The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-21

or not otherwise credited In this
newspaper and also the local news Of
spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights Of republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
A Real Emergency
September 10 has been selected as
the opening day for the l934-35
school year in most North Dakota
communities and this fact again
brings to the fore the question Of
how approximately 1000 schools in
this state are to be financed. In
some cases the issue is not a pressing
one. Though no school district has
an excess Of funds. some are SO
situated that they can get along
without outside help.
Others, however, and this is par
ticularly true in the western part Of
the state, again will face the problem
of how to pay teachers, heat school,
houses and do other necessary things
upon little or no money.
The federal government probably
will come to the rescue again this
year as it did last, perhaps in even
greater degree than before because
Of the handicap which the drouth has
obviously placed upon our education
system. Just what will be done and
how has not yet been determined,
but even the hardest-pressed school
district may safely assume that 1t
will not be left to struggle along
alone.
In some districts, school operations
may become q cooperative endeavor,
with q good many people contributing
to 1t in labor and materials instead OF
in money. This will be reminiscent
Of the pioneer days when the only
school some districts knew was that
provided by farm or ranch wife In
her own kitchen. It Is not rever-
sion which we would welcome but
history at least gives evidence Of
what can be done II the worst comes
to the worst.
Meanwhile, we still have with us
the question of what to do about the
young men and women who, having
finished their usual school courses,
have been unable to find employ
ment. This, in way, is problem
even more pressing than that present.
ed by keeping the grade schools
open, for these young people are just
in the formative stage and their ex-
perience now may exert unhappy In
fluence on their future lives. Young
children may easily be in better posi-
ton to make q comeback than their
older brothers and sisters.
A possible way out IS suggested by
the teachers college Of Columbia uni
versity which IS advocating super
vised correspondence study method
to be used by the smaller high
schools. primarily to offer them q
richer and more varied curriculum.
The idea back Of the proposal Is to
place the courses offered in small
high schools on par with those Of
fered in larger educational units. The
method Of operation is to have the
students study the correspondence
courses in the classroom instead Of
at home, under the direction Of an
instructor who need not, however,
have special knowledge Of the sub
jects since the lessons are fully pre-
pared and the grading will be done
by the institutions sending out the
courses.
But in North Dakota, our problem
is one Of more urgent nature than
that OF extension and enrichment.
Many Of our children viii be unable
to attend high school at all on q
normal basis. If they are not to be
left to shift for themselves in IN edu-
cational way. correspondence courses
must be furnished for them. It IS
not as desirable as attending school,
but it is the next best thing.
Our university and agricultural
college have operated extension divi-
sions for years, largely designed to
help adults who seek to extend their
knowledge. II they have not already
done SO, these departments should
take immediate steps to offer their
service to younger students whose
opportunities have been severely cur
tailed by the times.
Provision should be made, too. for
the extension Of credits for such
work SO that, when times come back,
these farm children can resume their
school work on q normal basis With
out loss of time.
That Middle Road
Senator Robert r. Wagner Of New
York = o0e q the ATHEIST . wen -
one or tile busiest of the new deal
err. An immigrant boy. he knows
more about life on the bottom rung
than on thu upper crust Of society.
which may account for the fact that
he = regarded q m authority on
labor ana has introduced much l1gfs-
latioa a the subject.