The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-23

the best time for the institute convince
me that there were no good reason
| that could be given for holding 1t a
| such an unusual time, and that she ha,
/ been influenced to take this eXtraordin
| airy position.
If any good reasons existed, / though
they would have been given. That TIL
| members of the school board of Butt
| were very anxious to have an April
| institute, did not consider sufficien
reason for holding one at that time. il
the absence of any explanation of the
occasion of this anxiety.
My reasons for decling to approve @.
April institutes can be briefly stated.
1t is not considered a fit time. They
are not held in any part of the UNITED
States at this season. If April is this
proper time, is it not little strange
that no one else has found it out? Is
not the judgment of older states of any
value? I doubt If a schoolman of UNI
questioned competency can be foun.l
who will say that April is a better
time for an institute than the first OF
September, just before the opening OF
the schools.
The question admits of but one an
swer. 1t deprives the children in part
or all of the schools of the county of
one week of school, and at a time when
one week is worth two or three weeks
the first of the year. The institute
should not be held until all the teach
ers have been engaged for the ensuing
school year, so that all may have lis
benefit for the entire year, and become
familiar with the work and plans Of
the county superintendent in the school
work of the county. Many changes are
made each year in the corps of taacl-
ers The new teachers would not have
the benefit of the institute if held in
April as the law intends they shall
have. I think the very best time of
all for the institute is after the long
summer vacation is over, when the
teachers have rested from their arduous
labors. and just before the opening of
the schools in the fall.
The other counties of the state, with
single exception, held their Institutes
as soon after the opening of the schools
in the fall as possible.
l suggested the first Of September as
the very best time for holding the Sill
Yer Bow county institute, but the sug-
gestion was not accepted.
1t might be added that we are not in
formed by this article what the advice
OF the attorney general was, or why it
was sought after he had decided the
matters in question.
der such circumstances would be IL
legal: that no teacher could be required
to attend, and any who did attend could
not legally be paid for the time of the
institute. The instructors could not he
paid for their services out of public
funds. This is true of all, but especial
ly is it true of those who have not
been licensed. In my judgment. the in
terests of the schools will be best sub
served by postponing the institute until
September For the reasons stated, I
do not approve Of holding it in April.
Very truly yours, e. A. CARLETON,
Superintendent Public Instruction.
Helena, March 81, 1899.
The Attorney Generals Opinion.
e. A. Carleton, Esq, Helena, Mont
Dear Sir: Your favor of the I'd is
at hand, in which you PROFOUND the
following Undergraduates:
First-Whose duty is ii and who has
the authority to fix the date for hold
ing teachers Institutes?
SScond-Can any one, who does not
hold a license issued by the state board
of education, legally instruct in the in
stitute?
Third-If one who does not hold such
a license instructs in the institute, is
the county liable for his services?