The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-07-19
THE TIME HAS ARRIVED
Call for a Convention of County
School Superintendents.
FOR IMPROVED METHODS
An Effort TO Advance the Cause OF Ru-
rnl Education in Montana Superin-
tendent Carleton States the
Case To Meet August 81.


Helena. July ls.-E. A. Carleton,
state superintendent uf public in
structIon. has issued call for con-
Neniiou uf county superintendeuts 0f
schools to meet In Helena Aug. q. The
object of the convention will he the
adoption of measures designed to m-
prove the country schools uf Montana.
Superintendent Carleton believes that
the ungraded schools Of the state are
being neglected and that II the coun-
~ superintendents act together much
can be- accomplished In the way of
placing them nearer the standard of
the city schools that have the adVant-
age of daily supervision. II II his de-
sire Ia grade the country schools So far
as is practicable. Now that there will
be uniformity NJ text books In the pub
lie schools of the state from sept. |.
next, IL viii be possible to grade
large share of the country schools
where before the effort could not have
been attended with success.
The following letter explaining the
objects OF the proposed meeting will lie
addressed by Superintendent Carleton
Monday To each county superintendent
of schools within the state.
To County Superintendents. The fol-
lowing circular letter IL isu,d In the be-
lief that the time has come In Mon
tana To make an effort to advance the
cause Of education in our rural schools.
Concerted efiort on the part OF county
superintendents. the teachers In our
rural schools. boards OF school trustees
and all others interested In this work.
| VIII. we think. be productive of good.
How To secure longer terms. better
teachers and n more thorough and reg
ular supervision Of the ungraded
| schools of the state are some of the
! questions Ia he considered. The aues-
tlon ~ adopting "A course ~ study for
the rural schools must not be over
looked. We believe an elastic course
can be adopted with great profit.
We believe also that pupils should
he graduated from country schools
after completing the prescribed course
gfadasTss fhsiga tbe sosdi,ians d 80 now sl'
existing In the country school, there
seems to be little incentive for the boys
or girls to continue In school for long
period. The result Is that they leave
the school nj a very early age To go Ia
work upon the farm or elsewhere. or to
attend the city graded schools,
4 Int sfnunlS u'tus anu ut-
serve, To be improved. and the terms OF
the schools ought to be lengthened. To
see what can he done In this direction.
a meeting OF the couniy superintend-
ents OF the state Ia hereby called Ia
meet In Helena Aug. y. 1897. All coun-
" superintendents are expected to he
present. The expenses of the trip
should he paid by the county through
the board of county commissioners. ana
In no case should the county superin-
tendent pay the expenses OF this meet
ing. You are earnestly requested to
thoroughly consider. In the meantime
the questions To he discussed at this
meeting. the first of its kind ever called
In Montana. 50 that YOU may come pre-
pared tn intelligently and effectively
state your Views upon the subject. You
will request and invite your schoo
boards, teachers and all others inter
osied In having larger and better
schools In the country to attend this
convention. IL. however. such cannot
attend. write or interview those upoT
the subject and ascertain their views
In this way you will learn wherein
particular schools need improvement
and what plans are suggested for tn,
Improvement of the same.
This convention ought To-. and viii
be productive of much good In othe
ways. The county superintendents %
the state viii become acquainted will
one another. the different plans Of su
pervlsion of the county superintendent
will be learned. and an opportunity b.
afforded of unifying and improving
the methods Of county supervision
This convention will be great hell
To each county superintendent and &
each person who enters Into the worl
Of the convention with "A spirit OF will
ingness To aid and a desire to improV
the schools Of his or her county. Us
the press. as well az the mail. In com
muntcating with your people Tn
prt ss of Montana has always stood 10
whatever II best for public schools
and IL VIII assist. ! am sure. in an
earnest effort to give to our boys am
girls on the farm a longer and bette
school Not that the country school
are inferior hut that they can. AM
ought 10 b. improved, IL the text.
other important questions will b
considered at this convention. such a
the time and manner uf holding count
Institutes. and a general plan Of wOr
for institutes Will be determined upor
A great deal of Inquiry has bee
made regarding the manner OF order
Ing school books. The price lists q
books you have already received fror
I thiS Once. PROM lnls price llst lo
will learn the names OF the books an
the names and address OF the publish
! ors. and the three several prices OF tn
same. You should not forget that IN
textbook law does not go into effeC
until Sept. |, 1897. and therefore n
free book district IL compelled to bu
any books until that time. The book
will be sold In only one town In eac
county Of the state. probably at tn
! county seat The mailing price Of IN
books In Chicago Is the same as Nh
retail price in Montana. SO that tn
, books may be ordered by mail fror
Chicago II they cannot be obtaine
, from the county dealer. After the la'
. goes into effect the books should. "
think. In Justice Ia the local dealers. b
: purchased from them, except in frS
I book districts.
In free book districts the board q
!. trustees. In conjunction with the couu
u ~ superintendent and teacher shoul
carefully prepare a complete list OF IN
different books. and the number Z
zach kind and grade, that viii he r.
quired To fully supply the pupils an
= teachers OF the sehoolS, When the lis
II Is made up IL can be forwarded to N
4 publishers In Chicago with direction
= to send the books. by freight. to III
= clerk of the school board OF the dis
T. tfiet. In this way the district gets IN
benefit of the wholesale price h. q.