The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-12-29
REVISION OF
STATE SCHOOL
SYSTEM ASKED
Continued from page ~

ing the competing teams on long dis
tances at great expense of money
and time. The inter-county games
also furnish more interest and are
self-supporting. These are matters
for wise and judicious control and
management, and can be so conduct
ed as to prove big saving Of ex-
pense to the public"
The big item of high school ex-
pense is in salaries for teachers, and
these are not too high, the commits
sion finds.
A better system Of buying fuel
books and school supplies could be
better organized by the adoption OF
cooperative business methods, the re-
port says. The average citizen is Civ
en- a rap for lack Of interest in edu-
cational affairs and failure to vote in
school elections.
Rural School Problems
With regard to rural schools the
commission "does not find that toe
much money is spent in rural schools
Rather the contrary. We do fine
however, that for the money spent
too little benefit is received in the
way of education"
The commission recommends Great
ing better standard Of rural teach
ers, urging the legislature to pass ;
law or the Department Of Education
to make requirement that "no one
will be permitted to teach in tho
state after July /, 1927 who is not
graduate of foLr-year high schoo
and who has not had at least 81,
weeks of special training in a norma
school after completing the higf
school course" 1t follows, the re
port says, that teacher training class
es should be eliminated from higf
schools and conducted in norma
schools.
Transportation Law
The transportation problem is de
clared the most perplexing in thu
rural school system. 1t costs tax
payers about one million dollars ;
year, it is stated.
Assuming that it is right in prin
ciple, and can not as we are told, b
repealed, the committee recommend:
that the law be made uniformr.as tt
all schools alike" says the report
"That there be no compensation pait
to patrons living within two and /;
half miles. That Il uniform rate O.
compensation for all schools range
from twenty-five to fifty cents pc
day for each family. The purpose O.
the law is not to pay people for tax
ing their children to school. Thi
would indeed be wrong principle
It's purpose is to equaliZe to some eX
tent, the difference in the burden ant
to assist in enforcing the compulsor!
attendance law"
fects few of our rural districts,
the commission says. at has been il
advised in sparsely settled communi
ties and more adapted to communi
ties Of small farms and thickly pc
pulated communities or to communi
ties where town or village may be tn
center. We are not advised that an!
legislation is needed on the question
of cons olidation, otherwise than ad
justing the difference in transporta
ton.
Urge Revision
Again referring to this subject tn
report says: 1.-THE commission be
lieves that scientific revision Of on
entire school system could be mad
with vast saving of money and
great benefit to the cause of educa
! ton. That our rural schools cOul
be greatly benefited by a re-estat
! lishment of district lines SO as t
bring the schools closer to the chi
dren without the great expense Q
consolidation in sparsely settled dis
tricts and the small schools practical
ly eliminated. Such a system ha
been tried in other states, notabl
Iowa, and county school boards elect
ed or appointed and some geners
system adopted for locating tn
schools rather than our presen
method. This is big subject, how
ever, and requires the appointment
of commission which will have tn
necessary time to make NOR
thorough survey of the situation an
the necessary appropriation to TAX
care of the cost of such a survey"
Election of the state and count
superintendents for four year term
and restriction of state aid to school
is urged.