The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-03
SCHOOLS AND PUPILS
Superintendent Kern Submits His Re-
port to The Trustees.
INCREASE IN ENROLMENT
Winners in the Competition for the
highest Standing In Attendance
and Punctuality-Resar
the Spring Vacation.
ICREASE IN ENROLMENT

their regular monthly meeting last
night. Superintendent Kern submitted
an interesting special report Of the
condition of the schools, showing a
large increase in the enrolment. the
crowded condition of the rooms and
absolute necessity of the additional
teachers employed during the past
year. His report incidentally but ef-
fectively answers some criticisms made
lately and contains suggestions that
will doubtless meet with the approval
of the trustees and teachers. especial
ly in regard to the grade certificates
and qualifications of teachers in the
primary grades. Mr.. Kern's report is
as follows:
Helena, Mont. April 2, 1896.
ITO the Honorable Board of Educa-
ton. Butte Public Schools: Gentle
men-Herewith is offered for your ex-
animation. reports from the principals
for the school month ending March 20,
1896. I also submit for comparison, the
reports of the principals for the corre-
spending month of last year, ending
March %, 1896. You will observe that
our present total enrolment is 1852,
while that of one year ago was 3,59S.
thc Cio6t udiiy atlChodiSC last
month was 3,026; for one year ago, ii
was 2.691 Thus giving a present aver
age daily attendance of 1886 pupils more
school has SO more than last
year. The object of these fig
ures is to show that there has been
an increase in the school population of
Butte requiring additional teachers,
IL
same report of the principals for last
year, you will notice that eight OF the
teachers had upwards of so pupils. an
average of Ga. There were 22 others
with upwards of so. the average being
"a Five others averaged Is pupils
each. Perhaps no one was to blame
for such organization. but good results
are impossible under such unfavorable
conditions. The classification and
equalization is now made so that we
have an average of 40 pupils to each
teacher which is conceded everywhere
to be maximum number for individ-
ual instruction, discipline, sanitation
and good work.
'Mumps, chickenpox, measles, diph-
iberia and an epidemic of sore eyes
prevailed to such an extent last month
that our per cent. of attendance
reached only 9462 against 96.76 for the
preceding month. There was also an
unusually large number of cases of tru-
ancy but we have that matter now
pretty we'll under control where we
have the cooperation Of parents.
Section 1897 of the school law re-
quires every school officer to visit every
school at least once each term and
carefully examine into its management.
condition and needs. To properly ex-
anime the work of the pupils under any
teacher, one should spend at least an
hour or so which with 81 buildings and
81 teachers would require about a
school month. We would like to have
all the schools examined by all the
trustees or If you have not the time.
by a committee employed for that pur-
pose and report their condition with
criticisms and recommendations If
this cannot be done. we will endeavor
to place before you samples of pupils
work in any branches you may wish
that you may examine and compare
them in the office here at your leisure
There is already on file here specimens
showing penmanship, drawing and lam
guage, the language covering spelling,
punctuation and composition. have
given you the work of every pupil from
every school and you will find that 1t
represents as good work in the main as
can be found in any of the western
cities. confess that some Of II is or
binary and even very bad. partly the
fault of dull pupils and irregular at
tendance or bad grading and poor
teaching.
Rule 6, page 90 of your rules and
regulations says: Any person feeling
-. e.@1
with the schools, should apply at once
to the superintendent. If he is unable
to adjust the matter satisfactorily. he
shall refer the complaint TO the board
IF patrons and others would regard
this important regulation IL would save
trouble and often injustice. Very fire.
quently pupils misrepresent to shield
their own misconduct or because they
do not understand the facts. II Is
therefore a safe plan to thoroughly in
vestigate before making any fuss. and
even then the great interests of the
schools as a whole require a little con-
cession and charity on the part of all.
School people are Liable to make mis-
takes as we'll as other folks and there
are many chances for things to 60
wrong in school even with good man
agement.
Regarding a spring vacation / will
say there is quite desire on the part
of many to make up next week the
two days lost after holiday week and
dismiss from the sth to 18th.
LAS to the grade of certificates the
teachers are required to hold after this
session. permit me to suggest a plan
for allowing teachers OF primary
grades the third grade certificate. pro-
viding they have had successful expert
ence and can pass a satisfactory spe-
cial examination in certain subjects
covering the matter and methods OF
primary instruction. This Is quite Gus
tomary in large cities and is safe
and just plan. A person may pass the
technical examination in algebra. civ
les. literature. etc. and know nothing
whatever about handling and teaching
children. on the other hand. some OF
our very best primary teachers have