The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-04-21

Minot. \. D., April 2l.-A new
era in educational work in North
in educational work in North
dakota when education will be
more practical and will fittingly pre-
pare the future generation Of this
state for meeting and solving the
problems they will meet in their every
day life, was predicted by Miss Min
ME J. Nelson, state superintendent of
public instruction, in an address de-
livered to the several hundred
teachers attending the morning ses-
west Education association meeting.
Miss Nelson, who was making her
first public appearance IN this part OF
North Dakota since her election, was
given splendid ovation by the teach
ers and educators when she was in
troduced TO them as North Dakota's
able state superintendent" When
she took her place on the platform
before the meeting was called 10 Or
der, when she was introduced. and
several times during the course Of her
remarks, Miss Nelson was loudly APP
plauded Her reception was conced
ed by many Of the older educators to
be the greatest reception ever given
state superintendent at any educa
tional meeting in North Dakota.
Avoids Political Tin9e.
Despite the desperate attempt which
Is being made by the forces aligned
wit hthe socialist leaders OF the Non
partisan league and former State Su-
perintnadent n. G. Macdonald, to
avenge the overwhelming defeat Miss
Nelson administered to Macdonald in
the last election, by making her Of
flee subject to the wishes and desires
of q board to be composed of ap-
pointees selected by the present state
administration, Miss Nelson entire
ly avoided anything political in her
address. She lived up to the general
belief that in her the state had a
state superintendent who did not be-
lieve in making the highest education
al office in the state a political foot
ball and who could administer to the
educational wants of the city and
country children of North Dakota
without playing politics. #
Miss Nelson's subject was "The
State Progress of Education" and her
remarks sounded the death knell OF
the old fashioned system OF education
when many subjects OF vital import
gncs to the future welfare of the chill
dren Mere neglected or considered out
side the sphere Of common school edu-
cation, and heralded a new day in edu-
cation In North Dakota when particu-
lar attention will be given 10 subjects
which will help the men and women
of tomorrow to solve the problems
they are likely to meet in after years.
!, Last night Dr.. George D. Strayer,
Association. outlined IA National Pro-
gram OF Education" and Miss Mel
sons address brought out what North
dakota in cooperation with the ma
tional program. Her discourse point
ed out what the state will to doward
Americanization, health, consolidation,
better teachers, scoring of schools,
grain grading and good roads
Defects to he Corrected.
The great war which has just been
brought to successful termination
brought home to us in America many
defects in our national life which
Nelson declared, Continuing she said,
"Americanization is the theme of this
meeting of the Northern Education as
sociation and it is the theme of edu-
Gators throughout the nation, and must
he the theme OF educators in North
Dakota At the recent convention Of
country superintendents the slogan
adopted was Eliminate llliteracy in
North Dakota in 1924 and we must
make good that slogan. Statistics pre-
pared by the United States war de-
partment show that 100000 men OF
the American army could not read or
write. These men did not all come
from the mountains OF Kentucky nor
from the negroes of Tennessee Many
fthem came from North Dakota The
task of Americanization confronts this
state, this community. just as it con
fronts every other state and every
community in the land" ..
To Eliminate Ill;teracy.
Explaining how North Dakota pro-
pOSes to eliminate illiteracy the speak
er emphasized the necessity of night
schools both in the cities and in rural
districts To this end the state legis.
lature appropriated $1,000 and each
county is authorized to spend $500
along the same line of endeavor
Every county, Miss Nelson hoped
would take advantage of this oppor.
tunity and bring education to those
who are working yet who need more
education to come up to the required
standards Of American citizenship.
The state superintendent touched
briefly on the Smith, owner bill now
before congress. which aims at the
formation OF department of educa.
ton with secretary Of education hav
ing q seat in the presidents cabinet
This bill will, II it passes, appropriate
500, 100000 for educational purposes
and of that amount, 81 800. 900 will &C
for Americanication work. OF this
seven and half million dollars. North
Dakota will receive $S6,O00. She de
clared the educators of the nation
were unanimous In favor Of this BIZ
and urged cooperation among her list
enery for its passage.
Physical Development.
Another lesson brought home tC
North Dakota and the nation by tbs
greet war. the speaker declared, wal
the tact that practically 0ne-third o.
IL nen called IN the first draft, mer
bekWoea the ages Of 81 and 81, .weft