The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-16
No Longer Any Argument
For Instruction. De- i
clares E. R. Edwards =.
EDUCATORS MEET
AT GRAND FORKS
State Conference of. High
School Superintendent
---- Opens Today. Nv h.
Special to The Forun..l

opened IN SFanQ EOEkS THIS ulOEIl1nS.
declares that tie recent order of the
state board Of education to discon-
tinue instruction in German is be-
ing obeyed generally, and he further
declares that there no longer exists
and argument why schools should
instruct in German. a
In general the schools arc COM
plying with the resolution OF the
state board recommending the dis
continuance of German as a. school
subject" says Mr.. Edwards. The
strongest indictment against German
is that we have failed utterly to
teach it. I venture the prediction
that less than two per cent Of the
pupils now completing their second
year Of German in our high schools
can read their local newspapers If
they were printed in the simplest
German. -
There is good reason why our
federal government should continue
the foreign language press. for we
have so many adults in this coun-
try who cannot read United States,
but that is no reason why through
our schools we should continue to
propagate such persons by taking
school time that should be spent up
on good United States common
sense teaching, to teach very ineffec-
lively something that is not only Of
doubtful value, but positively dan
gerous. The great majority Of our
citizens Of foreign extraction are
loyal and patriotic in every way, but
the teaching Of German has no
obvious bearing on this point.
Should Consider Expenditure.
when fully half of, our schools are
in districts where the tax rate equals
or. exceeds the legal. limit, and as
many, are in districts bonded to the,
limit, surely all expenditures should
be carefully, considered, but it must
be borne in mind at all times that
the teacher is the vital consideration.
and that poor teacher is, always
overpaid. ,-. 49,.
THE United States commissioner
OF education has requested that
there should be absolutely no ex-
travagance in graduation exercises
this year. I wish to heartily second
this. There Is also a &ban placed by
the government on all building op-
erations not needed. This is wise.
Some Of our districts must spend
money in. buildings, as they have
lost, their buildings by fire, and some
must have more room ss >.. 81.
Knitting In Glass Upheld,
Knitting in school doesn't detract
from a pupils interest in his or her
school work. is an observation made
by the inspector who deals with the
extensive nature of patriotic work
carried on.
I'm some places the boys and girls
are. taking their knitting to class,
and it Is not possible to discern by
observation that there is any loss Of
class interest on this account" says
Mr.. Edwards. TN fact, it is evidence
in some cases that the students are
more in earnest and more attentive
because Of the extra work they ara
doing. -~. &c. >--~.--...-. :
The realization that they. are do
ing something for the brave men
over there seems to stimulate In
terest in the usual tasks Of the
school. Only in one or two in
stances have complaints been heard
that war work interferes with the
regular duty and in these cases the
inspector has earnestly recommended
that said conplainants get on the
end of a swift torpedo and be on
their way toward Germany, where
they belong"
Fewer Classified Schools.
Dealing with the standards of
schools. Mr.. Edwards expresses the
fear that the number Of classified
schools will be smaller this year be-
cause of the carelessness Of school
boards in the selection of teachers
There are now 144 classified high
schools, including 81 first class, 3S
second class, and 4s third class
Seventy seven Of these are in con-
solidateds school districts.
Three new schools were added to
the list Of accredited secondary
schools by the North Central asso-
citation. Mayville, Enderlin and
Hankinson are the new members on
the list. All old schools on the list
were accepted. -
Change Vacation Scheme. 9
Mr.. Edwards advises changes in
the vacation scheme, as an aid to
crop production, and as means Of
keeping boys in school.
School after school has been Wis
tied during the seeding season,
which had very few boys in attend
ance, and the universal answer is
that they are our working
st is evident that our school day
and school term need reconstruction.
For the first six grades, 1t would
probably be we'll to open school in
September, and close in May. For
the rest 1T would probably be we'll
to open In October, and close In
June, allowing for a long seeding
vacation" This may seem revolu-
tionary, but patriotism. demands such
things in these times when the fut-
ure Of our nation and every decent
nation on earth hangs in the bal
ance. All 100 per cent Americans
are anxious to make very radical ad-
1ustments even at personal neon
venience, and Gil others should be
made to. OF course, in the case OF
q few OF our larger communities, the
date which is logical for opening
school is not at all the logical date
Tor the rest of our state. This fact
should be faced squarely.
There is no great cause for
fysteria about teachers continues
Mr.. Edwards Sufficient effort and
sufficient wages will still secure good
teachers. We may have to drop our
prejudices against married women
and also accept men with slight
physical defects but 1t is hoped that
enough persons of good qualification
can be secured. Itsis extremely I'M
fortunate to find few cases In
which employing officers have used
the war as an excuse for dropping
standards
Discussin high school examina-
tons, Mr.. Edwards points to the
fact that they cost $4,000 year that
school officials are disagreed as to
their value, and that IL no agreement
can be reached he PROPOSES that the |