The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-03-08
OLD TIME TEACHER RE-
PLIES TO GEO. L. MURRAY
Towner, N. D., March 6, 1917.


Editor independents:
In your last issue you printed a
very interesting letter from George
Murray of Berthold. Some accident
had happened that folded up corner
of the page, and | could not read a
blank, but in what | did read, Mr..
Murray has misunderstood very much
the purpose of one of our North Da
kota laws, and his figures as to vast
ed funds, and more to be wasted, made
me think of the shield that hung SO
that one knight saw the silver lining
and the other saw the golden.
Permit me to show Mr.. Murray the
other side.
The point in question is the law that
permits school district to pay the
salary of teacher while she attends
inspirational meetings, such as the
Northwestern Teachers association
that will convene in Minot April 5
and 6.
Mr.. Murray thinks she should do so
at her own expense. Well, | did so in
'91, '92, '93, '94 and up to the passage
of the law, and | walked from St.
Mary's, above Burlington, to Minot
llldny q llLlc' VII ySo, many q tiihS,
on Saturday, farmer going to mar
ket would give me a ride. Several of
Minot's citizens will vouch for this,
Attorney C. A. Johnson, who helped
with the Reading Circle, and Attorney
Jim johnson, who was chairman of
the board served for while, and my
very good neighbor and kind friend
all the while.
In those days Miss Webber rode heI
pony and so did Miss Jennie Strong,
now Mrs. Nels Muss of Velva.
But the majority of the growing
teachers in Ward and McHenry Coua-
ties had small salaries and short
terms. / don't know from what cor
ner Mr.. Murray came to Berthold, but
l do know Mr.. James Falconer came
from q cultured corner in Michigan
and we have had recruits all these
years from Indiana. Illinois, Ohio, and
even Pennsylvania. They had had ac-
cess to good schools back home; some
of them brought degrees, and some
didn't. Well | remember when
limited gently to one pretty maid that
North Dakota required civics for a
3rd grade certificate, and she had bet
ter not sit up too late at the dancing
party ToWner young men had organiZ
ed to welcome these bonnie lassies (in
1900) she tossed her head scornfuliy
and said she came from an Indiana
school, So she faced the examination
next day, and did not take out a good
second grade, as some maids from
the district schools did
SO North Dakota has always ser the
scale high (when county superintcn-
dents needed votes, as we'll as teach
ers, did not grant too many permit.5)
and it was generous policy that sald
"Let us bring our teachers to the
meetings, they will do so much better
work for our boys and girls. Let us
SOW if we hope to reap" And school
directors will tell you that the teacher,
man or woman, who has the grit to
get up and go to meet other teachers,
hear good addresses, and talk over
knotty problems, will inspire the
school. 1t costs the district money,
and it mounts to a mighty total for
the county and the state. but | do not
believe it adds mills to the taxes in
any district. Indeed, our tax payers
would be investing we'll if they would
put a house beside every school,
and encourage a young man to marry
and make teaching his life work. His
wife could, if she so pleased, teach
the primary grades, home economics
and sewing, while her husband taught
gardening and manual training. The
pensions he pays his share Of, would
be good insurance for old age. A
school house for a home would match
our fine farm houses and barns. So
I hope to see every teacher in the
Northwest at Minot April 6.
Jean McNaughton Stevens.