The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-04
HELENA'S FREE SCHOOLS.
Their Condition as Shown by the
Annual Report Of Superin-
tendent Young.
He Strongly Advocates the Adop-
ton Of the Manual Train
ing System.
He Talks of Children OF school Age Who
Fail to Attend-A Good Corps
.r of Teachers.


Prof. r. G. Young, superintendent of the
Helena public schools has issued his an
nual report, which is very comprehensive
document full of interesting matter on this
subject. At the beginning of the school
year in September of last year at least zoo
more pupils sought admission than could
be accommodated in the school buildings.
To meet this demand the trustees leased
such rooms as could be secured in localities
where additional facilities we're most
needed. Some of these rooms have not
been we'll lighted nor adapted TO the pur.
pose, but they were the best that could be
secured at the time. The report of the
board of trustees. among other things, in
speaking of the additional school buildings
now in course of erection states that "the
only regret the trustees have to express, as
they are about to begin the erection of
these buildings, is that they do not have
more money at their command. At least
100000 should be spent in constructing
ard furnishing the high school. This sum
must necessarily be much reduced in pro-
viding for the ward schools"
They hope, however, with the means at
hand, to erect a building on the Central
grounds that will be a lasting benefit to the
people of Helena and that will for some
time to come relieve the schools of their
present crowded condition. The expendi-
ture of this aisasnnt of money in the erec-
ton of permanent buildings will not only
greatly enlarge the educational facilities,
but will be an inducement to those who
may be seeking place to make their
ho,,o, ord o1uca%o their rhil1rov, tn 1oco 70
in Helena.
The board call the attention of the pub
lie to the fact that large number of boys
and girls of school age, residents of the
district, have not attended any school,
either public or private. during the year.
This condition of things should not exist.
If parents themselves neglect or refuse to
send their children to schocl the trustees
can inquire into the cause of such non-at-
tendance and prosecute negligent parents
under the provisions of law now among
our statutes. In Justice to the children
this law should be enforced. ,. @
The superintendent has been retained by
the board for two years. His service to the
schools for the past year we're thought to
be a sufficient reason for this action. The
corps of teachers has been selected with
reference to their qualifications to do the
particular work required of them.
Under the head of general statistics are
some interesting figures which speak highly
for the generous manner in which the cause
of education ia encouraged in the capital
city. The following table shows the i'm
provements now in progress and their esti-
mated value:
High school building. 720o0
Three ward buildings ................ $4,000
Sites for ward buildings. ..:..... ........ 1100O
Enlarging present ward buildings. ....... 5000
Total number OF additional rooms. ....... "a
Total cost OF improvements contem- -,
Total number Of buildings belonging to '''''''
school district. including those now
Total humber OF rooms in same. 81
Total value of school property in district S349 500
The report shows that only about 81 per
cent. of the school population has been en-
that 800 pupils, continues the report, "have
been enrolled in private schools, we have a
total of ~ per cent of the entire school
population enrolled in the schools of the
city. OF the other % per cent, many are
engaged in various employments, but the
larger number, we are persuaded, are out of
school without sufficient cause"
Upon the subject of manual training the
superintendent makes some interesting re-
marks. He says: ''.The relation of the
public schools to the question of mammal
labor has attracted great deal of atten-
ton from the foremost educators of the
day, as well as from those who look at 1t
from a purely business standpoint. It is
urged that it is the province of the public
school system to prepare boys and girls to
fill the positions they will be called upon
to occupy as men and women; that these
positions will entail upon the great majority
the necessity - engaging in some manual
labor. and hence the public school should
provide for giving instruction in the use of
tools, az we'll as in the branches ordinarily
pursued. It 10 further claimed that, be-
sides its economical value. course in
manual training is valuable as a means of
mental discipline; that the pupil, who learns
from his text book the theory Of givel,
mechanism, then goes into the workshop
and with his OWE hands produces the arti.
ole. cannot fail to receive more mental de-
velopment than b who is deprived of the
training given in the workshop. So firmly
has this conviction impressed itself upor
that in nearly all the progressive cities q
the east manual training schools have beel
established in connection with and forming
a part of their public school systems. 1t
no longer an experiment, but has proved b,
wears of trial to be measure of great prac
tical value.
1.-The city of Helena is.no longer tow
of an uncertain future. It has grown to b
city, and has entered upon carer of &C
tivity and progress that has placed it ANON
the important cities of the country. Iii
high time that its public schools shout,
tdAo HuVdnCtu Steps duO 6tAu0 1ully 0OfeA6
of the best systems in our sister cities. T
this end would recommend that durin,
the ensuing year the question OF establish
ing Manual Training school be thorough
ly investigated in all its details, and step
taken looking to the Organization Of such
department to be opened for the reception
of boys and girls from the higher grades o
our city schools, not later than September
1891"
In closing his report the superintendent
acknowledged his Indebtedness to the faith
full and intelligent corps of teachers VIII,
have shown themselves to be cultured, en-
thusiastic and skiliful; loyal to the schoo
authorities, progressive in :their ideas an,
filled with an ambition to excel in their re
spectiys positions.
Ladies' underwear and hosiery al The Bee Hlv
Headquarters for window glass and paiuts An
oils. Parchen's Drug Store.
A full line of artists materials ut tn
Paynter Drug Co.'S.
Full line of childrsn's toy wocdenware Just r
eived ut The Bee Hive.
Lace collars and collar and cuff sets in Y,
DYKES ut The Rec Hive.