The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-26
.PIJFFER IS
STRONGFOR
This STATE.
Declares Great Opportun-
tiles Lie Before North Da-
kota- Sees Needed
. Change.
TENANTRY MUST DECREASE
Maintains Land Ownership
is Real Solution Of the
States Problem.

Hillsboro, N. D., March 26.--J. Adams
IPuffer, the famous sociologist and vo-
cational expert from Massachusetts,
who has been touring North Dakota,
for the past month, having visited the
university, the Agricultural College,
the normal schools and many of the
larger high schools Of this state, when
interviewed after his lecture here today
stated his opinion Of North Dakota.
What do you think of North Dako-
ta's educational facilities" questioned
the interviewer.
This is a young state and so your
opportunities for advancement along
the educational line are very great"
answered the great thinker. And they
must be taken advantage Of for educa-
ton is going to be one of the might
est factors in determining the future OF
North Dakota"
| Referring to the elementary course of
study which is offered in this state,
Mr.. Puffer considered it Of average
/ grade, but commented very favorably
upon the fact that it is fast coming
to the front with the introduction Of
! modern methods of education.
my impression of your high schools
has been rather varied" he continu-
ed, smilingly. Some of them are good,
but many are very backward with cur
riculums not at all practical. Let me
cite you. an example. In one school /
found this course of study. In the
! morning, Latin I, Latin II, Geometry,
and Algebra, and in the afternoon, Ger
man !, German II, and English and III.
Why such a curriculum is relic Of the
classical age! IL any person in North
Dakota will show me the value of alge-
bra and geometry in a girls education
will be willing to lie down and roll
from here to Boston, said Mr.. Puffer
| laughingly.
Larimore Shows Advance.
"But / have run across schools Of
Iexactly the opposite type in your state, !"
affirmed the interviewed more serious
ly. "Out at Larimore there is school.
The superintendent there is wonder
full leader and he has introduced an up
toe date practical course that is arous-
ing a great deal of interest. On Satur-
day he had almost a hundred pupils at
own free will, doing extra work. That
is the kind Of spirit l like to see in a
school.
so you must realize that it depends
upon the teachers, the superintend-
ents and principals to make your high
schools better. My personal idea OF
d a practical course of study would be
household chemistry; household me-
tchanics, domestic science, gardening
and botany. For the boys, agriculture
mechanical work, mathematics and
chemistry. Both of these courses
would be correlated with practical
English that would include applied TO-
rensic training-debate and oratory,
Ninety nine one-hundredths of all
English is spoken and therefore / be-
lieve that spoken English should take
first place in our school system"
When questioned in regard to the
educational institutions of higher
TYPE Mr.. Puffer made the following
statements: Your university no.
lticed in particular because of its high
moral standards which are not COM
mon among schools of its type. 1t is
a safe place for your boys and girls to
go to school. Some of the professors
have good red blood in their veins and
are much alive" In reference to the
agricultural college he mentioned DR..
Ladd's work in particular. President
Laid is one of the heroes of this coun-
try and his biography will make an
inspiring story for the young men of
North Dakota for all time"
The States Problems.
what is the greatest evil of your
industrial system in> North Dakota
oh, that is by far your most serious
problem" said Mr.. Puffer. North
dakota is primarily an agricultural
6lhIC el1lu yCIS AAoIScAA Vi IAlG "a
Hand owning farmers increasing and
your fertile soil becoming richer. your
state is going backward along these
lines. You will never become prosper
GUS until there is change in your
land policy. The state has been
Invaded by an army of land speculat-
; ors who are doing much more harm
than good. Real estate firms, banks
and land gamblers own an unneces-
! sary proportion of your land. They