North Dakota N. C. ABBOTT, Field Organizer of the Bureau of Educational Cooperation, University of North Dakota ROM whatever angle we approach the problem of constructive FROM social reform and development in North Dakota we are confronted by the fact that the population with which we have to deal is one that is made up of many different elements. According to recent census, we have within our borders 156,158 white people born in foreign countries, and the same authority classifies them into twentyfive different groups as to nationality. This number represents more than twenty-seven per cent of our population. Add to this figure at least an equal number of native-born of foreign parentage and the foreign element in our population looms up large. Then consider that of the native born Americans in any community only a negligible fraction were born on North Dakota soil and that scarcely any two families have come from the same part of the United States and we see at once that North Dakota has indeed a peculiar and a polyglot population. Our new citizens from Europe are tenacious in their adherence to Old World traditions and our citizens from other sections of the Union all bring with them the accretions of custom and tradition peculiar to the regions from whence they come. The fact of many races, customs and inherited traditions renders our problem of Americanization and assimilation a peculiar one. In a state as young as North Dakota, we can hardly expect to find for some time much evidence of permanency in the way of stratification of social classes or a settling down of social customs. Our population has hardly rooted itself firmly as yet and until it has had time to do so and to develop a real community of spirit and to realize the identity of its interests along both social and material lines shall we have in this state very little social life that has the permanency of custom. As yet we have not outgrown the spirit of restlessness and change so characteristic of pioneer life. The comparatively slack business conditions of the past two years have not been a steadying influence. Facts like these point to the necessity of doing everything in our power to set in motion counter influences and to foster and build up better community life and community spirit. No one is more keenly alive to the need of a closer and more intimate social life among farmers than the farmers themselves. In this particular, communities over the state vary according to the degree of progress that they have attained and according to the character of their citizenship, but in many of the better communities the feeling and desire for closer social contact is taking definite form, and organizations designed to fill this distinct need are being brought into existence. What is lacking most of all in the advancement of this work is sympathetic leadership... ...a leadership that the farmer will feel that he can trust. Farmers may not possess a well defined class consciousness, but they are cautious by nature and look with suspicion on the city man with his ready made schemes for social uplift. Above all, farmers will rise in revolt against the supposition that they are in any sense benighted and inferior. The leadership of the urban class may be tacitly followed, but to pity an agriculturist is to arouse his ire. The real leaders in farm life must themselves have come from the soil. It is here that the great opportunity is open for the rural schools and the rural school teachers. The school is an agency around which all elements of a community can unite. Differences of race, creed, religion or party affiliation are laid aside in this truly American forum. It is here that the larger part of the work of Americanizing the foreigner is being done today and right here, ready at hand, is the social machinery by means of which much may be done in North Dakota and in every other state toward the blending together of a mixed and varied population and its transformation into an intelligent and progressive citizenship, devoted to this state and confident of its future. We have been slow in recognizing the fact that as community property, a school plant belongs to the public who are responsible for its organization and may be used by them for any proper community purpose. In many parts of the state, this very practical idea is being applied and with good results. This is a land of new and strange things. Old church ties have been severed, old family relationships have been broken off and satisfying old friendships have been interrupted in this process of being transplanted to a new land, but here in the public school is one familiar landmark around which even strangers in a strange land are glad to rally. These are stirring times in North Dakota. During the past two years more of real, purposeful effort looking toward the development of the state has been put forth by our own people than at any other equal period of time in the state's brief history. In this connection it is gratifying to note the extent of the organization work already set on foot by the farmers themselves. One of the facts about the Better Farming Movement that indicates its breadth and the farsightedness of its promoters is that in every locality under its influence its experts are bringing about the formation of clubs and societies for mutual improvement among the farmers. The press of the state contains many favorable reports of these meetings. The spirit that craves closer social intercourse is strong among the farmers and all that is lacking is intelligent direction. It is clearly evident that there is no dearth of talent to carry on this organization work and, in many cases wide originality is displayed in the adaptation of these organizations and their work to the demands of the season and of the locality. Purposeful activity of this kind initiated by the members of the communities themselves is the kind that will count toward social betterment. Very satisfactory results have been attained in some localities, and a few quotations gleaned from the press of the state are worth repeating in this connection. The farmers tributary to the village of Niagara, in Grand Forks county, have maintained a very live Farmers' Club now for more than two years. This is a typical North Dakota community as its membership is made up of several races together with people from a number of different states of the United States. During the winter they