Helena weekly herald., 1879-06-19
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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familiar with what has been accomplished
by the schools in Montana. as we'll as ir
Helena in particular, are satisfied that al
labors and expenditures have been we'll re-
paid. We feel justified in adding that al
have been better repaid than they have any
idea of. The indirect benefit of good schools
are greater than the direct ones, just as are
those of railroads. We are not to judge of
the work of school simply by the pupils in
attendance on any one day, nor still less by
the thin front lines on graduation days. The
school room is only the place where things
are begun; the work goes on outside, in the
family, in the whole community. Even the
sight of good school house, when deserted
in vacation, has an elevating and improving
influence. Strangers, entering any village or
town, quickly determine whether or not it
| would be desirable place to live in by the
appearance of the school house. Those
whose short-sighted wisdom leads them to
plead poverty and weakness as reason why
good schools cannot yet be supported, will
find themselves year by year growing poorer
and weaker, while those who 60 forward
in faith, saying good schools we must have,
cost what they may, will find it always
easier to have them than at first expected.
Men of ambition and enterprise will always
prefer to settle with their families in the
vicinity and within reach of the influence of
good schools. They pay as pecuniary in
vestment, if we were to throw out of account
all the largest direct benefits they bestow.
The pertinent question of the moment is
whether we shall halt now in our support of
our public schools, and wait for better times
and greater strength, or whether we shall
continue to advance, doing more and more
each successive year. Our clear, decided
opinion is to advance steadily, always never
go back, never even halt. We must not be
content with minimum, nor even with me-
dium results, but demand the MAXIMUM every
time. 1t should not be question with us
how long will such tax enable US to run
our schools, but having satisfied ourselves
how long during the year the school ought to
be kept open to secure the best results, we
should then inquire how much of tax will
be needed to cover it, then vote, levy and
raise it. 1t may seem strange to some, but
we feel ourselves within bonds of truth when
we say that the people of Helena could easily
double the benefits of their Graded School
with very little additional expense, chiefly
by cooperating with the teachers, encourag-
ing them and the pupils, helping to main
tain regularity of attendance and good order,
exciting ambition, and making school at
tractive. The walls of every room in the
school building ought to be covered with |
maps, charts and beautiful pictures, so that
even when the childrens eyes
we're turned away from their books, they
would see something in every direction to
charm and instruct them. If q thousand
dollars could be raised among our citizens in
Helena to be expended solely in adorning
he walls of the several rooms of our school
building, we believe every contributor would
confess that he was well repaid on the first
7isit at sight of the results, while it would
make school attendance easier and pleasanter
o the children. There ought to be some
way to secure the portraits of teachers before
hey are scattered and gone. There should
'e provisions to secure the photographs of
very graduate. There are so many things
0 suggest for improvement and attraction
within and without the school building that
'e almost feel guilty in naming them, for
seems to make our past neglect crime of
oppressive weight and magnitude However,
ismissing vain regrets, let US take hold of
ut of them, assured that the more of thought,
fort and money we invest wisely in the en-
rprise the more satisfactory will be the
,o,lk