Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-06-20

4S1SOSTAVG0eOCse vvS$s
/ Known in Club and
! Educational Work
Miss Nelson was born In the state
Of Michigan In the city Of jackson. U
In early childhood came With her
kota, where she has Since resided. She
has enjoyed all the delights Of pioneer
life on a North Dakota prairie farm,
and knows the trials and. h~ardships
OF our early settlers. She wal ed0cat-
ed in the rural, schools Of Barnes
county, the public schools Of Valley
City, and the state universities OF
North Dakota and Michigan. Her ledu-
cation is not all derived from schools
and books. She has acquired much
from travel, from life, and from con-
tact with people who were in posses
sion Of the information she needed in
her work. She probably knows more
people who have a contribution to
make to education than any other
person in North Dakota
Early in life, Miss Nelson taught
the home school in Stewart township
(the township was named for her
SIdIlU1dIuOTJ IlST rural 6C44OOAx SCQAAAT
ing extending through two years Nv
ing summer terms, After attendance
at the state, university she was EN-
ployed in the schools Of Valley City
for thirteen years. beginning IN. the
fifth grade and finishing her teaching
career as mi Of the most honored
high school teachers yer employed
in the city. She was head OF h
science department Of the Valley City
high school for a number Of years.
She resigned her high school posi-
ton to become a candidate for the Of
fee Of county superintendent Of
schools. She vas triumphantly elected
and has continued to serve in that
capacity up to the present time, com
plotting her sixth ~term and twelfth
year January i, next, as educational
leader In q county that has always
been a pace setter in education. More
times than otherwise she has been
elected without opposition, in fact at
ter the first election has only had OPP
position once. and now after q term
ent superintendent, voluntarily sur
rendered her. office for the purpose of
advanced study. Her plans have been
disrupted by the unsought endorse
ment Of two important state political
organizations
AS teacher in the public schools she
had already shown capacity for lead
ership. 1t remained for the office
of county superintendent to offer her
opportunity for the development and
exercise Of her s%uperlative powers of
leadership and organization. She has
come to be recognized as of the
states ablest educational leaders and
superintendent. s;>-
Miss Nelson has long been promin-
ent in the movement for consolidation
and Standardization of rural schools.
Her. first terms work was devoted to
the Identification Of buildings and
grounds. The improvement Of rural
schools is not a theoretical or-academic
question with her. l.>ps
Miss Nelson was the first to con-
ceive and. carry out the county play
day. This is an event in which the
school children OF the county are as
sembled atethe county seat for an an
nual festival Of athletic contests,
plays and games. It is a recreation
day for old and young. The chief feat
ure is usually a,procession of the'busi-
ness and institutional life of. the
county.
In the larger work Of the state Miss
Nelson has always been an active
participants consistent member and
attendant of the state educational as
ISOLATION and ever since its. creation
a member of the association executive
committee. She has been a.member of
the state, board of education on APP
pointment of the governor. She was
for years. 0 n the executive board. Of
the largest summer school in the
northwest. She has >organized and
conducted her own teachers institutes
and officers conventions. She has
brought to the state for work in-these
meetings, some Of the nations most
expert educators.
But her activities are not limited
to the educational field alone. Her
ability is recognized and utilized in be-
and from the first she has been active
in promoting club work. For four
years she was president Of the FEEDER
ated clubs Of the state--a position
which has still further tested and prov
ed her ability as a leader and con-
structive executive. She is also prom
inent in. the national councils of the
women's federated clubs and is fre-
quently a, contributor to their pro-
grams. :
When the Liberty Loan required a
Of the women of the state, Miss Mel
sons ability as an enthusiastic leader
and efficient organizer singled her
out at n apd the national authors
ties placed her In control in North
Dakota The success of the women's
participation in these loans is further
testimony to her ability to dispatch
public affairs. Her training as a teach-
er in rural and urban schools, as coun-
ty superintendent. of schools, as con-
ductor of institutes. and as a leader
/ n a - . ~ef~fcf ok0p NJ ny,h1in. Hsvc}-A~wu
together with her broad knowledge of
the needs Of education in the state,
all fit her. admirably for the position
of superintendent Of public instruction
for which her fellow citizens are pre-
senting her.
Mrs. L. W. Deichert and her daugh-
ter. Miss Estelle Deichert. returned
on Tuesday from Minneapolis, and
o.o. Of t}hoir Inn rfrnopfo IN tina po1-