The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-02-25
THE ABOLIsHMENT OF THE MOD
Ell SCHOOL,.
(COntributed.)


the action of the Lathrope Committee
in recommending to the legislature the
provision that the children attending
the model schools Of the state shall
pay a tuition fee Of $4,000 annually.
It seems inconsistent to us that this
action, which seems to indicate an un-
willingness to adequately take care
of the educational institutions, should
come at the same time as the estab-
lishment of one more institution for
the state to support at Dickinson.
Would it not be much wiser policy
to adequately take care of the insti-
tutions we already have? 1t is our be-
lief that the committee does not in
tend the destruction of the model
schools Of the state, but it could not,
if it tried, come more directly to the
accomplishment of that purpose. The
people of teh city are already taxed to
people of the city are already taxed to
it forth as a fair proposition that it is
entirely unjust and out of the question
to ask the people to pay, in addition to
this tax, tuition fee of $4,000 for the
children who attend the model school.
We venture to say that no parent will
be willing to pay this tuition. This
brings US face to face with the ulti-
mate result of the committees action
if approved by the legislature. 1t will
mean the destruction of the model
school and throwing upon the city OF
200 children. In view of the fact that
the city schools are crowded at the
present time, such an action would
make necessary the expenditure OF
$4,000 or more for new grade school
building, the folly of which is apparent
in view of the fact that We already
have a school for this purpose, or the
payment of the tuition by the city gov
eminent.
There has been some talk that the
model school is not essential to the
work of a normal school, but this
assertion cannot be given the dignity
of an argument. We merely wish to
ask whether it is possible to teach
boys and girls how to swim by tho
lecture method without any opportun-
ity to get into the water and try. 1t
is possible to teach person how to
ride q bicycle by merely telling him
how to use his hands and feet without
any opportunity to attempt it for him.
self? The same question can be ask
ed in regard to model schools in gen.
eral. Can any normal school, no mat
ter how we'll equipped or how we'll
qualified the faculty, make people pro-
ficient in the art of teaching by mere
ly telling them how to do it? The
normal schools the world over are
unanimous in their testimony that
teachers must learn to teach by teach
ing under careful and expert super
vision. We rest at ease on this point,
however, and as stated in the begin
ming we do not believe it the intention
of the Lathrop Committee to work the
abolition of the model schools, but we
do wish to express our regret that the
recommendation has been made in
such way that it must, by necessity,
accomplish this unfortunate end, I'M
less the city pays the tuition.
From the standpoint of the state,
however, it is only fair to admit that
the state ought to pay for the educa-
ton of the children who are attending
the model school, The normal school
is located here under the assumption
that it should receive all the support
which is consistent with fair dealing
to the people of the state. Up to the
present time the children of the model
school have been educated without
any cost whatever to the city. This
situation is not the rule in cities
where normal schools are located all
over the United States. In some in
stances, the city pays a part of the ex-
pense and the state part. In most in
stances the cities have taken advant.
age Of the fact that a normal school is
located in their midst and, instead of
maintaining separate educational
system, have opened their schools to
the supervision of the normal school
and allowed the teachers in training
at the normal to educate their children
under the expert supervision of critic
teachers. This method has not only
given exceptionally good satisfaction
from the standpoint of good teaching
but has also reduced the expense oil
the city educational system nearly
one-half. ... ... ....
It is very evident that the legislature
will make the people of Valley City
pay for the education of the two hun
dred children in the model school, IT
view of this fact, would it not be much