The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-09-29
Just WHERE NORMAL
SCHOOL STANDS
Forestry State Normal School
Bottineau, North Dakota
September rs, 1921

the past week was merely as a moduS
operandi until the situation could be
laid before the Board Of Administra-
tion. a
The four days Of school Of last week
have developed more friction than ap-
peared throughout all Of last year to-
getber. It is impossible for interrelat-
ed schools to work together without a
superintendent The plan has, never
worked anywhere in any kind Of an
organization, is making trouble in our
faculty, and will be discontinued.
Awritten agreement between the
Board Of Administration and the local
board provided for a single coordina-
ting executive office for the three
buildings. Executive action was al
ways possible in harmonizing differ
ences and in apportioning the work.
The three schools worked as one or
ganizatien. The Director Of Training
in the Normal School was principal
of Central School without any expense
to the town. He was responsible to
the President Of the Normal School
who in turn was responsible to the
school board. This written agreement.
the local school board has by bare
majority terminated and no agreement
has been made to take it's place.
The situation now is wholly with
out any administrative plan or system.
The Director Of Training as principal
of Central School is responsible to the
Normal School and also to the School
Board. This is administratively UNI
workable. Equally impossible is the ex-
change teaching for the high school.
These principles Of school administra
tion, accepted everywhere in the edu-
cational world, are clear and convinc-
to two members of the school board
but three memebrs are unable or un-
willing to understand
The school board has broken anoth-
er agreement. BY unanimous vote the
board last May adopted for another
year the plan Of one superintendent
for the three schools in town and con-
tracted with the writer to be superin-
tendent at the nominal salary Of SIS
per month. On September 6 the Board
notified the superintendent that they
had hired another superintendent. The
schools however are expected to indoc-
trinate the pupils with ideals OF
squareness and honesty.
The logical consequence of the
school board's reputation Of the two
contracts is the discontinuance Of our
teaching classes in the high school.
The prospects are most unfavorabIe
for satisfactory conditions in Central
School for reasons already stated and
when we either withdraw of our own
accord or are forced to withdraw, the
Normal School in Bottineau will be
a thing Of the past. As long as Botti-
neau business and professional men
support the school as they have dur
ing the past three years, it is worth
my while to spare no effort in it's
upbuilding. But if they are unwilling
to see it elbowed and showed about in
an unfriendly way as has been the
past six weeks, the school is 9 hope
less proposition and will not be open
year from now.
Educational success in Bottineau
will be possible only if the school
board can be pursuaded to keep the
agreements by which they are legally
and morally bound. It is not only.
right that these agreements should be
respected, but also economical. Why
should Bottineau brush aside the
Normal School in an unfriendly man
ner and proceed to employ two or
three more high school teachers? !?
IA bare majority Of the school board
believes the people want this plan, this
B plan that can not possibly work. IT
Is not only expensive but it is plan
/ than anyone with any experience IN
directing an organization involving
large numbers Of people knows Will
not work. The Normal School will be
abandoned lie these unfav0rable con-
ditions receive the support Of the peo-
During recent weeks Bottineau's
position has been changed from one
that was ideal for . Normal School,
as testified by Dean Kennedy of the
University of North Dakota and 9TH
er educators, to p condition thar y 1s
enthusiastically simply impossible. ~
IS change that will prove q serious l
loss to this community.
If you are ia favor Of this change,
your position is certainly IN astonish.
sing one. III Won are not in favor and
are misrepresented by these three
board members, You should make your
influence felt before ii IS too late.
Vernon i. Mangun,
President.
PICKERING TOWNSHIP 4
MI. and Mrs. N. Rothe and Magda
visited at the s. B. Dyrstad home an
SUNDAY,
OLD Sivertson Is enjoying two
weA]ss = visit with her sister Isabelle
who b teashin school near Bottineap:
Ihe Casbpry schools opened Mop 1,'g I