Concerns Center on One-Room Schools
High Schools on Upswing
Bismarck
June 30, 1915
Edwin J. Taylor, state superintendent of schools, reports that free public education is available to all North Dakotans. He is encouraged by the growth of high schools. In 1890 only a handful of the largest towns operated high schools. Only 570 students, most of which were women, were enrolled. Now towns of all sizes have opened high schools, numbering over 130, and 9,000 attend the advanced courses of study. Over 1,000 are graduating each year.
Marmarth is proud of its three-story brick high school in 1911.
Taylor is concerned about the quality of instruction in the 4,722 one-room rural schools which comprise half of the state’s schools. The school year is short, only 84 days, and often even shorter when students have to work on the farm. Rural teachers are not very well trained. Superintendent Taylor explained that about 3,000 of the one-room school teachers have not gone beyond the eighth grade.
The Oberon girls’ high school basketball team in 1911.
There is concern for the quality of teaching in country schools like this one.
Fessenden has high school in a fine 1901 building with a tennis court in the back.
By Dr. D. Jerome Tweton
Source
Originally published as The North Star Dakotan student newspaper, written by Dr. D. Jerome Tweton and supported by the North Dakota Humanities Council.
Grade Level
3-4
Subject Matter
Social Studies
