The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-04-26
go after Money"
SAYS STATE REGENT
BOARD, AT BANQUET, EMPRESS
WILLINGNESS TO BOOST THE
SCHOOL ALL THEY CAN.
NEW TEACHING METHODS
REGENT FRIEBERG SAYS TIME
NEAR WHEN u. -. WILL
DIRECT WORLD.

United effort for a better State
Normal school in Madison, was the
keynote of speeches made at the ban
quet arranged last night by the Com
mercial club in honor of the state
board of regents. The banquet was
given in the Lake Park hotel, and If
it was the intention of the promoters
of the dinner to cement a more solid
spirit of good fellowship between the
regents and this community, no one
who attended the repast will deny
that their hopes were realized to the
fullest.
The visiting guests were t. w.
Dwight, of Sioux Falls, president of
the board; Regents August Frieberg,
of Beresford; j. w. Campbell, of HUI
ron, and Frank Anderson, of Web
ster, and |. ID. Aldrich, of Big Stone,
secretary of the board. Prof. j.. w.
Heston, president of the State Nor
NAL school, also the clubs guest, pre-
sided as POSTMASTER. Citizens to the
number of eighty-one made up the
balance of the gathering.
Local speakers complimented the
members of the board on their work
as a great state body. The regents,
i'm turn, assured the citizens of their
continued loyalty to state educational
institutions, and declared that they
would lend their cooperation in any
way possible in making the State
Normal school in Madison a better
seat of learning.
Short reference was made by Prof.
Heston, in his opening remarks, to
the guests of honor. He said that the
members of the board of regents are
builders and more than builders. He
called attention to their numerous
duties, which had been we'll perform
ed. Prof. Heston told that there
were present a representative body of
citizens. and that he deemed ii a real
privilege to be able to introduce them
to the members of the board. For the
reason that there were so many good
speakers present, he explained, it
would be difficult for him to arrange
his toast list.
Must Deal with Future.
George II. Farmer, president of
the Madison board of education, told
that he considered it a real honor to
welcome the regents. He said that
the men represent one of the great
est organizations of the state, for
their duties are more difficult to per-
form than are those of other state
boards.
"Other state organizations have 10
do with conditions as they exist;
with you, to a larger degree, rests
the future of this state" said Mr..
Farmer. 1T is you, gentlemen, who
are expected to correct the errors
which have come down to us from
the dark ages. A great evolution has
come in the last ten years in the
methods of education and in educa-
tional institutions. The system must
be revised, and you gentlemen are
the directors"
Mr.. Farmer pointed out that in
years gone by only 90 per cent of
boys entering public school had gone
beyond the eighth grade. and that 5
per cent or less of those going
through high school afterward at
tended colleges. He told that hat in
itself was proof that there was some
thing wrong with the schools. He
related that in the past they had not
been trained for occupations they
could follow in future life, but were
cast out of school like a chip thrown
to drift with the wind. Mr.. Farmer
assured the regents that the citizens
take great pride in the Normal school
and that they are willing to cooper
ate with the state body in any way
the regents may direct.
In introducing Mr.. Dwight, Prof
Heston said he had first met him
when the present regent was a mem
Der of the state legislature. Prof.
Heston was then a member of the
faculty at Brookings college. He said
that he had all but succeeded in hav-
ing passed by the legislature an APP
preparation of $40. 900 for the college
when Mr.. Dwight anne along and
killed the measure.
Did All Possible.
Mr.. Dwight said he believed the
citizens of the city were of the opin-
ion that the board of regents had
been negligent in their duties to the
State Normal school, but he assured
his hearers that the members hao
made all haste possible, under the
circumstances. The president OF the
board explained that the regents had
during the afternoon, let the CONTRACT
for the proposed model school, anc
that to keep within the limitations o.
the appropriation of $4,000, it hat
been necessary to make a few Sigh
changes in the original plans for thu
building. He asked that the commu
! nifty reserve their criticism OF tn
building until after ii had been com
pleted, at which time another recep
ton would probably be held in thu
} new structure.
He said that In planning the build
ing, three vital points had been KEEP
t sight of. One he explained as beini
safety" He told that 1t would b'
next to impossible for a student t.
t be injured through fire in the build
ing. All corridors are to be fire
proof, and as the building is only on