The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-10-03
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TO THE PEOPLE OF BoTT1NEAU COUNTY:
8 l am a candidate fol. County Superintendent
Of Schools at the election to be held this fall l wish
to make a statement concerning the schools of the
county and what has been accomplished during the
past few years in an educational way. l wish to
state, however, that l do not wish to convey the i'm
prsslon that | am claiming credit for all that has
been done. Much Of the credit is due the teachers,
members Of the different school boards, and the peo-
pie generally Of the county. Without cooperation on
the part of all little could have been accomplished.
1t is my purpose oset forth some Of the things
that have been done and forgive you an idea Of the
standing of our schools as compared with the schools
OF other counties of the state. Also, to- mention
some things concerning the work of the office and
my connection Herewith. do not wish you to
to myself any undue credit for anything that has
been accomplished: l have always felt that l have
done no more than was my duty, and have faithfully
tried not to abuse the confidence you placed in me
when you elected me your County Superintendent of
Schools. l find that there are many who have little
knowledge of just what is being done or the work of
the office. 1t is for this reason that l am making
this statement at this time.
I wish to candidly admit at the beginning that
one of the purposes of the statement is to gain your
active support for my candidacy, but at the same
time wish you to feel that 1 merit it. In order that
you may verify every statement that l make, plenty
of time before election is given for that purpose. It
is not an eleventh hour appeal just to catch votes,
but just a plain statement of facts which l hope will
COuVAlCe yOu CudL i U U mcTlC your KIM COnSlQeraLlOns
FACTS CONCERNING OUR SCHOOLS.
Last year Bottineau County led the counties of
the state in the amount of state aid it received for
it's 0ne-r0Om rural, graded and consolidated schools.
(See Inspectors RepOrt.) .
During the time your present county superin-
tendent has been in office the number of consolidated
schools has increased from three one-room schools of
prepared to do high school work. The state inspect
or of this class of schools will verify the statement
that Bottineau County has the largest lumber of
consolidated schools of any county in the state or
will have when those that have been provided for are
completed. There are three buildings that will not
be finished this fall on account Of the lack of funds.
We now have eleven rural consolidated schools;
about half the entire number. These schools viii!
furnish at least some high school privileges to rural
communities. The three being built this year will
furnish practically the full high school course.
Six rural districts voted consolidation this year.
81 know of no other county that has as large an
increase" Estate Rural School Inspector.)
Standardization and consolidation are things
that are being urged by the state department and
above indicates that we are keeping pace with other
sections of the state.
The number of high schools in the county has
doubled during the same time referred to above. (See
High School Inspectors Report.)
Only two counties in the state have a larger
number of free high schools, Pembina and Cass.
They each exceed us by one such school. (See high
school report for last year,
Seven graded schools in towns have been built
during the same period.
Eighteen modern OnerOOm schools have been
built. There are none better anywhere.
Of the two hundred fiftyeight grade graduates
last year, Sc per cent or 165 were from the rural dis.
tricts. A remarkable showing:
Eighty seven per cent Of the teachers of Bot
tineau County last year were teachers with not less
than one years professional training. The work Of
the schools is the best evidence of their fitness for
the work. l want to say, however, that no county
has a more loyal and efficient corps of teachers, and
further, that a large proportion Of them are our
home boys and girls.
Let me call your attention to the fact that the
above goes to show that advancement is not con-
fined to any one class of school. The city and rural,
the consolidated and the one-room schools, all have
continued to grow.
ECONOMY PRACTICED.
No field deputies have been employed by this office DUR
ing your present superintendents term of office except for .
law and could have been appointed. The salary and mileage
for EACH ONE would have amounted to not less than $500
a year. (See School Laws) Figure up the saving that has
been made by doing without this help during. my term of
Office. True, we have had one Office deputy and occasionally
some extra help when absolutely necessary in order to attend
two field deputies, and one office deputy for full time for
this office. With the exception mentioned above we have
never had more than one deputy.
This year we have prepared and furnished all the plans
than ten dollars to each district in the neighborhood Of $500
had an architect been employed. (Ask any architect what
the usual charges are for plans and specifications for . build
ing costing from $1,000 to $12O0)
So far as the actual running expenses Of the Office 10
you will find that there has been scarcely any in
= 1890 - "a - - r R-L >----@-4-