The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-24
Elementary School |
Inspection Report |
OF n. {. Mac Donald

port Is undoubtedly that devoted to
Consolidation of Rural Schools. a
complete list Is given of consolidated,
schools in the state that were in -ex-i
istence last August. One table gives
seventy-five open country consolf-
dated schools, a second table 115 town
consolidated schools and the third ta-
bic gives the total number of consoi-
dated schools by counties as 1870.
This last table shows that Towner
county is first with fifteen, Cavalier
second with twelve, Rolctte third
with eleven, Ramsey fourth with ten,
Cass and McEIenry fifth with min
each, and Nelson and Hettinger sixth
with eight each. All but seven oun
ties have one or more consolidated
schools. There is an increase Of for
ty-eight consolidated schools in one
year which is greater than the total.
for five years preceding. The subject
is discussed under eight heads, the
principal one of which is Benefits OF
Consolidation. Consolidation is COM
mended and urged in no uncertain
terms by The inspector.
Rural School Sanitation.
Tho Introductory statements to this
topic arc, Health is the most price
less possession of childhood" ana
yet in many rural schools. the health
Of children is seriously impaired" 1t
is discussed under the following
heads: CD Lighting, (2D heating and
ventilating, CD closets or ~outhouscs.
% water, 90 general sanitary pro-
visions. a plea is made for medica.
inspection III connection with better
sanitary provision for the safeguard
ing of health.
Classified Elementary Schools.
The appendix table gives the num-
Der Of classified elementary schools
by kind and counties as classified last
August. The total number on the
classified list is ga Of which number
240 are rural, f~fty-thrcc graded and
thirty-one consolidated. 1t may be
noted here that in addition there are
thirty consolidated schools on the
state high school list. All but six
counties arc represented in the class
flied elementary school list. For the
preceding year the number Of classi.
fed schools was ITO, which means an
increase of 154 in Onc year.
Recommendations.
The written portion OF the report
closes with recommendations which
have particular reference to a more
efficient operation of the rural school
state aid law. These in substance are
as follows: CD A minimum term OF
nine months, and the daily attendance
Of all pupils between the ages Of 8
and Is unless legally excused; CD A
minimum wage Of $40 per month for
all rural cachcrs in ((connection with
a law requiring that all must have
completed at least a four-year normal
school course or it's equivalent; .(3)
Compulsory medical inspection and
the use Of inside closets: a. State
aid in the amount of 81, 200 to 81, 900
to each consolidated school, same to
be paid by county and state; 60 AS
sistants to be furnished the inspector;
60 A county board of education to
appoint county superintendent or
commissioners of rural schools to SUI
pervisC adequately these schools, and
a state board Of education to appoint
the state superintendent or a COM
missioner Of education, inspectors and
assistants. these officers to have long
er terms and higher qualifications
than the law now prescribcs. 81
Special Pamphlets.
Two special pamphlets, one on The
Consolidation of Rural Schools in
North Dakota, and the other on "Ru-
raj School Sanitation, have been pre-
and issued by the state board of edu-
cation. These are now ready for dis
tributiOn.
Copies Of this report as we'll as
copies of the pamphlets on Consolida-
ton and Rural School S]anitoation
can be secured from Inspector Mac
donald at Valley City, State Superin-
tendent Taylor, or the several county
superintendent Of rural schools.