The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-12-24

: EDUCATIONAL NEEDS In x0HTANA
[BY W. EGBERT SMITH, TERRIToRrAr SUPER
n HTENDESr or PUBLIC INsrRUcrIoS1
.IL~ - 90 -
From considerations already advanced 1
Is claimed that our present publicscho sys
tenn should be strengthened and improved
The spirit Of the school law is good; its evi
dent aims and intentions are desirable ant
should be preserved, but its provisions de
not secure the ends for which they were en-
acted. As . system it is like agood machine
with some of its screws loose and some of its
wheels out of gear. 1t cannot do good worl
until its parts are adjusted, so that each wheel
shall perform the part for which it was de.
signed, and the whole machine be mad. to
move with harmony and unity of purpose.
In accordance with this conservative view II
is not proposed to make radical and sweep
ing changes, but rather to provide the way
for a realization of the ben
efits the law was originally design
ed to confer. Let it be kept I'm mind that
school systems have but one great, primary
design, which is the establishing, upholding
and permanency of good schools, To this
great purpose all its provisions should con-
tribute. aN fr - .r. as. ...
The need of good teachers is so important
that 1t has passed into the axiom, GAS the
teacher, 80 the school," Whatever else may
be considered necessary, it must be conceded
that good teachers are essential In the great
work of educating the children who In few
years will take into their hands the duties
now devolving upon us. fa 'attar s&T
1t is certainly then the part of xsdom to
SO frame and shape our school legislation
that talented, scholarly, refined and success
full teachers shall be encouraged to engage In
the school work of Montana. It has been
shown already that better system of certifi-
cation-one that would fifty recognize stan
dard Of scholarship for our teachers through
out the whole Territory that would insti-
tute competitive examinations; that would
exclude favoritism and political influence:
in short, system that would wisely select
or properly educate and suitably certify the
best teachers that can be secured-is the one
thing most needful. OF course, this conclu-
sion is based on the supposition that taxes
for school purposes have been levied and will
be discussed. If public schools are estab-
lished and money, whether much or little,
expended upon them, then the argument
that has been advanced holds good. The
certification of teachers should be made the
means Of selecting the best that offer their
services. 1t is we'll known to the school off,
GERS of Montana that more than twice the
number of teachers employed are rejected
as applicants, not because they are less com
petent, but because there is no room for
them. This proves that, notwithstanding
the moderate wages paid and the short terms
in many districts, there are still enough will
ling to engage in the teachers vocation to
make choice necessary and the manner of
choosing very important. +. w
The length of the school term and the
teachers wages, however, must be regarded
as potent factors in any school system, and
to these / now invite brief attention. 1t
may occur tssome reader that since the num-
Der Of teachess applying for situations is so
much In excess Of the number employed, we
might reduce the wages and thus secure
longer school term with the money now ex-
pended. Such action would be most fatal
error. 1t could be easily shown that the only
reason We have such large surplus ofteach- |
ers applying for situations Is because of the |
fair wages paid in the principal towns in |
Montana, and that in them, too, the school |
term is long enough to make the occupation |
Of teaching afford decent living Tor teach |
ers the year around. The trustees of our
principal towns receive the first offer of SER
vices from all our well-qualified teachers.
After failing to secure situation in the few
schools that pay fair wages, many from ne
,essity seek the less desirable situations that
nay be open to engagement and accept of
wages that would not have induced them to
,ome to Montana. 1t would be vain to hope
hat competent teachers thus secured would
continue to labor in districts in which only
hree or four months of school are provided
f we have teachers of fair ability in the
hort-term schools, it is quite clear that they
re beholden to the town schools with longer
erms and higher wages for the surplus of
God teachers they have induced to come
'ere. Such conditions must be regarded as
My temporary, and wisdom dictates more
LIBERAL expenditure for school purposes in
he short-term districts Even If good
eacbers are provided 1t is impossible to de-
emily educate children on such short allow
nee as three or four months school during
he year. The present minimum--three
too short. Nothing less than
We months per annum of public school
hould entitle district to apportionments
rom the public funds. aA '.mia5g Hr..4 "
The increase of cost in rural districts
1ould be partly met by an increase of the
minimum county rate and partly by divis-
IN Of twenty per cent. of the public school
ind, on the basis Of school districts, instead
the basis Of the school census. The rea-
On for this cannot now be fully set forth,
ut wish to call attention to 1t now as a
,eans Of strengthening our weak districts,
nd providing for them a public education
orthy Of the name. I believe that such a |
vision can be shown to have substantially JUS I
ce in its favor. 1t would be necessary ut
he same time to provide by law against
multiplying districts unnecessarily, and not /
recognize any in this scheme of dividing /,
venty per cent. Of the school funds that did q
1t enumerate at least fifty pupils in its
hool census. .sH4s Z attl I'VE Iy
FROM Mr.. Maxey, who has just returned a
ON Custer county, we learn that he met /
esthern Pacific surveying party at Coulson,
n from the hest information he conld oh | I