The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-01
superintendent Carleton Turns
the Helena Board Down.
SCHOOL BOARDS REMINDED
ALetter Bearing on the Matter OF Hold
ing Secret Sessions and Excluding Re-
porters and the Public-No Refec-
ton on This City's Trustees.

to engage. and their salaries must he
fixed. Besides. as the building fund is
running low. the matter of bonds will
have to be attended to. and altogether
the board has a lot of important bust
ness to transact. The present school
term will close next Friday. and there
are arrangements to be made for the
commencement exercises of the high
school.
State Superintendent of Public In
struction Carleton recently addressed a
letter to the Helena board Of school
trustees i'm relation to the boards al
legged action in excluding reporters from
its meetings. Copies of this letter were
forwarded to county superintendent of
schools, and also to the several boards
OF trustees in the state. Mr.. Carleton
explains his motive for sending the let
ter to the trustees. saying that he does
not infer that the boards are in the
habit of holding secret sessions, but
that IL is sent because he believes II is
a matter of general importance, and
that he wishes to have uniformity of
action in the matter of holding meet
ings.
There has arisen no occasion for crit
icising the board of this city on the
matter of holding its sessions. Presi-
etAAt io'Nlt dllu lit luC TIT
ever willing to accord freedom Of access
to the room while meetings are being
held. The complaint in this city is
confined to the matter of standing room
where the board meets. When the
seven trustees, clerk and superintend-
ent Of city h take their seats there
is not room for more than two or three
spectators. so very small is the room.
But the door is never locked. and re-
porters are cordially welcomed and pro-
vided with chairs. which members of
the board go out and hustle. Follow
ing are the circular letters sent out by
Superintendent Carleton:
ITO the Board of School Trustees,
Helena. Montana-GentIemen: have
been informed that your honorable
board transacts a portion of its business
in secret session. thus excluding report
ers of the press and any citizen or pa
tron of the schools who might desire to
attend. l am also informed that some
times. even after the business of the Sc
cret session Is transacted, YOU hesitate
to disclose what you have officially done.
The people are intensely interested in
their public schools, and in all things
In any way connected with them. They
depend naturally to a considerable ex-
tent upon the newspapers for much of
their information concerning them.
II am firmly of the opinion tina any
Patio VI nv stiIDO has
the right to know. at all reasonable
times, everything that a board of school
trustees has officially done I see no
reason why any citizen should not be
present at any and all meetings of the
trustees. 1 think that all meetings should
be public. The idea of a secret meet
ing or session of the board is repug-
nant, L believe, to the spirit and inten-
ton Of u law. OF course. If the trans
action of the business of the board was
interfered with by those who were not
members, undoubtedly the board would
have the right to exclude such from the
meeting. But why reporters should be
excluded 1 cannot imagine.
If at any time discussion is desired
relative to school matters concerning
which there is a difference of opinion
that such discussion. III made public,
would be injurious 10 the schools, then,
of course, II is proper for the board to
hold a caucus or secret session for the
purpose of discussing those matters.
but even then, when the business is
transacted in the secret session
adjourned. full and complete publicity
should be given to everything done at
such session. ] am satisfied that this
course is best for the board and best
for the schools. There should be moth
ing secret about public schools or their
administration. The reporters and the
public should be invited and encouraged
to attend your meetings. You should
take the public into your confidence.
Under your efficient administration
OF the Helena public schools they have
attained a position of great excellency.
and they are a source of Just pride to
our people. You are entitled to no lit
tie credit for the splendid results Of
your labors. But ! fear that a policy
of secret sessions of your honorable
board, or the Withholding of anything
lone at any of Its meetings from the
public will work to their detriment. ]
motives actuated the members of the
board in pursuing the policy they have,
but I ann but think that such a pol
icy is unwise and of doubtful legality.
Section 1.702 Of the political code. re-
ferring to. the state superintendent.
reads as follows: He shall have the