The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-07-28
OUR. COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

OUR COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
Statc superintendent Carlcton's. Efforts
For Their Improvement.
L. A. Carleton, state superintend-
ent, has issued a call for convention
'of county upcrintendents, to meet
at Helena, August q. The object Of
the convention will nc to adopt. smea~
suros designed to improve the coun~
Try schools Of Montana. Superin-
tcndent Carleton believes that the
ungradcd schools Of the state are be-
ing neglected and chat if the county
superintcndcnts act together much
can be accomplished in the way of
placing them nearer the standard 'of
the city schools that have the advan-
tagcs Of daily supervision. 1t is his
desire to grade the country schools as
far as is practicable, now that there
will be uniformity Of text books in
the public schools where before the
effort could not have been attended
with success. @"*
The following letter explaining
the objects of the proposed meeting
was addressed by Superintendent
Carleton last week to each county
superintendent Of schools within
The state:
To County Supcrintcndents: The
following circular letter is issued in
Ms 2}aaf s5 5ih id G 81 % do}E aff ffo aapahde G8mf !e
the cause of education in our rural
schools. Concerted effort on the
part Of county supcrintendents, the
tcacllcrs in our rural schools, boards
OF school trustees and all others in
tcrcstcd in this work, will, we think
be productive Of good. How to Sc
cure longer terms, better teachers
and more thorough and regular sup
crvisjon Of the ungraded schools Of
the state arc some Of the questions
that arc to be considered. The cues
| tjon Of adopting q .eotrso of study
for the rural schools must not be
overlooked. We believe an elastic
course can be adopted with great
profit.
We believe, also, that pupils should
be graduated from country schools
after completing the prescribed
course of study and a. diploma gtyon
to the graduates. Under the condf-
tions now existing in the country
school there seems to be but little
incentive for the boys or girls to con-
tinuc in school for q long period.
The result is that they leave the
schools at very early age to go to
work on the farm or elsewhere, or to
90 to the city graded schools.
HE country schools need, and de-
serve, to be improved, and the tern4e
Of the schools ought to be lcngthen-
ed. ID sec what can be done in
this direction, a meeting of the
county supcrintendcnts Of the state
IS hereby called to meet in Helena,
August -, 1897. All county super
lntcndcnts are expected u be pre-
sent. The expenses Of the trip
should be paid by the county through
the board Of county commissioners,
aud in 30 case should the county SUI
perlntcndcnt pay the expenses of the
meeting. You are earnestly request
~ q, thoroughly ,ulIoucr, IN ulIc
meantime, the questions to be dis
cussed at this meeting, the first Of
its kind ever called in Montana, so
that you may come prepared to in
lclllgcntly and effectively state Your
views upon the subject. You will
request and invite your school boards,
teachers and all others interested in
larger and better schools in the
country to attend this convention.
If, however, such cannot attend,
write or interview these upon the
subject and ascertain their views.
In this way you will learn wherein
particular schools need Improvements
and what plans are suggested for the
improvement OF the same.
This convention ought to, and will
be productive OF much good in other
ways. The county superintendent
OF the state will become acquainted
with one another, the different plans
OF supervision Of the county superin-
tcndcnts will be learned, and an op-
portunity be afforded of unifying and
improving the methods of county
supervision. This convention will
be a great help to each county super
intcndent and to each person who
enters into the work Of the conven-
tion with spirit Of willingness to
aid and a desire to improve the
schools OF his or her county. Use
the press, as well as the mail, in
communicating with your people.
The press of Montana has always
stood for whatever is best for public
schools, and it will assist, l am sure,