The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-10-09

same basis. Our public schools ain
to be the Instruments for developing
trained intelligence in the common
people Of whom we are part. You
gathering here tonight, then, take 1t
is renewed pledge OF your loyalt!
and interest in education. That tn
business men Of Minot are interested
in the efficiency Of our State Norma
school should be good news to the en-
tire Northwest. In behalf of the
school, its faculty and students, ant
the boys and girls whom they are t.
serve, thank you for this evenings
honor.
Upon my return this fall | motto.
vary marked difference in the school
its outer surroundings, it's equipment
it's teaching force and it's standing il
the community, over the situation al
this time last year. l wish to publicly
express my appreciation Of the work
of DR.. Clarke and the faculty in bring
ing about this happy condition of af
fairs. Things are running smoothly
and peacefully. Our faculty is back
with few changes, and each succeeding
year with experience and added prep
growing in strength and usefulness
This and succeeding years must be
years of growth and accomplishment
7 cans not do better, l think. in jus.
tifying my continued absence from my
position than by describing some OF
the work in which l have been en-.
gagged. Early in the war European
nations, alarmed at the tremendously
large number Of manned and disabled
soldiers, started to rehabilitate them
by educational and vocational train
ing. They soon discovered that not
only was it possible to educate man
to overcome his handicap and restore
him to high efficiency, but that happy
occupation of the right sort helped to
effect his cure and restore him to duty
in shorter time.
Acting upon this experience, the
United States Investigated and perfect
ed plans in anticipation of our own
wounded. The work was placed under
two governmental agencies. While In
the hospital man was to be cared for
by the Surgeon General and his de-
partment. Upon his discharge the ser
vice to the man was to be rendered by
the Federal Board of Vocational Edu-
cation. Naturally this made the work
in the Surgeon Generals office pri-
marily curative, and that of the Fed
eral Board, vocational rehabilitation.
The work of the Surgeon General in
caring for wounded is drawing to a
close. The wounded were transported
to this country very rapidly, as soon
as the Armistice was signed. They
were discharged as soon as their recov-
cry warranted, and during the past
few months, the population has been
rapidly decreased The hospitals we're
distributed in convenient places thru
out the United States. In those desig-
mated as Reconstruction Hospitals
our service was established.
I shall speak to you particularly of
the Educational Service which was a
part of the work of the Division of Re-
construction. This Educational Ser
vice, at its heighth, was included in 4S
hospitals. Some of these started early
in 1918 and are still continuing, but
the majority of them started in the
fall and early winter Of 1888. Dur
ing Nav and june the work was dis
continued in large number Of them
until at the present time there are but
II or Is Reconstruction centers, ard
several of these will be closed this
month. In July, 1918, S9 men We re
reported rs enrolled in Fducatio', u
Service. In January the Reconstruc-
ton Hospitals had $4,000 men in them
5000 Of whom were enrolled in Edu a
tional service. In March there W. re
$4,000 men in Reconstruction Hosni-
tails and 24.oO 0enrolled in Educational
service. In June there were 5000
men in these HOSPITALS and 10000 Of
them enrolled in Educational Service
Probably 100000 men have been DEF
n;tely registered as taking educational
work. The time devoted to this VIC h
b. these men has varied from a few
DAYS to several months, the medium
being probably 25 days of schooling
while in the hospital.
The subjects taught Rave var, &c
from English and Penmanshin tc
crafts, trades and sciences. 80 1ifa
ent occupations have been offered, with
80 appearing quite commonly ir every
large hospital. From January t.
June, which embraced the larger per-
Of the entire task, $4,000 enrollYnents
wore reported in general academic
subjects. This included 5000 in Pen
manship, 5000 in Arithmetic, 10000
in English and Spelling. In technical
subjects there were $4,000 enroll
ments for the same time, including
Auto Mechanics, 10000; woodwork
ing, 10000; work with textiles. $1,000
reed, cane and fibre work 1700o: tel
egraphy $500; leather, cardboard ant
binding, 5000. Commercial subject:
were very popular an dshowed 28,00t
enrollments during this time, 1905
of whom were in typewriting and 4,
600 in bookkeeping and accounting
Agriculture showed 10000, 5000 o
whom were in general farming. Phys
were very popular and showed 28,00'