The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-12-28
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE school
LAW.

We have received from Mr.. w. Egbert
Smith, terrier rial superintendent tfpublic in.
struction, a circular letter in which he out
lines some of the changes that he thinks are
necessary to be made in our present school
law. Below will be found Mr.. Smiths sub
stitute
Establish a territorial board of education
composed of 8 members, together with the
territorial superintendent as chief executive
officer. Legislature elect 3 members-one
from each judicial district-and the school
superintendent (principals) of the largest
TWO cities in the territory be ex-otficio the
other two members. Meet annually at the
territorial capital. Examine teachers and
grant diplomas. Prepare questions for exam
nations throughout the territory. Adopt reg
~uiatiOns concerning text books, course OF
study, etc. Appoint district inspectors, and
exercise the general duties OF an advisory
council.
Substitute district inspectors for county
observation-disclosures inspector for each jul
dicial distrlct-appointed by territorial board
for a term of two years none eligible but
those holding first class teachers certificates.
Perform all duties now assigned to county
superintendent. Receive So per day for time
employed in official duties, aud necessary eX-
peIses, limited to 10 cents per census scholar,
each county to pay proporlionally TO its CEN
sus children from the general county fund
provided, that any county supporting 50 or
more public schools shall constitute an indie
pendent or separate district, entitled to a
county inspector to be appointed and paid if
the same manner, aud be charged with the
same duties as are by law provided for dis
tricJ inspectors.
N-,- n-l ,r.tsGa-4o,
to hold public examinations for teachers at
each county seat s~emi-annually. For this
purpose shall choose two teachers IN The corAl-
ty for which the examination is held, who,
with the inspector, shall constitute a board of
examiners, and grant certificates good for TWO
years. At other times the inspector alone
NAV grant provisional certificates only, to be
good Tor six months. The territorial board
shall grant certificates good for five years in
any part of Montana.
District clerks. Make the duties of the
clerk Secretary more specific; require of
him the annual report must certify that no
warrant for teachers wages had received his
until after he had examined the
teachers register for the current month and
received the teachers monthly report make
the district forfeit 500 if the clerk neglects
duties recover from clerk on suit
by district give bond receive pay for ser
vices.
School moneys. Define more clearly the
nses to which the county school funds may be
applied.
Election of trustees. Change date of cleo
ton to last Saturday in March.
Census. Define residence for pupils so
that two districts may not claim same pupils;
make census age 5-2l.
Annual! county tax. Not less than four,
nor more than six mills allow NO apportion-
ment in counties that Impose less than the
minimum.
School term. Make the minimum term
months annually.
Institutes. Require at least one. annually,
in ea,h judicial district, and one in each
having 20 or more teachers employed
at the same time.
Teachers report monthly to district. clerk
to inspector.
As will be seen Mr.. Smiths proposed
parts and if carried out by legislative enact
ments would make a radical change in
school system. A territorial bOa.d of educa-
ton should be formed, but we doubt the
practicability of forming one upon Mr..
Smiths plan. We are inclined to the opin-
that one composed of the territorial SUI
perintendent of schools, governor, auditor
and the principals of the schools in the two
or three lai gest tOWns or cities in the terrific
ny would be open to fewer objections. 1t
would simplify the manner of creating the
board, and relieve the Legislature of the re-
sponsibillty of choosing three of its members.
1t would, we think, be quite difficult to find
a suitable person in each judicial district who
would be willing TO accept a position npon a
beard of education that would require his at,
tendance at the capita. annually. Few men
care to leave their business to attend to school
matters even when that business can be at.
tended to at their homes.
We have heretofore advocated the election
of district school su~perlntendents, and be.
lieve that the law should be SO amended as tc
provide for the same Mr.. Smirh's plan leaves
their appointment to the board of education
We would be glad to see politics eliminated
from all matters pertaining to schools. Blu,
this canno. be done as long as the chief schoo
officer under our system owes his position to
his fealty to this or TO that party. Let us have
district school superintendent, but let dis
trict conventions nominate them and the PEG
pie elect them. Under the proposed change
the board is charged with executive duties. Pc.
litical powers, or a power that may be recog.
nized as such, would better be left to politi
cal bodies.
We agree with Mr.. Smith that none should
be eligible to the Office of district school SUI
perintendent except those who hold first class
teachers certificates. Such a law woult
shut out every one who has nothing to recon-
mend him to the Office but his politics. Il
would place the supervision of our school!
in the hands of persons who would be able
to examine and pass upon the qualification
Of On ~annlica Mt for a teacher,s certificate. i