The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-12-09
MACDONALD CANDI-
DATE FOR STATE
SUPERINTENDENT

I N. C. Macdonald, state inspector of
consolidated, graded and rural schools,
today confirmed the rumors of the
past few weeks that he is now candi-
date for the Office of state superinten-
dent of public instruction, having de-
cided to enter the race since Supt.
Taylor has stated definitely that he
will not seek the Office again. Supt.
Macdonald says in speaking of the
matter: "After being encouraged by
many people from every section of the
state, and without solicitation, to en-
ter the contest for the state superin-
tendency, I have decided to become a
candidate for this very important Of
fee. 1t is very evident that there is
an extensive and insistent demand for
some one who is especially well quail
flied by training and experience to as
sumo the leadership in the matter of
the upbuilding of the rural schools.
Whether I am that person or not, the
people will be given the opportunity
to determine at the polls. In this and
other agricultural states, the major
work of the state superintendent is
and ought to be related directly to the
development of the rural schools, for
there the majority of the school chill
dren is enrolled and there the need is
the greatest. At later date I will
give my platform more in detail, but
I will say now that if nominated and
elected, l pledge myself to make a
special effort, through the co-opera-
ton of all helpful agencies, to develop
more fully all public schools, and more
especially the rural schools in every
section Of the state"
Supt. Macdonald is now completing
his fifth year as state inspector of
consolidated, graded and rural schools,
which work is mainly that of an as
sistant state Superintendent. BY his
cooperation with county. superinten-
dents and other school officials, the
press and other organizations, he has
had remarkable success in this field,
not only in grading up the one-room
rural schools, but in more than doubl-
ing the number of consolidated schools
and in securing an increase of four
times the amount of state aid. He
taught his first school in North Dako-
ia twenty-three years ago and has
been engaged in some form of school
work here ever since. The first ten
years were spent as rural school
teacher and county superintendent in
Cavalier County and principal at Hat
ton, and the next seven as city super
intendent at Lidgerwood and Mandan,
and the last five, including this year,
in his present position. Thus he
comes before the people with varied
and successful experience as rural
school teacher, village principal, coun-
ty and city superintendent, deputy
state superintendent, an instructor in
the summer schools Of the higher in
stitutions, institute lecturer and con-
ductor, and state inspector of consol-
idated, graded and rural schools.
hence it would seem that the proper
and logical thing for him to do is to
ask for the promotion to the Office Of
state Superintendent. His academic
and professional training has also
been very extensive, being graduate
of the Mayville State Normal school
and a graduate of the State Universe.
ty of North Dakota, with degree OF
Master of Arts. He has also done
postgraduate work in the UNIVERSE
ties Of Chicago and Leland Stanford.
Thus he possesses most valuable ex-
perience and training and special
qualifications to lead in the matter of
rural school development and to adj
minister properly the affairs of the
office. He is now on his fifth trip
around the state and so knows the
village and rural school conditions
over the entire state as no one else
can and if elected would not have to
spend term in learning the actual
conditions and the factors involved in
the development Of the new rural
school.
Leading educators and school people
generally believe that he would make
an excellent state superintendent and
their cordial good will and support.
= His high standing among the edu-