Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-01-08
THE SCHOOL-HOUSE TAX.

MIR. EDITon:-In compliance with your
oft-repea,ed request, will write snort
article upon this question, it now being
fairly before the people.
School officers, teachers and pupils nave
es periepctd much Inconvenience, ana the
SC DOL interests Of the district, aud, l may
add. of the entire county have suffered
materially during the last five years for
ant Of proper school building. rms
Is the 4th Y, ar since the school was graded
AMI every year the Trustees have been
obliged to re,,t. at high figure, an incon-
venent, uncomfortable, unhealthy, and,
in almost every respect, unfit room for the
primary department. The school house
It's. If is not at all suitable for the advanced
depar: menr. The Trustees, AS Trustees,
are not TO blame. 1t IS the best they can
do under the circumstances; but every
citizrn Of Bohemian, who has not exert
hmsel to effect change, Is 10 blame for
such state of circumstances. 1t is a
shame against humanity; r"proscl
against the moral character and intelh-
geice OF the community.
1t IS rema. kat le that The school accom-
mOdaiiOns of BoZen are so poOr--i'er
maps worthless would be better term.
I doubt Il any community of its SIZE and
pecunary ability has done more. in the
last seven yeas, than Bozt man, to assist
worthy public enterprises. She has furn
shed by subscription about $4,000 for
the erection Of free bridges across the
jefferson. Madison and GalIatin rivers
and the Improvement of her own streets,
% 200 for the purchase of material for
printing office; $4,000 for the el.ction
and furnishing Of churches. and thousands
Of dollars for the development OF Eastern
Montana, TO say nothing Of the hu' dreds
IF other enterprises for which the citizens
Of Bozepan have freely coitribu' ed al
worthy enterprises, but every one inf, riOr
in importance and inferior IN Its promises
Of benefit to the community. to the efec-
ton of school building. II is not rta'.
Onable TO suppose Il a. this comm uni y
will now refuse to furnish the necessary
means for the erection vi such building.
But there are differences of opinion as
to what kind of building is really re
quired. Tire consideration of few facts
is necessary 10 the formation of an inteli.
gent opinion. have enrolled during the
present term the names of eighty three
pupils who have been in actual attendant.
upon our schools. There are doubtless
enough belonging to this district, in at
tendance upon the Parish School, to RISE
this figure 10 a hundred. But it may tie
objected that you should not provide for
those attending private schools. If you
make you" schools what they should be-,
their advantages over all private schools
will DE SO great that you may expect all
school children to come knocking at your
door. Yours is the same school system,
before whose onward march in older COM
munitles private and sectarian schools.
'emlnsries and colleges have disappeared
like snow before the summers sun. Your
work will surely be found wanting if you
fail 10 provide for all. Then your want
vt accommodations has excluded upwards !
OF twenty pupils WHO would baye regard |
ed ii privilege 10 attend your school up |
IN paying u tuition fee. A proper regard !
for your business, as we'll as your school |
interests, requires that you make provision |
for this class of pupils in the future.
Then you are required NOW to make
provision for at least one hundred and
wenty pupils. Will any hopeful citizen
IT Bozeman doubt TINT this number will |
louble in five years? 1t would require
'ut little more than the natural growth of
hose now living in the district to double
he number. Does any citizen wish to
pend So. 600 or $1,000 now IN erecting a
building that will b. useless in five years?
think not. Do as Virginia City has doue.
Greet good, convenient and substan tial
uilding that can be made to accommodate
hree hundred pupils, and as it rises from
he plain you will take pride in the
'ork and wonder that you hesitated so
)nK. TEG