The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-19
THOMPSON PRAISES
TEACHERSOF STATE
FOR EMERGENCY AID
Asserts Their Loyalty and De.
votion Have Kept Many
School Houses Open
~ ARTHUR Z. THOMPSON


Superintendent Of Public instruction
It is obvious that, along with other
institutions, schools have been SER
iously handicapped by the financial
stress during the last few years. The
radical reduction In the assessed val
uatioin rate has sharply restricted
possible income Of many school dis
tricts.
One Of the most acute direct causes
Of financial distress In this school year
IS found In the fact that current tax
receipts. which were abnormally light,
have to be applied on certificates of
Indebtedness. Some certificates of in
debtedness issued prior to January 1,
1888, are being refunded through
bond issues which the state land de-
partment Is purchasing from these
school districts. This will help ma
terially.
Statistics IN the office indicate that
about 20 per cent Of the rural schools
have been compelled to shorten their
terms by one or two months below the
ordinary standard. It Is gratifying to
note however, that while official re-
ports to this office as Of February
l, 1888, showed q schools closed, on
January l. 1884, the report of closed
schools listed only II.
Children Not Deprived
It Is to be noted also that the clos
ing Of this number of schools does not
necessarily mean that the children
previously enrolled therein were de-
prived Of school privileges. Several
districts that formerly had three
schools In session made arrangements
this winter to economic by closing one
school and having the children attend
the other two.
Recent press reports regarding
North Dakota children being, unable
to go to school for lack of clothing are
not borne out by reports coming to this
office.
Chief credit for this splendid record
In the face Of depression belongs to
the loyalty and devotion OF our teach
ers as well as the fine spirit Of determ-
ination on the part Of school direc-
tors and county superintendent. Our
teachers have stuck bravely to their
line Of duty in spite Of salaries cut al
most to the starvation point and with
many having to accept registered war
rants In place Of cash for their serv-
ices.
We feel that the last session Of the
legislature In establishing the principle
Of the state equalization fund took an
important step forward. Educational
opportunities must be equalized II we
ere to achieve the ideal In distributing
educational advantages.
Outlook ID Not Good
looking ahead to 1894, the outlook
for the balance Of this school year is
somewhat discouraging. Doubtless
more schools will be compelled to
shorten their terms. Through the
federal emergency relief commission
We will be able to take care Of q num-
Der Of needy unemployed teachers dur
ing the coming months. A monthly
allotment Of $500 for this purpose
has been approved at Washington and
the ALLEGATION Of these emergency re-
lief teachers has already been made
by the department to the counties.
It appears quite certain that the
next legislature must make provisions
for shifting q considerable portion Of
the burden Of maintaining our public
schools from real estate to other in
tangible sources Of income. We are
watching with interest the workings
Of the gross income tax for public