The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-22

some people had compared with the
new education in vogue In Helena.
which was not well thought OF by n
committee. In connection with its Ions
report on the text books matter. the
committee made the following COM
ments:
Before entering into the details. we
wish 60 compliment the superintendent,
the clerk. the corps of principals ana
teachers on the manner in which the
records of the free text books have been
kept. Your committee was able TO
check up everything connected with the
books from the time they were pur-
chased up to the current week, ana win
the result of rather a remarkaDie
showing, for. out OF 24.5lS DOCKS
bought, only eight are missing at ths
date. and even some of these are ac-
counted for. The reports of different
schools throughout the country where
free text books are used show a loss
during one school year OF from 70 10 30
per cent. OF the total number OF DOCKS
purchased, said books being either lost
or destroyed and. indeed, one superin-
tendent OF city schools reports that his
district had practically no books on
hard of the original purchase at the
close of the first school year.
This report can be verified by the
hooks and the data in possession OF the
district clerk. The said books and data
are public records for the benefit OF Mr.
Hall or any citizen of school district
No. 1 who desires to check up the al
fairs of the district. We DO not think II
will necessitate the services of an ex-
merit accountant backed up by a grand
Jury TO find the results as given ABOVE
Having finished with this question,
we want to take up the matter OF sup
Elementary books, in which we are ac-
cused of undue extravaganza. we are
= A.. A. .,lAnlg a 3 nralpnf two slid
Elementary books. Cry's primer Tor
Younger pupils md Harper's readers
for he older ones, both of which were
designated by TIE text book commission
as supplementary books. Chicaso'
omaha, Denver. Seattle, Rock Island
Los Angeles, Syracuse, N. y, New YORK
city. Salt Lake City and scores OF other
leading cities in the East and West
have from one to ten supplementary
reading books. as is shown In the re-
ports on file in the city superintendents
office. The purpose of supplementary
reading books is necessary. III Wouiu
he false economy to deprive the school
of abundant reading matter. There mas
been no extravaganza IN the purchase
of hooks: i'm fact. al account OF the
.rovvtb Of the schools, additional read
ing books are even now needed In some
of the grades.
..state Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
ton Hon. f. A. Carlton asserts IN ms ie,-
ter to Mr.. Hall that the teachers mahuais
of instruction or desk DOOR s
necessary. The three branches OF STUDY
IN which manuals and books are used are
dra wing. music and elementary arithme-
tic. Two teachers are employed IN fer
ena to teach drawing and music AT the
cost of $l,s0o per annum. The ehurc coSt
Of the manuals for the Butte teachers, as
is shown in the district clerks report ~
ga. "a. The total cost of the music books
10 sAae 20. In all $3.50 %. IL our system
Is extravagant. we should like 10 KNOW
what can be said for Helena, Los Angeles,
Rock Island and other cities aireauy
named. Butte Is and ought 10 DC az plo
cressiye as any of the cities mentioned
and we see no reason for not increasing
the number of supplementary BOOKS. anu
II possible raising the standard the com
ing year. In the place OF music pooks'
for which We have paid Ai6.5o, we couiu'
like Helena. have employed a teacher III
music at the cost OF $500 Tor thls year,
and n like amount for each OF the next
two wears. But ever with a speciai
teacher II would be necessary In a system
as large as ours to purchase a supply Oh
music books. We fully realize that a
special instructor of music in our schools
would be n splendid addition to the corps
and shall certainly recommend the en-
ployment of one as soon as we can get
our finances in shape. after setting ior
the SIC. 900 school house which under the
wise and economical administration oil
Mr.. Hall and his colleagues. that cos'
the people of this district $4,000. In the
dra wing department We find A state OF
affairs similar to the department OF
music. The drawing material on name ana
in daily use will last, with a small ad-
ditIonal amount for increase for the nex'
five years. We would oe eompeteu ~
buy most. II not all. of tho stock pur-
chased this year. even II a special teach
err OF drawing was employed.
"Your feels that this board
has. during the short term in office
placed the affairs of the district on q
strictly business basis. The pouru 'ooh
hold of last years affairs bordering on
chaos. We were Immediately confronted
with the free text book feature. which Is
entirely new In the district, and IN the
state. Notwithstanding these facts We
herewith present for the beneht OF MI
Hall and the citizens generally, a systeh
of running our schools. and especially q
text book system. the equal II not the
superior OF any In the country where free
text books are used.
Your committee recommends that u
the future this board absolutely Ignore
any charges so maliciously brought ana ;,
entirely without foundation, and that a
all times the public be invited to inspsc'
for themselves the records ana actloh'
of the board. irrespective OF IDLE COS
sip
The whole report of the committee wa
received and ordered placed on file In TN
clerks office for the benefit OF the puplc
land especially for our friend. Mr.. Han,
said the chairman.
Election bills aggregating N.llt.ls wer
allowed and ordered paid. also a OH iron
the CITY OF So for rent of the former meet
ing room In the Auditorium. Superin
: tendent Hendricks submitted his month";
report. showing for the month endlnl
, April sth the total enrolment IN TN
schools was 5.263. of which number zol
were boys. and 26sa girls.
The question of establishing a summe
school at Blacktail was brought up. bu
after brief discussion went over until TN
next meeting. when the new
will be i'm working order.
Chairman LONG also brought up the SUI
isct OF finances. and as to how niue