a few trips
were missed last winter. The ma
chimes cover the, ground sosfmuch
mores rapidly the children ssdosshot
nave TO remain out such long hours
anu are more comfortable. Regular
enclosed tourning cars with seats for
eighteen or twenty pupils will be used
on some routes. .
Good roads are also resulting from
the consolidated schools. In practi.
caily every community now in which
a consolidated school is established
the residents Immediately begin a
campaign for better roads to the
school, so the children can make the
"TRIP every day and as quickly as nos.
sible. This indirect ,,A,efit is re.
garded as afgreat asset 5tA'tlle consoli-
dated system. along with the numcr-
~ousnother advantages claimed for the
plan. "s~e 0'
superintendent Macdonald reports
4 number of other consolidated
schools are being planned n the
growth in this state promises to be
larger this year than last. The num-
ber IN this state exceeds those of
many other states with double the
population and demonstrates the pro-
g~resslveness OF North Dakota along
educational line
To the Voters of North Dakota: st5-
am a candidate for nomination OF
state Treasurer on the Republican
ticket, at the June oath, 1914 Primary
Election.