The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-08-22
MORE ANDBET-
r TER TEACHERS

r TER TEACHERS
+ N. C. Macdonald, State superinten-
dent Of public instruction, has recent
ly sent to the county superintendent
circular letters concerning teachers
certificates and pupils examinations.
These contain some valuable advice
and interesting facts. >.-.~}
1t is of special interest to note that
more certificates have been issued for
the year just closed than during any
preceding year an dthat the increase
IS greater by 120 than the increase in
The number of teaching positions, and
that those securing certificates aver
.ge with two years more traii1ng and
me year more experience tina 'Ahere-
;ofore. In order to help keep up the
supply of we'll trained teachers for
rural schools, third grade Certificates
Former first grade elementary is
sued upon diplomas granted by pub
lie high schools will be re-issued by
the state board to expire June 80,
1921. The purpose of this action is to
bring back into the service married
women of experience and training to
teach in their local schools and there
by release the younger women for
teaching elsewhere.
Last year the state department of
educa ton and the state board of edu-
ucation recommended that as far as
possible, the schools open about the
first of October and close the latter
part of June. Two-thirds of the state
high schools, three-fourths of the
graded schools, and nine-tenths of the
one-room rural schools observed this
| recommendation, and as consequence
over $4,000 farm children had a
month more of schooling this last
school year and at the same time
helped to increase the food supply
without missing school. The recon-
mendation was again made for this
year.
This next year, in addition to the
examinations in the eighth grade and
high school subjects given by the
state board in February and the last
week in June. and additional examin-
alton will be given the last week in
May to provide for pupils whose
schools do not continue through the
month of june.
All this progress in securing better
trained teachers for the rural schools
and providing better school facilities
for farm children has been made un-
der the leadership of State Superin-
tendent N. C. Macdonald, and this de-
spite the handicaps of crop failures
md wartime conditions.
SLACKERS IN THE SENATE
The slackers are not all in private
ife. There are some fifty of them in
he United States senate. They did
lot appear on Thursday, when a
quorum Of that body was needed
greatly in order to arrange for taking
up the new draft bilf promptly next
Monday. ...> =,
Some of them were luxuriating in
summer resorts, some were looking
after their political fences with a view
Of their own return to the senate,
some were simply Indifferent. There
were enough Of these senatorial
slackers to delay materially the pro-
gram for the prompt enactment Of
the measure that will greatly hasten
the end of the war.
Senator Martin, Of Virginia, the
democratic floor leader, would not
summon his colleagues, nor would he
himself travel the few miles neces-
sary to bring him the capitol. In the
face of the fact that it is the duty of
the democratic majority to furnish
quorum whenever needed, thirty-one
Of the fifty-three absentees were dem
ocrats. Senator Curtis, the republi-
can whip, promised to have enough
republicans on hand Monday to make
the quorum, even if the democratic
absentees refuse or neglect to return
to Washington.
It is pleasant to note that both of
Minnesota's senators were in their
seats.
The machinery for the new draft is
being rapidly put in condition to take
up the work quickly and smoothly, as
soon as congress gives the word: But
apparently politics and personal COM
fort are more important just now to
number of Senators on both sides OF
the house than patriotism and push
ing the war to an early victory. 1t IS
impossible to believe that this sort OF
Stacking will commend any Of the alb
sent senators to his constituents
Minneapolis Journal.