The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-06
ALL ABOUT THE SCHOOLS
Colonel KSSler FOrCibly Reviews Mon
tana'S School Law.
LOTS OF CHANGES NEEDED
An Interesting and Timely Letter
by Gentleman Who
Knows Whereof He
Speaks.


none is moro urgent than that relating to
the government of the public schools, and
in view OF that fact the following contri-
button from eX-County Treasurer Kessler,
n man of extended business experien ce
and otherwise fitted to offer sugge stions
is timely and important:
To the Editor Of the Standard:
In an able article on our present school sys-
TEN Prof. j. r Hendrlc ks closes with the sug
gestion that Butte district should ask for lesis-
lation follows:
''First-Pcwer to organize and control a city
school system and appoint the necessary
officers
''Seeond-Power to increase the levy for
school purposes TO mills.
ird-Power 10 appoint and pay truant
"Fourth-Power to invest the sinking fund"
His views in some respects do not coincide
With mine, but there can be no question that the
defects in the school law as It now stands upon
the statute books are SO many that an entire
new code for The government OF the schools
should be DR. wn up and passed. Attention is
directed TO some OF the most needed reforms
School district No. of Silver Bow county, en-
hracing Butte, South Butte, Walkerville and
MeaderVilie, Is controlled BY seven trustees
They are not required TO give bonds for the
faithful performance of their duties or for the
proper disbursement OF the large sums Of money
placed TO the credit OF the district for tine main
tenance OF the schools. No publicity OF any OF
their official acts is required and there is no Of
=.
This is decidedly wrong. school funds should
DC as carefully, II not more carefully, guarded
IMAM other public moneys Within the past
three years there has been expended in the
Butte school district over $4,000 without any
pubic accounting, and while the remarks made
are not TO be construed as rejecting in any man.
ner upon the honorable gentlemen now serving
or who have served upon the school, board, they
are 10 guard against any irregu arity that might
occur IN the future, ana every citizen having the
welfare of our free schools at heart must recog-
ME this fact.
The population of Montana is increasing so
rapidly that radical changes in the law are re-
qhired for the Management OF our schools and
this IS particularly true with regard TO Butte,
and the time is not far distant when sub-dI-
visions of district No. 1 will have to be made
and trustees appointed for particular schools,
who should be to a certain extent subject TO the
control OF central board, which body should
LOOK after the finances OF the entire district and
the trustees TO the supervision of the schools
within the limits Of their subdivision. Women
should be eligible as trustees and such board
should Include one or more of them. To make
thls change would be no experiment and the eff
feet upon the government OF the schools and the
selection OF teachers would be beneficial
Inc investment of the money in the sinking
fund and the raising OF the tax levy to eight
mills, as suggested by Professor Hendricks. are
measures mat should be carefully studied be-
lore being acted upon. The loaning of money is
always attended with danger of loss and it
Won be especially so If 1t came to oaning pub
lie funds by men W under the law
are not held responsible. The legislation re-
quired TO dispose OF the sinking fund now in the
purchase from time TO time bonds not yet re-
deemable, and when none are rendered for sale to
oier premium, limiting him as to the premium
To be paid; then enact "A law allowing no issue
Of bonds which cannot be redeemed at the pleas
IRE OF the district after period Of not longer
lhan three years. The sinking fund would then
Dc kebt at minimum, only sufficient being re-
tanned 10 meet interest. The increase OF the tax
levy 10 eight mills Is not necessary for revenue
TO support the schools, as the increase in popu-
lallOn does not exceed proper, iOna ely the in
crease in the wealth of the county from year to
year. so II IS readily seen that the revenues of
>choOl district Will Keep pace with the pc pu-
.uS suggestions to the legislature in relation
10 a new school law are that districts similar to
Butte in addition to the trustees, be governed
by central board OF control who shall manage
IN, finances and be under bonds that in an
districts where sum in excess OF S25,O 600 per
annum Is expended the trustees shall be under
bonds and that all their proceedings be pub
llshed IN a newspaper; that all their accounts
be audited by the county auditor, that no bonds
sired after period OF three years and that all
boards or trustees shall be composed of both |
men ana women. HARRY c. KEssLER.
No one will question that the present |
school board is composed of honorable |
and intelligent men, but that does not |
give the tax paying public such a
guarantee as Is required from other |
public servants. As an evidence of the |
laXaty of the law under which school |
trustees serve is the fact that on the 10Th |
general
school fund of district No. S90,56O. Since
that date there has been drawn out of |
that fund S52,157, including an overdraft
from last year. Not a single item of this
large amount has been published. The
present law does not provide that the
of the trustees should be audited
by anyone but themselves. The clerk re-
reives all bills and three members of the
board audit the accounts, but often only
Two members OF the auditing committee
see the bills. They are never read in
TENS 10 the full board. No one
Of any member of the board, but il is a
to many people that the trustees,
rs matter of self protection, should not
insist on the fullest publicity being given
% all their proceedings and business
transactions instead of passing resolu-
ions to exclude reporters from their
Meetings and thus make them more Sc
ret than even the law CONCENTRATES AT
he last meeting OF the board bills and
claims against the district to tho amount
II Se,2l0.67 we're allowed and ordered
'aid. Only two members of the auditing
committee were present. 1t is hardly
probable that single member of the
board would think of conducting his own
BUSINESS in the manner the affairs of the
chool district are conducted. They
would not permit a man in their employ
o handle such vast sums of money with
w requiring q DOnu from MN. IL Is the |
auit OF the law, however, and not the
ault OF the trustees, for the trustees are
III honorable gentlemen.
Another great evil in connection with
he school government is the matter
u elections of trustees. Educators of ex-
'erlence, and there are many in Butte,
ut not on the school board, say the date
I election should be changed so as to
ONE on the day of the general elections
nd at the same time, and that trustees
hould be nominated at regular party
This would insure the Sc
'ction of men best fitted for the position.
n the past the qualification of a man has
ever been taken into consideration in
ne nomination of trustees, and the cleo
ons have been by far the most DISGRACE
al OF any held IN Butte. Notwithstand-
IL the fact that ladies voted in Iarre
umbers, there have been advocates of
ertain candidates who herded together
lie worst class of hoboes and disreputa-
Ie characters and marched them to the
oils 10 On zrhn,l |