The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-01
The State Teachers Association
Elects It's Officers and Fin
ishes Its Work.
A New Constitution Adopted and
Other Important Business
Transacted.


First Vice Presidont--J. G. Templeton,
.Lriversity Place.
Second Vice President-Miss Carrie Cox,
- iIyer Bow county.
!. Third Vice Presidcnt-Miss M. G. Mooney,
billings.
Secretary-L. A. Ostien. Miles City.
Treasurer. W. Hamilton, Missoula.
!: Executive Committee-R. q. Young, Hell
tna, chairman; G. w. banks, Great Falls,
tand W.. w. Wiley, Bozeman.
: The association settled on Bozeman as
the place where the next meeting will be
sheld. The invitation was extended on be-
Ehalf Of the citizens n Board OF Trade OF
that place. Similar Invitations were on
representatives Of thoss cities gracefully
gave way to BoZeman, and the choice was
unanimously made. Helena presented no
claim to the honor. The time OF meeting
was fixed for the Christmas holidays one
year hence.
When the business of the association
was fairly under way, State Superintendent
Cannon made an address. 1.-THE progresS
of education in Montana" he said, us a
subject which lies very close to the hearts
of all her citizens. As IN private hfe =
man is judged by that which he accom-
plishes for himself and Others, SO in this
great sisterhood OF states each must stand
or fall iii the judgment of her peers, by the
record which she has made in1leglslation
for the public good and general advance
ment of her people. OF this record Mon
tana stands. taking into consideration her
growth and adverse circumstances sur
rounding her earliest years, second to none.
Peopled. as she was, by hardy pioneers
lfrom nearly every state in the union, they
drought with them to their Montana home
they had been reared, chief Of which was
their intense love for that browning glory
of our country. the public school. II evil
dence of this fact was wanting, it would
be found in the acts Of the first territorial
.hs winter Of iss4-a5, when a
school law was framed and passed.
school houses were erected, where the chill
dren learned those lessons which rendered
them more able in sfter years to perform
the duties pertaining to good citizenship.
All honor to that noble band who set such
a bright example, which it should be our
highest duty to follow. and We will prove
recreant to the trust reposed in us should
we fail in that respect. But we will not
fail. Each succeeding session proved that
school matters received that earnest atten-
ton their importance demanded.
The public school records of work done
from 1864 to 1872 are wanting, but from the
biepniel report of the territorial superin-
tendent. Hon. Cornelius Hedges, for 1872
and 1879, it is found that the first public
e bGuOOl bhURAb IN NikhbIH wy IA AFpI shI
number had risen to ninety schools, em-
! ploying 80 teachers, with I'm enrolment of
sltsoi children, for whom sd, 100 was apEor-
Toned. In 1881 the number of schools was
1, teachers III. In 1880 the number of
,hools is 200, employing 600 teachers, and
! 1880 children on the roll. and for the sup
port of the schools 5000 0 is appropriated.
This is "A record of which any people might
feel proud. When it is known that the
school system has been built mp wholly by
local taxation. with no aid from the teri
tory at large, it proves conclusively that the
people of Montana have nobiy responded to
every call made upon them and are
marching abreast with the educational
movement in the older states. There are
nine counties in the state in which high
schools are established, with IN enrolment
of 800 pupils. OUT teachers ia a whole are
painstaking and Woodworking, teaching
not only the principles of the text, but also
intoxicating those without which no boy or
girl can be safely launched upon the tenn
ing tide of temptation which will beset
them On every side.
Upon the teachers Of the state is placed
4 burden which only the consciousness of
suty we'll performed will render endurable.
ehe moulding OF the plastic minds %entrust-
"a to their care il in n measure assisted by
jome training, but the greater portion of
.ie work must be theirs. 1t is their duty to
impress the principles of truth, Justice,
morality and patriotism upon their pupils,
and the future of those who have been or
will be placed in their charge will show how
we'll they have completed the task assigned
them.
There is a bright future in store for the
schools of this state. With a p~rincely do
nation of public lands from the general
government, active and Intelligent boards
OF trustees, an enthusiastic. energetic and
competent corps of instructors. We shall
move onward and upward to that high 20
sition which we have earned tho right to
occupy in this bright galaxy of states"
The new constitution was adopted with
but one change. That WIS III regard to fix
ing tho place and time for meetings of the
association. The matter was taken ont of
the hands of the executive committee and
left with the association. An effort WAS
made to limit the active membership to
teachers and superintendent, leaving ont
those interested in the cause of educa-
ton The meeting. or rather the male
PARTON of it. was proceeding with great
delibeTation to involve that proposition in
n tangle that would have required a lawyer
10 urrayel. Motions were piled upon mo-
tons until il looked as if the electric lights
would have to be turned on to see the way
out. But 1t Was demonstrated at this point
that woman was made especially to help
mankind out of its difficulties. 4 young
but evidently thoroughly practical young
lady In tina meeting got up. squared herself.
ard made n five minutes talk.
IT WAS forcibie rs well as elegant. 1t was
III effect that ~ the provision as reported
Was good enough, there was no occasion to
change il. Moreover. they were wasting n
whole lot of time. She gave no reason for
believing that the provision WAS good
enough. except that i~nsurmorntable argu-
ment 81 womankin2-"because." II was
sufficient. All the lending amendments
were laid on the table and the membership
fixed IL the new constitution proposed.
Papers were read and addresses made as
follows: NORMAL Schools" by j. A. Riley.
of Twin Bridges, and l.. A. Ostien. of II lies
lily: Professional Reading by y. 4.
Merritt. of Helena, Miss Mary C. Mooney.
OF Billings. and II. %. Reed. of Deer Lodge;
Science in the Public Schools" by AIRS.
W.. W. WyIie, of Bozeman, Mrs. l.. T..
Hcwey, of Helena. A. l.. Stone. of Ana
conda. and C.. w. Dnrks. of Great Falls:
Drawing" by Miss Hope Morgan. of
Butte. aud ii. L. Wilson, of Livingston.
Considerable divergence in views cropped
out in discussing the question of e1amina-
lions. Superintendent Young. OF Helena,
favored holding them txicea rear, as being
just as certain ~ more frequent ones and
involving less work for tho teachers. &. w.
banks. OF Great Falls. thought n teacher
oucht TO know as much by one months
work ms by AN examination. Superintend-
ent Turnkey. of Lewis and Clarke. thought
IL a child did not know enough To write
what II knew. it should be taught to. She
favored written examinations. Is. A. Mer-
ritt. of Helena, thought that shat WAS
wanted wGs not 30 much Lew methods az an
-.':-atiOu of old ones Other ytewa wnra