The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-03-20
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for such reform. Presenting the
subject to the voters of any town in
Massachusetts, is a different matter
from presenting it to the vote of Mel
hart. In all long settles communi-
ties, where school houses are paid for,
school apparatus has already been
supplied, and all fundamental ex-
penses of equipping schools have
been met, the problem is not so COM
plicated as the one which confronts a
new community. Economically on
sidered, the people of Neihart are
not prepared to adopt free books
without suffering consequences very
seriously affecting the steady and
successful progress now being made.
To prove this, let the careful read
er ponder upon a few figures.
We demonstrated last week that
the Neihart school district is already
under an annual expense of $2,994
for the support of schools. Nobody
questions the accuracy of these fig
ures. To meet this expenditure, the
annual revenue at present is only
$500. And in order to keep the
schools running at their present de-
gree of excellence, an additional sum
of $l,194 must be raised annually.
But what does this provide? 1t
provides only for those expenses
which are today incurred, and not
for new OUTLAWS which are immedi-
ately and absolutely necessary to the
successful school work. The build
ing is badly in need of repairs,
painting, plastering, scrubbing and
remodeling before it is even morally
~presentable. For sanitary reasons a
good deal of work will have to be
done. Prof. Sears, the principal,
who is working heart and soul for
the general welfare of his pupils,
thinks that not less than $500 must
be expended before the building can
be called decent. We learn that
Mr.. Sears, Miss Sutton and Miss
Simpson, four times this winter have
devoted a Saturday to scrubbing
floors and wood work, because the
school board has not the money at
its command to pay for such neses-
sary service.
Then in the way of modern ap-
paratus for good primary as we'll as
advanced instruction, the Neihart
schools are absolutely barren. No
teachers a accomplish beneficial
results where apparatus is not sup
Piled. The schools require more
maps, more charts, more books, more
scientific apparatus before they are
ready to do good work; and 5000
would be gone before the necessary
particulars in this line are obtained.
Everybody who has watched the
course of the school this winter is
pleased with it's workings. Three
competent teachers are devotine
their entire time and knowledge tc
make the years efforts full of the
best results. A course of study has
been adopted, sufficiently extensive
to enable a graduate to obtain a frs
grade teachers certificate. The
business methods and general gov.
eminent of the schools were neve
better. This year there will be one
graduate, and next year there viii
be eleven. Such a healthy state O
affairs never existed before. l:
there a man or woman in Neihar'
who would help to impede the pro
gress of the present wise plan? |:
there any who would render the work
of such a school ineffective?
Let us see what free text book:
means. When all the incidental.
of a pupils supplies are met the cos'
to this district for free books would
approximate $500. This figure i.
put $50 higher than the true cost O
the necessary books, which is mean
to cover all incidentals. This com
ing year the district must raise 81,
994 for school expenses, $500 TO.
necessary repairs, and it should rails,
$500 for new furniture and apparatus
before the schools are rendered fairl,
effective. This amounts to 1850
which is more than double tn,
amount actually raised in any pre-
vious year.
But how shall we retrench? Shal
we reduce the teachers salaries, anc
emDlOy inferior nst~ructors2 Shal