The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-10
Editor Of The Tribune:

Editor Of The Tribune:
While looking over the copy of yes
terday'S paper, was SO "riled" by some
Of the statements made by, one who
signed herself "A Farmers Wife" that
ever though I must sit up in bed, af-
ter an illness, I must write an an
swer to it.
Would like to say, before further
expressing my knowledge Of facts
that I do not believe that the writer
is a farmers wife, even though she
processes to be so solicitous for the
rural children's educational welfare.
1 have lived on the prairies for Is
years and nave been in close touch
with educators and educational laws.
Have had access to committee rooms
when many of those laws have been
III the process of being born-or "died
a-borniny," as the case might be,
and when I hear any one say that any
one person is doing so much to bet
ter the condition in our rural schools,
/ marvel At the ignorance of the pub
lie concerning the purpose of some
of those laws, and the avidity with
which said public swallows the "sop'
that is apparently offered them in
such laws when supported by any GER
tain person, Or|persons who SO appar-
emily have IAN to grind"
Eight years ago, about this time.
the head Of our department of rural
education, who vas at that time depu-
ty for her predecessor, prepared be-
fore the senate committee on educa-
ton in behalf of a pet" bill pro-
posed by the Education association.
This bill was supposed to benefit
the rural schools, but only those who
wanted it passed could see wherein
II would benefit those schools.
On being questioned closely. after
having expressed her ideas in regard
to the benefits aimed at in the meas
IRE, she was forced to admit that it
was a measure that the Education
association wanted passed. and that
she didn't know anything about con-
ditionS in our rural districts or the
needs of rural children.
You may depend upon it, there is
& xlAkkCk AL Vic hOOAPAlC NllCll ~
becomes necessary to import an edu-
Gator in order that our educational
requirements may be boosted, that our
poor little farm kids may be educated
by more highly educated teachers,
who must be taught by NOR highly
educated and higher salaried instruc-
tors in highly expensive higher
educational institutions!
Protect our teachers and place them
on an equal basis with teachers from
other states! At how much per
"protect?" Will you please look up
a few facts before advocating pro-
lection?
There are now in North Dakota
enough Normal graduates to supply
all the schools if those graduates saw
fit to come into the rural districts to
teach. They are too highly educated
t. come cut to the little one-room
schoolhouSe.
Requirements? If those graduates
who are out of jobs do not have the
necessary. requirements, it is high
time those diplomas were revoked and
a housekeeping be made in the edu-
cational circles, where, yearly, they
are turning out hundreds of gradu-
ates to sit idle and deprive our rural
children of proper instruction.
Use schools for a means to an
end. Heaven knows many of our rur-
al boys and girls use teaching in our
rural schools as a means to many
ends, and do not forget their duty
toward the children, as often as you
would have your readers think! They
struggle through high school, and
their parents struggle to give them
the IL weeks normal training, that
they may teach to "go on" to school,
but more often to help pay the taxes
on the farm, that there may be
schools for their brothers and sisters,
with even a ~ weeks" teacher, with
low salary. as their instructor.
Why not higher salaried teachers?
Ye Gods! Why not sound the knell
Of our rural schools with existing SAL
aries, I would say! With less than
Is per cent Of the 1929 taxes paid,
cents Of every dollar produced, paid
out on moctgaged Indebtedness, school
districts broke, and townships the
Tame, more farms being sold every
day for mortgages and taxes; all farm
produce at rock bottom prices, with
little to sell, and no relief in sight,
md millions Of dollars being appropri-
ated for every conceivable purpose;
and then advocate higher-salaried
teachers, with nc mean In sight for
Jur rural boys and girls to become
Normal graduates, in order to be given
the higher salaries advocated by the
of the state!
Merciful God! Would it not be bet
ter to stop all legislation before there
Is a revolution for lack of food, rather
than lack of educational requirements
for the teachers whom the land own
ers Of the state must support!
Yes, the education of our rural chill
dren is the paramount issue in a state
whose population IS IS per cent rurall
But when the other is per cent can
pull the wool over the eyes Of the
rural population to the tune Of hum
dreds OF thousands Of dollars In the
name Of education. and still thou
sands Of graduates refuse to come In
to our rural schools to relieve their
systems Of their pent-up learning.
while the educators cook up some
new scheme 70 be presented to the
1Z-A-Q 49,