The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-04-25

VIEWS ON EDUCATION
Bismarck Indian School
Bismarck. N. Oak.
April a, 1883
Editor, The Tribune:
Please pardon my presumption and
do not take offense at what I am
about to say, for publication II you
wish. I have just read your editorial
Facing a Hard Task" In tonightl
Tribune. Previously I have noted
your occasional comments editorially
on school matters. Acknowledging
your excellent qualifications for writ
ing good editorials on many subjects
your comments on school matters
in the widely-read Tribune constrain
me to raise the following queries:
Are you acquainted with the SUBJ
}ect Of educational psychology? Have
you any conception OF modern peda-
gogical technique7 Do you have a
passing knowledge OF present-day
curriculum requirements for elemen-
tary and secondary schools? Have
you studied or read anything recent
" on character growth and its rela-
ton to our American life today
social. economic, political?
Just what do you consider the
"frills" to which you refer, and what
are the essentials in education?
Won't you explain what you mean by
'pedagogic window dressing?
~
considered most essential q genera
ton or so ago." and "the Three RS"
and drill into the students those
basic principles needed in lifes strug-
tgle' Il am quoting from your edi-
toriaD-the training Of a generation
ago pictured by you, has not proven
very effective for you and me and 40
million other Americans In meeting
the complex problems that have
faced US for the past few years. or in
anticipating them?
Shall we leave our children q
legacy Of these and even more COM
pick problenls-the most acute and
battling that have ever existed in
the history Of mankind-without en-
deavoring to the utmost to provide
them with the power and vision to
meet their problems?
I may be wrong, along with q hun
dred thousand other professional
educators and several million inter-
ested progressive laymen, but there Is
a sincere feeling that now, more than
ever, children must have the most ex-
pert guidance and the fullest oppor-
tunity to develop all their abilities,
building wholesome interests and in
tellectual power. not only for solving
great human problems but for
achieving the abundant life and
wisely using increasing leisure hours.
Would you close or curtail hospitals
IN the midst Of severe disease cpl
demic?
The present prevailing panic stress
ing economy" and TAX reduction"
will have its reaction sooner or later.
It will then be safe for you to respond
to the then popular emotional wave
and support editorially a policy OF
educational expenditures for such
real school essentials as music, ply
steal education, libraries, school nurse,
opportunity rooms, kindergartens,
supervised recreation and play
grounds, art-work, manual training
and home economies, dramatics and
public speaking, and modern class
room curricula and technique.
Today prominent official stated
that If one or two local leading citi-
zens would pay all their back taxes
that have not been paid for several
years-and they have the money and
can pay if they did not wish to evade
there would be adequate funds to
take care Of the school situation In
Bismarck. An editorial barrage d.
rected towards correcting such abuses
and supporting the schools and the
maintenance Of high standards for
Bismarck youth would be in better
taste and of far greater service to
your community than such editorials
as the one am criticizing-an edi-
torial published in the midst of Ma
tional Boys and Girls Week yet 30
out Of keeping with the spirit and
purposes of that celebration.
You know, I'VE learn what we prac-
tice"-and many people In the past
few years have been practicing dill
gently to please the emotional
crowd" But the joker comes In not
being able to anticipate the next
emotional wave. Would it not be
much better for us to endeavor to
transform the emotional crowd" in
to a community and nation Of rea.
soning, sober, sensible individuals,
uninfluenced by demagogic and emo
tional appeal, radical and conserva-
tive alike-thinking things through
and deciding issues without emotion
or hysteria-and can such q condi-
ton be attained other than by the
best education and self-discipline OF
our youth?
Very sincerely,
SHARON r. MOTE,
Superintendent.
y = =
Editors Note: The school II.
nancial problem probably will get
worse before 1t gets better. The
last legislature passed q law re-
moving the financial incentive
to pay taxes promptly for at least
two years. See editorial page.
Democratic League
Will Meet Saturday