The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-06-03
OUTLINES ADDRESS
MADE BY BACLEY

The fifth year class was represented
at chapel exercises Wednesday morn,
ing by Miss Jeanette Scallon and
Miss Marguerite Chambard. Miss
Scallon played a piano solo after
which Miss Chambard sang. Both
numbers were very well given and ev-
eryone showed their appreciation of
them.
Following the musical part of the
exercises, DR.. Allen continued his re-
marks about the meeting at Washing
ton, D. c., from which he has recently
returned. He told US that another
very interesting speaker at the general
sessions was w. G. Bagley. Mr.. Bag
ley's remarks were chiefly about
standards of schools, education, and
teachers. For every American child
there should be a. competent teacher
mature, well-prepared, and rela-
lively permanent teacher. Most of
the teachers engaged in rural schools
and in grade work of the schools are
not over twenty-one years of age.
Many of them have training which is
less than a High School education.
One million children are now being
taught by teachers who have sew
enth or eighth grade education. This
is very serious condition. The harm
done by poorly-prepared, unframed
teachers cannot be estimated. Most
of these teachers are found in the
rural districts where school condi-
lions are poor. Certain standards
should be required Of all teachers. No
one should be allowed to teach in any
school unless these standards are met.
Good teachers could then be secured
for rural schools. They would de-
mand better school conditions and
eventually greatly improved system
Of education would result.
The average length Of service Of
rural school teacher is two years, and
that of urban teachers seven or eight
years. This lack of permanency in
the teaching profession is one Of the
weakening factors in the school sys-
tenn. Low salaries and poor school
conditions are perhaps the chief
causes for the constant changing from
teaching to other lines of work. Con-
siderable emphasis was placed on
the rural school problems. 1t was
stated that sixty per cent of the boys
and girls are in rural schools. This
means that more than half of the
children are not getting the benefits
of efficient schools and teachers. Not
being able to attend school regularly,
and because of short terms, the rural
child requires many years more than
the city child to complete his eight
years of common school education.
Many of them never com oleUe it. In
vestigations have shown that five out
of six illiterates, live m rural dis
tricts. Consolidation Of Shoots has
done much toward improving rural
districts, but not all rural schools can
be consolidated. At least two-fifths
of them must remain one-rcom
schools. These cannot BE- left to drift
along as they will
The raising Of Normal School stand.
ards will raise the standards of all
schools. The minimum preparation
for teacher should be two years be-
you'd the High School, Four ffths of
the teachers have training which is
below this standard. Required courses
are being raised to three and four
years beyond High school. In many
schools students welcome this stand
ard for teachers. Scholarships for
teachers training are Incentives which
would secure good results in the mat
ter of better preparation for teach
ing. The time to indulge in idealisnl
is at hand, DR.. Bagley said. President
Allen also spoke of the movement for
! subsidies during preparation for
teaching. M. W.