The Helena independent., 1894-12-10
WHAT IT ALL MEANS
Here Are tho Reasons Why a Revision Of the
Present School Law 10
Necessary.
A CONCISE SYNOPSIS OF CHANGES.
Tho State Board Of Education Heartily
Endorse the Notwithstanding That
' Interests Every Educator.

ipI many gfhth AmNnk ithNhtth anu /
others interested In the welfare ~ our
public schools that the Montana school
law II In need OF serious revision. II ls
imperative that school law, as well AS |
all other laws should be harmonious
and clear In lts phrnseology and intent |
Ia these respects II ls claimed that the |
Montana school law In particularly |
dinlcult In Il conflicting and amblgu-
Gus clauses abound; In many instances
the statutes are In direct opposition To |
the state constitution, Many unwise
provisions have been inserted through |
the years OF territorial dependency, and |
these have become vexatloua worri- !
ment 10 all persons entrusted with the
administration Of the law.
Then there is great need that legis- |
lation be enacted covering points now |
entirely omitted from our school law.
IL viii be easily understood that To COM |
pile In satisfactory form school law |
meeting the demands the changed con- |
dltions of the state resulting from It's
transition from a territory % statehood, |
ana our advanced position In all edu- |
cAtlonHl matters. requires much time |
ana well directed work upon the part
of those undertaking II. About two
months ago this work was undertakes.
by state Superintendent of Public In
stitutions r., A. Steere. and HIS deputy.
&. {. Wylie, with the result that their
work Just finished has met with the un-
qualified approval OF the state board Of
education which convened In this city
last Monday.
In their resolution lndorsing the re-
vision the board says: I'VE heartily in
dorse the bill revising the Montana
school law prepared by State Superin-
tendent II. a, Steere and his deputy G.
G. Wylie, and believe II this bill Is en-
acted into law and properly executed
IL VIII give Montana a school system
eificeint. progressive and abreast OF the
requirements OF the times. We urge
upon the governor to recommend to the
legislature that II be speedily enacted
into law at it's Forthcoming session
either as "A substitute for Title III. OF
the Political Code as proposed by the
code commission or for the present
school law of Montana"
This new school hill which the legis-
lature VIII be asked To make a law is
quite voluminous and Il covers the
ground thoroughly. Perhaps the great
est change contemplated I'm the pro-
posed law and the one which concerns
more deeply the interests OF all the peo-
pie Is that relating to the method of the
selection OF text books. Heretofore this
duty has devolved upon the legislature.
whose settlement OF this question. II is
claimed, has not always been satisfac-
tory TO the patrons of the public schools
Under the proposed law this duty liz
dlegated 10 the state board OF educa-
tion. From the composition of this
board II Is safe to assume that the peo-
plc's interests would be we'll cared for.
In addition to its present duties this
bopd Is given the power to appoint
and commission experienced teachers
10 act as INSTRUCTORS in county insti-
tutes.
Under the head Of state department
of public instruction there are num-
ber of changes from the old law. His
qualifications are enumerated, among
them being that he shall be the holder
Of state certificate OF the highest
grade. issued in some state, or as a
graduate of some reputable university
college or normal school He shall pre-
pare all questions To be used i'm the
examination of applicants for teachers
county certificates. II is made his duty
To apportlon the state school fund.
Thousands of dollars are now lying idle
I'm this fund for the reason that there
IL no provision In law for getting them
out OF the hands of the state treas
urer.
The article on county superintendent
Is quite long, enumeratiug, as II does,
his duties In clear and concise language.
The old law is silent upon the question
of county superintendent qualifica-
tions. The proposed law says that he
should not be legally qualified for the
office unless holder of certificate OF
the highest county grade. Is a citizen
of the United States, has resided one
year in this state before election and
one year In the county In which he IL
candidate. and has twelve months
successful experience in teaching In the
public schools ~ this state" A number
OF changes are made in the method OF
organizing and establishing new school
districts, pointing out their boundaries,
etc. The order establishing district
shall be made by the superintendent.
instead Of the county commissioners,
as Is now che case. An appeal may
be taken. however from his decision
to that body
1t is proposed TO change the time OF
the taking Of the census from November
to July, so as 10 get II In the reports
for the current year instead OF one year
afterwnrd, AZ is now the case. The
time OF making reports OF all school
officers is changed with the exception
of the state superintendent These arc
made uniform and will secure better
results In many ways than II IL ppssl-
hle to secure under the present law.
Aside from the addition of some new
ones. the duties OF the boards of trus-
tees will not be materially changed
The phraseology however, Is clearer,
and trustees Will he caused less trouble
I'm their attempts 10 construc the laws
meaning.
The Office OF city superintendent OF
schools Is created In each city having
a population of 5000 and upward. His
duties, salary. etc, shall be such as the
board of trustees shall prescribe, lie
must be the holder of state or lifN
diploma granted by the state board OF
education. and must have taught pre-
viuus to his election M least iiNe years
ia public schools. Teachers In schools
acting under the direction of a city su-
perintcndcnt shall report Ia him aud not
To the county superintendent
Some interesting changes are noted
under the head Of county Institutes.
Every county having ten or more
school districts must hold one onch year
| N shall be OF not less than five nor more
than ten days duration. Every teacher
In the county must attend or give u
good reason for not, under penalty OF
| the revocation Of his or her certificate.
An Institute fund IL created nom tho
issuance OF teachers certificates and
! appropriation by boards Of county
| commissioners.
some very important changes are
noted In the chapter on Determinations
and Certificates" should the new law
be missed by the legislature there VIII
no longer be occasion for teachers 10
complain On Gthe action OF county super
intendcntB1n the treatment of their
pnpers II IL said that the method OF
| ieachera' examinations In this state are
away behind the times. and arr unsatls-
| factory alike To supoIlntcndents and
/ - -. NArlII. Ia L. mnnMnnllnnnIlN N