The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-26
Apt Cannon Presents Some Fig
ures or .the Cost OF Educate
ing Children.
Calls Attention to thu Act ofthe Lsgis-
lAture Providing for Compulsory
Education.

lG0 WApu WoOnbUI q AOy w pAo Ul6DEANkSA
~otionary. Miss Friendlich assisted Miss
aenesa with . paper which was highly ap-
Feciatsd. In the spirited discussion which
lowed Miss Hopper strongly advocated
o synthetic system 40 an aid in this
ranch. Mrs. Avery, Miss Turnkey, Mics
athias, Mrs. De Camp, Mrs. Young, Miss
ynch and others also took part in the dis
assion. The Model Teacher was presented
mastery style by Miss Friendlich. In
10 discussion some lofty ideals of this
re character were presented by Mrs.
ounR, Miss MaRnsss and Mr.. Merritt.
wing to the n~on-appsarancs OF II. g.
helps, who was down on the programme
y q discussion on Business Arithmetic
nd Short Methods. the subject was omit
ID.
The afternoon session was devoted to the
pscial branches. A brief and practical
Aper on drawing was given by Miss Gstz.
Il. Merritt continued the subject by sons
rawinR in the schools. Excellent papers
n this subject were read. Mr.. Harsh
sing absent, his place was supplied BY
rof. EnRelhorn, who gave his opinions re-
arding the necessity Of tsaching writing
trough all the grades. A recess followed.
urinQ which the teachers wore delightfully."-
ntsrtained by Madame Hsdinl singing
NO beautiful selections. She afterwards
ave a short talk on music in the public
ehools. She told the teachers that she be-
eyed it could BE- SUCCESSFULLY pursued, but
ne study of music should be obligatory in
be high school. This closed the regular
rogramme of the institute. Trustee
uthris made 4 short speech. the brevity of
|hich was forgiven, as his remarks were
iuh1v Cnonforkino RI thu kaaNhAra aoaarn-
led. Trustees LanRhorne followed the
curse he usually pursues during q session
I the trustees. He was brief, but to The
ONT, and his words were welcome. Much
tedit ID due Miss Turnkey. county superin-
pndsnt, for the admirable way in which
as ably assisted by the secretary. Miss
ommermeisr.
The session Of the teachers institute
losed last evening with = most interesting
nd instructive address by State Supsrin-
cndsnt Carmen. 1t was greatly appre-
lated by all present. Prof. Cannon said:
owe have : difficult problem to present
our attention for q few moments, but can
Rs show this to you in such q manner that
change for the better may be ~inauRurated,
10 shall feel that We have been amply re-
Paid in tho awakened interest which the
halter demands.
more ID an Ol0 Out True 8AyluR, bn6G
show me the school and l will read the
uture of your people," which has more of
ruth in il than We are willing to admit,
nd, to the casual observer, the people of
Montana are doing all that will tend to ole
ate their children which lies in their
bower. But bear with us, n lot us look
u the matter of school expenditures and
lee whether the amounts so generously con
riDuted are accomplishing the purposes in
.ended, and il not, to place ourselves in line
With the most advanced of the progressive
{tates of the union.
The people of Lewis and Clarke county
hould know the conditions under which
heir money is being expended by their
public servants, bus believe that many Of
hem do not, hence, it falls to our lot to
foint out, so far ~ il lies in our power,
hat which NO think to be wrong, but in the
most kindly spirit, az tho same conditions
bxist in every county and district through
put the state in a greater or less degree.
The cost Of sustaining our schools is one
which demands the attention of all, and
Tor the purpose of comparison, il you
please, lei rs call YOU attention to the two
principal districts in this county, that ID,
hose which paid the largest amounts for
kchool purposes for the year ending Aug.
81, 1880, and having the greatest number of
kchool children within their boundaries.
First, would be Helena district No. l, and
rom Cuo TeporG OIL your county auperlH-
fendent for the foregoing time, We learn that
there were 1854 children in the district be-
tween five and q years OF age. from this let
|ls deduct 1924, for those married, and others
attending school away from home,
fhis will leave $500 that should
have been in school. The
total amount paid for school purposes, az
Had the whole number of children been in
the cost per capita would have
been but $22.73. From the source above
stated, your snrollnsnt was LOGO, and on
this you paid 1924 for each child, but TAX
ing the average daily attendance, which
WAS 1,012, as a base, and this We think is
the correct one, We find that the cost has
with 63 per cent. only Of enrollment in
daily attendance, the cost has been
raised $18.92 for each child. Let US sum
Mario: for $50, 286.3O paid for school pur-
poses, 1890 should have been sohooled, ut a
cost OF $22.B each, blu actual cost on
average daily attendance vas $51;66.
Here the cost total was $s,-
72s. %; total number of children be-
his the district paid s15.5s ee r
but the enrolment was 217.
with per capita at $17.18, while the average
daily attendance was but 1872, only 60 per
Ceub. OF 6uTOllm6IlC, anu on LQlB the Cost
was raised to 1924. This, Of course, does
not have the appearance of a paying pro-
position, and the question will be asked,
who IL responsible for it? An examination
of the statute reveals the fact that there
nro three classes named. district boards of
parents and taxpayers, in whose
hands the whole matter lies. In section
1921, Montana school law, trustees are
given unquestioned authority to compel the
of children at school for twelve
weeks each year. and six weeks of that time
to be consecutive, with provisos, which do
materially change the statement.
Parents havs been honoted by the legisla-
ture IN section 1922, and we cannot under
stand why 1t IL that they will permit their
children to stay at homo for M two or
three DAYS in a week, and in some cases for
weeks together. permitting them to roam
the streets, learning those lessons aud
acquiring habits which in time to come will
bring sorrow and shame to father and
Tho taxpayer In section 1923 has a rem
edy. should he choose to use it-and we
most heartily pray that the day may speed
ily come whom no will exercise his rights in
premises--which would result in n
largely increased attendance in our public
In school laws from nearly every state In
union. received ut the Office which We
the honor to represent, we find com-
pulsory education acts, which, in the main,
ire similar to our own, and from the re-
ports from state superintendents we gather
an almost unbroksn line OF testimony in
favor Of auCh In wa In nIdttfno A. the