Grand Forks herald., 1917-01-25
STATE SCHOOLS ARE TRAINING THE FUTURE
CITIZENS OF NORTH DAKOTA IN RIGHT WAY

(Note-For much of the statistical
Information embodied in this article.
credit Is due n. c. Macdonald, state
superintendent Of public instruction,
through whose courtesy it was OBJ
tained.)
1t Is a far cry from the occasional
log and sod shanty schools Of fifteen
and twenty years ago to the present
splendid educational system which
states prominent for their educational
work and resources-but that Is just
what young. splendid, indomitablc
North Dakota has accomplished.
When the Russell Sage Foundation
recently made it's ranking of the pub
lie schools Of all the states in the
union on ten main points. for effic-
iency, North Dakota ranked as num-
Der eighteen. This is no mean record
for young state. and Is more than a
creditable showing when 1t is remem-
bered that in this ranking. North Da-
kota Is ahead Of such older states as
Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Demand Exceeds Supply.
An exhaustive rehearsal of the edu-
cattonal resources OF North Dakota
and the many factors entering into
the states progress along educational
lines is beyond the possibilities Of the
present article Many surprising
facts are brought forth in investiga-
ton OF state history and economic
conditions leading up to and respon-
sible for present excellent conditions.
First wilderness was found to re-
spond generously to the spur Of agri-
culture; settlers came. and the old
order changed: what was a wilderness
blossomed forth into waving fields Of
grain; suddenly an unStemmed tide Of
emigration poured into the state, and
North Dakota's regeneration was on.
1t was then that foresighted seers
gifted with prophetic vision Of the
ultimate laid down fundamentals
which began new era in education
for the northwest. The demand for
schools was vital and immediate. AS
soon as one school was planted. the
need for two more arose. In short,
the demand was greater than the sup
ply, and for number OF years the
struggling young state bent every
effort to keep pace with the ever in
creasing tide without much prospect
OF catching up. 1t is significant that
during this period the state was not
niggardly. What she built she built
for permanency, and with visions Of
a proper ideal. Much vet remains to
true conception Of prosless-and. it. is
being done. ..-.....-. ..........
Claims to Distinction. '.'...
Since the inauguration OF the conf
solida:ed school movement North Da-
kota has placed another feather in
her educational bonnet: ranking sec
ond among states in total number,
and first in proportion to. population.
This is no mean distinction and should
be regarded in its true significance.
Now the state has 4Ol. consolidated
schools, ISL of which are in the open
country and ESQ in the towns. This
represents an increase of 287 schools
OF this class in five years, attributable
first to population demands bringing
state aid augmented by educationa! !!
campaigns. During the period 1911
to 1916 the increase in schools of this
class amounted to 252 per cent, again
a fact Of significance. or these schools
2O1 are classified. 61 as state high
schools and 124 as state graded con-
solidated schools. Last year there
was an enrolment in consolidated
schools of 24,210 farm boys and girls
AN increase Of $50 per cent over
the number enrolled five years pre-
VIously. At the close of the last
school year there were 1873 state high
schools with an enrolment Of s,743
students. In addition to this number
2,o10 were doing nigh school work in
other public schools, making a total
OF 1O,752 high school students.
Figures That Arc Facts.
There are $500 public schools in
the state. according to the printed re-