The nonpartisan leader., 1917-12-24
N. D. is Paid
for Efficiency
Excellent Schools Bring
State Reward

State Reward !.
G~1 1UBsTANTIAL recognition Of
I>I the efficiency Of North Da-
kota public schools has just
been given by the United
States bureau Of education,
IN the form Of $15,2o0 to extend "voca-
tfonal training" Two representatives
Of the bureau met in Fargo December
IL with the state board Of education,
examined the courses Of study out.
lined for the high schools and rural
schools, and the kind of leadership
being given by the Agricultural college
and other institutions along this line,
and announced that the state easily
Qualities for the appropriation.
This will be a straight, gift to the
taxpayers and school children Of North
Dakota. The state does not have to
appropriate any other sum to go along
with it, as. for instance, is required in
taking advantage of federal aid for
road building. 1t is thus that much to
be added to the generous appropria-
t1ons which the last legislature made
Tor school purposes, and it will be used
especially for training the farmers
sons and daughters and the sons and
daughters Of the working classes some
useful trade or craft.
That is what vocational training"
demonstrating for practical work like
agriculture, carpentry, engineering,
cooking, sewing, etc. The last congress
thought that this kind Of study ought
to be encouraged and it appropriated
half million dollars to be distributed
to the states that have already done
extra good work along this line The
act is known as the Smith Hughes
law. 1t provides s15,2oo for the first
year, and gradually increasing amounts
for succeeding years until the sum
reaches $50,o00 at the end of five years.
. WILL TRAIN TEACHERS
AT AGRICULTURAL; COLLEGE
In North Dakota this first $4,000
will be used to pay the salaries Of sew
eral instructors at the Agricultural
college, where the board Of education
decided that the teachers should be
trained for vocational teaching. Here,
with this extra available money, teach
ers will be especially trained to teach
these various vocational branches in,
the rural schools and in. the, high
schools. Already the A. c. has an ef-
ficient course for such instruction and
Is conducting classes along this line.
1t was because these courses are so
thorough and complete that North
Dakota was selected as one Of the few
states to participate in this bonus.
Some additional schools will also get
| aid These will be such high schools,
| rural schools and consolidated schools
| as already are conducting vocational
classes of the standard required. The
money is paid into the state treasury
| from the United States treasury, and is
| paid out by the state quarterly to the
| institutions that are entitled to it on
| their merits. All schools that are not
now up to the required standard will
have until June 80, 1918, to qualify.
! This will be an added incentive to i'm
prove the courses and demand better
work of the pupils.
| All the schools qualified to receive
| aid by that time will get their proper
| ton and the money is already avail
able. When the money Is sent out from
the state treasurer the districts will
/ be informed that this is part Of the
1 federal fund, 50 that they will know
they are getting United States recog-
milton and direct help for their eff
eiency.,
WILDE STIMULUS
TO BETTER WORK
No doubt It will mean special
teacher for some schools that have
long needed such, but felt they could
not afford to add another to the teach
ing force. 1t may mean for other
schools that the instructor who has
been trying to, conduct class in cook
ing or sewing, in wood work or prac-
tical farming, can now devote all his
time to It. For all schools that get it
this fund will mean redoubled effort
along practical lines, and for the whole
state, it means that the people who
comprise the backbone Of the state will
| have better education than ever before