assemble fortnightly in a hall that they have rented in the village of Niagara and during the summer they meet for picnics and social recreation at different places in the neighborhood. The nature of their work, as well as the general interest taken by the community may be judged from the following clipping as well as from an occasion during the past winter of which the writer has personal knowledge when many of the members drove as far as ten miles on one of the bitterly cold days in December to be present at the club's regular meeting. The clipping follows: "The Niagara-Shawnee Farmers' Club held a meeting recently which was in the nature of a mid-winter fair. There was a fine display of grains, grasses and vegetables, together with bread, cakes, pies and fancy work. There were prizes for the prettiest woman and the homliest man. A decidedly pleasant day was spent. Professor Chamberlain and Miss Donaldson of the Agricultural College, and Miss Marion Mercer of Larimore, were present and assisted in the program, which was one of the features of the day. The meetings of the club have been held regularly thruout the year and are of an educational and social nature. A feature of each meeting is a delicious lunch served by the ladies of the club. (The writer of this article can testify to its excellence.) A German band, from the neighbor hood, supplies the music and the programs are devoted to the discussion of questions relating to farm life. The club meetings are a means of whiling away the long winter days, and as a result the farmers have been brought into closer touch with each other, to the mutual benefit of all concerned." At Maxbass, in Bottineau county, the School Center Club has been doing good work along similar lines for over two years in the uniting of the community and furnishing them with diverting and uplifting interests. A typical announcement of one of their meetings reads as follows: "Next Tuesday evening, March 12th, the School Center Club will have as its guest George T. Sidner, county commissioner of this district, who will explain what the Better Farming Association expects to do for Hastings township and outline the work of the Association. The program, which is an especially interesting one, is as follows: Orchestra. Reading of Minutes. Business. Duet-Parke Lille and Earl McBride. Reading Mrs. P. H. Jones. Address Commissioner Sidener. Song by Male Quartette. Debate Resolved, That sugar beets and corn will pay better in Bottineau county than alfalfa and potatoes. Affirmative, Bemis and Getchell; negative, Schulthies and Newman. Decision by ballot of club. (Orchestra while balloting.) The Maxbass orchestra will render selections during the evening. All are welcome." The noticeable fact about this program is that it is sufficiently varied in subject matter and that local talent is used thruout. There is no lack of good talent in any community. All it needs is organization and direction. A far-sighted teacher and two ministers are the directing force in this community. A recent issue of the Lansford Journal contains a three-column report of a very heated debate on the question of the parcels post that was held between teams representing two farmers' clubs in Bottineau county. In this debate, they got down to the very bottom of the matter and their discussion evidently stirred up the community and set the people to thinking new thoughts. The University library force can bear good testimony to the fact that these two clubs have been doing some excellent work during the past winter, for a large number of requests have come in for material and the subjects covered have included some of the livest topics of the day. The discus sions themselves are valuable for they widen the mental horizon and increase the range of interests among a social class who have altogether too few interests, but the all-important fact about these gatherings is that they bring people together more frequently, help them to a closer and more sympathetic acquaintance and tend to unite them into a more homogeneous and better satisfied population. Herein lies the significance of all social center work whether urban or rural. Some communities are even going so far as to provide from the public pocket for the means of bringing their people into closer social relationship. A recent issue of one of our state dailies contains this interesting paragraph: "The get-together spirit is much in evidence in St. Andrews township in Walsh county, where the residents have been brought into closer touch with each other and with the business and pleasure of the community by means of a new township hall which cost the township about $1,250. The building which is rapidly becoming the headquarters for the people of that district is situated in the center of the township on a half-acre of ground purchased by the township for that purpose. This structure is planned with reference to the needs of all social gatherings as well as for the accommodation of all of the various business and public organizations of the township. A feature of the building is a large dance hall, with a splendid maple floor and excellent lighting facilities. Here the young people of the community have gathered for many good times during the past winter. In one end of the building, voting booths for elections are provided. The hall is rented for all occasions except when the churches use it. The township realized a nice little sum from this source during the past year, so the venture is proving a success in more ways than one. A short distance from the hall a large barn has been put up, so that the farmers will have a good place for their horses when they come to the meetings in unfavorable weather." The experience of this community contains a suggestion that might well be given application in many other places. They have found it worth while to provide thru public agencies for that very real need in every rural neighborhood, a meeting place. It is in this connection that the new type of school-the rural consolidated school —can render a great service and justify itself as a socializing agent as well as an efficient means toward educational uplift. Uniting as it does into one school community the children from a considerable territory, the further step of drawing together the adults from that same territory is not difficult. Every building put up for a consolidated school should be planned with reference to the social needs of |