The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-07-02

tendent Addison Smith spoke of the re-
grets and tInge Of sadness always attending
such moments. Superintendent Harden.
brook and Mr.. Ed II. Irvine spoke in COM
mendatioa of the work done. Hon. j. 9.
Robinson said some very telling and true
things which, II lived up to, would req u
tionize the interest and results in scno>'
work in this place.
A few words concerning the future of the
school, especially the two lower depart
ments. Misses Hutchins and Fegtly have
shown themselves not only competent to
manage school, but thorough teachers.
Under their management the rooms have
taken the form of really graded schools. In
this form they are now ready to do the
best of work. All the best educators agree
that without some sort Of grading no good
work is possible in school having so large
number of scholars, 1870 being enrolled
during this year.
About one-balf of tho scholars have drop
ped out during the year. Some have done
so for good reasons, but most OF them for
very trifling ones. Now, when those schol-
ars return they must fall back into the next
class. 1t cannot bs otherwise. Our chill
dren do not like this and we do not like it;
but, in order to do the work they should,
the teachers must be sustained in doing so.
1t is impossible for teacher to do any JUS
tice by forty scholars and not hold them in
regular classes, and when a scholar has
been out for weeks or months he can do
nothing less than 20 into the next lower
class.
We say in general way we are very
much interested in education, yet we hard
ly knew what our children are doing. We
do not know what advancement they are
making. We do not see that they get their
lessons assigned them to learn at home
We do not ask their teachers Of their pro-
gress nor what we can do to aid them. We
scarcely know whether or MOI our boys are
at school, and above all we allow our chill
dren to stay from school on the slightest ex-
cuse. A teacher goes carefully through
the lesson with only one-half of the schol-
ars present. At the next recitation the
teacher must bold the class back to go over
the same ground for those that were alb
sent, or leave them TO shift for themselves.
When they get behind then they don't like
the teacher. A child that is absent from
school two days in week will learn moth
ing worth notice, and it utterly spoils
teachers enthusiasm for her work. Now
we do not care for the education of our
children unless we are willing to take some
trouble and personal interest to see that
our children are doing what they ought to
do. 1t is not enough to pay teacher and
then leave them to shift without our sup
port. You must examine your child's re-
port. You must tell him the worth of edu-
cation. You must have him understand
that he has good teacher, though you say
what yor please about the teacher among
Yourselves.
If the parents of Deer Lodge for the
coming year will do three things: /. Have
your children at school every day in the
term 2. sustain the teacher in everything
before the children 3. Show both pupil
and teacher that you are really interested
in your children's education, the progress
of our school will far surpass that OF the
past and leave no standing ground for the
veriest grumbler. w.