The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1896-02-27
THE SCHOOL DEDICATION

SpAAAV ICCOIOCu up W udtc. Hc ucuI-
cation of the new high school building
was looked forward to by every loyal
citizen as an occasion which demanded
his presence, and when the exercises
were begun at q O'Clock nearly one
thousand people assembled within the
! confines of the magnificent structure
of which all are proud, and today, as
the result of the tireless efforts of our
citizens. Philipsburg is possessed of one
Of the finest public school buildings in
the state, where between three and
four hundred pupils are receiving daily
instruction that will fit them for tax
ing up the work in this life when their
ancestors and benefactors leave it off.
A most appropriate programme was ar
ranged for the dedication and the vari-
ous parts were ably executed. The
opening address by Mr.. A. r. Dear
born afforded fair idea of the efforts
made and the work required of the
school board in the erection of such
a structure. These remarks, together
with our cut of the building and speci-
VI luS u1lucuS1Ous, WILL
thoroughly explain its finished cDndi-
tiOm.
Speaking for the board, Mr. Dearborn
welcomed tine visitors; congratulated
the people in their possession of so fine
a school building; thanked the men,
bers of the school board for the honor
able distinction conferred upon him,
and stated that the board had no apol-
@gy to make for any part they had
taken in the good work. On the con-
trary. they were proud Of it. The
school board only desired that every
citizen should understand that the
board had not, neither could they, by
their own action and authority bond
the school district that twice had the
people by an overwhelming majority
authorized the issuing of the bonds.
That on August 4, 1894, the PROPOSE
iton was first submitted. At this cleo
tion the vote stood: In favor, 40;
against, rs; majority, "a.
Again, Oh December 20, 1894, the
proposition was submitted and the vote
stood: In favor of the bonds, 1877
against, 3S; majority, 159
So much for the authority upon
which the board had acted in issuing
and disposing Of the bonds and build
ing the school house ',
That except in some minor details the
building was complete according to the
plans and specifications that it was
furnished after the modern idea of in
struction that it was supplied with a
competent corps Of teachers selected on
the sharpest competition; that thus
completed and thus equipped the board
surrendered the buildin into the hands
of the people, with the admOnition that
they nurture and defend it's every in
terest with the same zeal that has
marked their observation of it's con-
structiOn.
Whatever may have been the concen-
sus Of opinion regarding the location,
the arrangement or the cost, he re-
quested for today and for this hour lay
ing aside all personal animosity, all
factional bitterness come together as
a community as one common family,
uniting in hope and good wishes of
bright future for these children and the
benefits they may derive from this en-
terprise. and in spirit of patriotism
dedicate this building to the cause Of
liberty and enlightenment. Referring
to the high school department and the
additional advantages accruing there
"YOu understand, of course, that in
the old school house, for the want of
room and other facilities, it was impos-
sible, considering the number of pupils
to be accommodated, to teach other
than the common school course pre- |
scribed by the school law of the state. |
AS soon as child had mastered this |
they had reached the limit, and your
girls and boys at the age of 12 or IA |
years were turned loose upon the |
streets at the very time when most sus-
ceptible to good or bad impressions,
and being without occupation and |
without restraint the |
chances were mostly in favor of bad |
"With this so-called extravagant !
building there comes new order of
things. With more room and the in
creased number Of teachers we shall en- |
deavOr to maintain a first-class high I
school. 1 have here some reliable
school statistics furnished me by Prof.
Clifford, which, think. will convince
you Of it's utility. 1t is a deplorable
fact, according to these figures, that
only six pupils out of every one hun
dred enter the high school, and that
but one Of these six enter the university.
In other words, it means that only one
child in every five hundred enjoys the
benefits of university education. The
reason assigned for this education of
the few is the lack of high school
with its course Of study to connect the
school with the university.
In the United States there are 600, 600
pupils Of university age. Of these but
l4O, 900 are at college. Considering
these figures was it not time that our
people took some action in the matter?
TO the young ladies and gentlemen
If this high school department. 1 want
to say that this community have a
light to expect much from you, as it
was for your benefit more than for any
)ther reason that this enterprise was
lrged upon the people. Thanks to the
people Of this district, l have been
member of the school board ever since
-he school house proposition was first
discussed, and l know. whereof speak.
There never had been a .time when
your interests have been lost sight of.
Therefore you owe it to yourselves
md to this community to exert every
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