The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-23
PEOPLES FORUM
ON SCHOOL CONDITIONS
Bismarck, N. OAK,
Nav %, 1924.

your editorial column Of the 18th
inst. 1t seems to me that the
education of our rising generation
should be the very last branch of
our public budget to which the axe
of financial economy should be APP
piled.
This editorial and the manifest
interest displayed therein relating
to the 'upbringing of our future
citizens have given me courage to
seek through the medium Of your
Peoples Forum an opportunity Of
relating the impressions borne in
upon me by visit which | recently
made, to the declamatory contest
held in the high school auditorium.
To say that was shocked and dis
illusioned is but mild way of put
ting it, for though | would be the
last to skimp financially on school
expenditures, yet, nevertheless, with
Il levy for local school purposes of
nearly twenty-five mills, or more
than two per cent on all the taxable
property in the city, and an invest
mcnt in school buildings of nearly
100000, it is surely not unrcason-
able to expect at least ordinary
cleanliness and order in the ar
rangcmcnt and conduct of our school
functions.
Most cmphatically this was not
the case. On the contrary chaos,
d ordcrlincss were conspicuous ev-
idcncc, particularly in the auditori-
UNI.
Surely the nature of the function
about to be held might have justi-
small concession to the shades of
Demosthcnes, Cicero, Marc Anthony
and other ancient giants Of the for
um, to say nothing of our own more
modern word-paintcrs and orators.
Some little encouragement to the |
budding efforts Of our own children,
if not of courtesy to the taX-paying
citizens who honorcd the occasion
with their presence. might not have
been considered amiss. On the |
contrary all signs Of supervisory |
interest were conspicuously absent. |
An atmosphere Of lax and indiffcr- |
cnt carclcSsncsS surrounded the en-
tire occasion. The pandemonium Of |
ill-rcgulatcd dismissal benumbcd |
the ear at the moment of entry, to !
which was Immediately added the |
sight of ragged window shades, par
TALLY shielding disgracefully dirty |
windows. The stage was presumed !
to be such because of the presence |
thereon of a piano which, however,
was not permitted to contribute it's |,
mclody-or lack OF ito the occa- !
sion. From the ceiling hung pendu-
lous the detritus Of previous sea- /
sons. In short the impression fair !
ly forced upon the visitor was one |
of discouraged Indifference and per-
functory performance of an unwel-
come part of the school curriculum. |
Into this inharmonious environ !
ment came, in the course of the
next half hour, such audience
mostly students-as graced the oc- |
casion with their presence. - Unbid- |
den, unwelcomed and mustered, !
they were allowed to trickle into
such inches, places or crcvices as I
their individual choice might sug- ,
gest and SO dispose themselves that !
they might hear to the best advan-
tage the declamatory exercises soon
to commence.
Ordinarily occasions of forensic,
declamatory, educational or COMPETE
tive nature are-so far as the writ
ers somewhat extended experience
have informed him-surrounded by
we'll recognized forms and ceremon-
les which should be inseparable from
the function, part, as it were, of
the very nature of the proceedings,
such as an orderly and dignified
announcement of the purpose of
the assembly, possibly some remarks
from prominent educators or men,
bers of the school board, perhaps
music and songs and, at least, an
nouncement Of the names of the
judges. Surely no one item of the
program can be of more interest to
contestants and Spectators alike
than the names of those who will
decide the actual winners of the
contest about to be held. For some
reason yet unexplained the names
were not announced on this occa-
sion, although they were learned
later. That the judges were all five
Of them teachers in the High School
was another cause for much unfav-
orable comment. Particularly so as
one of them is understood to have
~ nrn IL -
tom and common sense both permit
the inclusion in the list of compel
emit judges who are not connected
with the faculty and have acquired
their knowledge and experience in
broader fields than purely academic
ones.
OF the Introductory remarks Of
fcrcd by the gentleman who took
upon himself such explanatory in
formation as was vouchSafed the au-
dience, nothing commendatory can
be truthfully said. They were ILL
timed, conclusive, inadequate and
utterly lacking in those Inspiration
al qualities which both contestants
and audience had &. right to expect
from such source and on such an
occasion. ] am aware that these are
harsh criticisms, but l believe that
the time has come to state the facts,
hcw TO the line and ''let the chips
fall where they may Other peo-
pie than the writer were present:
the Occasion is very reeent and
abundant confederation is readily
obtainable.
Upon Investigation and inquiry,
there appears to be much else to
in the educational estab-
lishment of our city.
Some of the things that might be
mentioned in this connection are:
a failurn on tho nart of tho hon |