The Bismarck tribune., 1920-12-13
0UTLINESCH00L
LEGISLATION TO
BE URGED HERE
Educators Would Simplify Class.
ifcatiOn of Schools of the
State y
VOCATE ECONOM Y
Will Seek No Appropriations
Which Are not Deemed
to Be Necessary
\ VOCATE NOM Y

ReclassificatiOn of the public
schools. provision for tuition fund
for the school districts and a change
in the method of selecting county sup
erintendents and increased RESPONSE
bility for them are among the mat
ters of legislation to be suggested to
the North Dakota legislature by the
educational commission of the state
teachers association.
In arriving at a decision to encour-
age legislation to accomplish these
general objects, the commission, at a
meeting here, announced that it was
the sentiment of the commission ''that
under the present conditions of finan.
cling readjustment no appropriations
for education ought to be asked unless
necessary for the proper maintenance
Of the schools of the state"
! 1t was emphasized at the meeting
of the commission, which is composed
Of the members of the standing com.
mittee of the teachers association
that no radical change in the educa'
tiOnal system of the state should be
advocated, but rather that all persons
interested in education SHOULD WORK
! for the gradual development of tht
schools to a plane of highest fticiency
Still Teacher Shortage .
1t was reported that there is {
shortage of teachers in the
state at the present time
and although many educators
feel that higher qualifications shoulC
be demanded of teachers, in view O
| the shortage of even poorly qualified
teachers, no change in the qualifica
tiOns will be urged at the present
time. A graduate of the eighth grade
may now teach in the state If the re-
quired teachers examination is pass
cd.
Proposals Explained
The three legislative proposals o.
the commission are:
Reclassifcation of the public schools
of the state. The proposal is to sim
plify the classifications. There now
are classes of rural schools, 8 classes
of state graded schools, 3 classes o.
high schools and a special group O.
consolidated schools. The educationa
commission would reduce the mum
Der of classes, set more definite stand
ards and thus obtain more equitable
distribution Of state money.
Providing tuition funds for the vari
Gus districts. 1t is pointed out tha
many thownships, particularly those
with high schools, must educate chill
dren from other school districts. The
measure would provide that where
child goes to school in district othe1
than it's own, its district should pay
a tuition fee.
| Change in powers and duties OF tn
county superintendents and increasing
the responsibility. This@provision vii
be drawn into more definite shape D.
a special committee. I g..
Those at Meeting
The educators present at the meet
ing here in the office OF Miss Minnie
J. Nelson, state superintendent IN
cluded: Supt. Nelson Sauwain, Devils
h.ake; Supt. J. c. Gould, Oakes; Supt
TC. L. Love, Mandan; County Supt. "A
C. Berg, Towner; Supt. G. W. Hanna
Valley City, president of the state as
sociatiOn; Supt. Martha 7. Fulton
Wakpeton; Nell Sommers, of the DICK
inson normal; Supt. V. +. Goddard
Crosby; Dean Joseph, Kennedy, Of tn
college of education, state university
Grand Forks; County agent, Mary NC
Ginnis, jamestown; County Supt. W
E. Parsons, Bismarck; Principal J. A
Cotton Minot high school; Supt. Pete
Anderson, of Lakota; Supt: II. n
Kirk, Casleton and Supt. |. T. Smiley
Rugby. This list includes the execu
tive committee of the state association
and members of the legislative, teacfl
ers' welfare and resolutions commit
tee.
The state teachers association
cooperating with Miss Nelson in for
mulating the legislative program
and under the reorganization OF tn
state association at Grand FORKS IN
standing committees will at all time
cooperate with the state department
of education.
The month Of February was deslg
mated as "educational month IN NorI
Dakota. During that month meeting
will be held in every school dlstrlc
in the state for the purpose OF dls
cussing tha Importance OF education
!