The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-12-09

consolidated, graded and rural schools,
today confirmed the rumors of the past
few weeks that he is now candidate
for the Office of state superint
of public instruction, having decided
to enter the race since Supt. Taylor
has stated definitely that he will not
seek the Office again. Supt Macdonald
says in speaking of this matter:
AFTER being encouraged by many peo-
pie from every section of the state,
and that without solicitation, to enter
the contest for the state superintend-
ency l have decided to become can
didate for this very important office.
1t is very evident that there is an ex-
tensive and insistent demand for some
one who is especially we'll qualified by
training and experience to assume the
leadership in the matter of the up
building of the rural schools. Wheth-
er 1 am that person or not the people
will be given the opportunity to deter
mine at the polls. In this and other ag-
ricultural 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 ma
jority of the school children is en-
rolled and there the need is the great
est. At a later date l will give my
platform more in detail, but will say
now that if nominated and elected I
pledge myself to make a special ef-
fort, through the cooperation of all
helpful agencies, to develop more
fully all public schools and more es-
pecially the rural schools in every Sec
tion 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 superindents
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 doub-
ling 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 % years ago and has been engaged
in some form of school work here ever
since. The first ten years were spent
as a rural school teacher and county
Superintendent in Cavalier county and
principal at .Ha|tton and the next
seven as city superintendent at Lidger-
wood and ,Mandan and the last five, in
cluding this year, in his present posi-
ton. Thus he comes before the peo-
pie with a varied and successful ex-
perience as rural school teacher, vii
lage principal, county and city super
intendent, deputy state superintendent,
an instructor in the summer schools Of
the higher institutions, institute lec-
turer and conductor and state inspec-
tor of consolidated, graded and rural
schools. Hence it seems that the prop
er 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 a graduate of the
Mayville State Normal school and
graduate of the State University OF
North Dakota, with the degree of Mas
ter Of Arts. He has also done post
graduate work in the universities Of
Chicago and Leland Stanford. Thus
he possesses most valuable experience
and training and special qualifications
to lead in the matter Of rural school
development and to administer prop
erly the affairs Of the Office. He is
now on his fifth trip over the state and
so knows the village and rural school
conditions over the entire state as no