The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-10

land of ours are gradually rising to
higher standard. The conditions SUR
rounding and controlling them are bet
ter than they ever We're before. School
teaching is fast becoming a profession.
In our own city the changes in five
years have possibly been greater than
in any other part of this country. In
1898 it was not supposed that the time
could ever come in this cosmopolitan
mining camp when for two successive
years the entire corps of teachers could
be elected by unanimous vote of the
board of trustees. Yet, as many of you
know, this most desirable thing did
happen. i am of the belief that the
good results from this course will con-
troll the policy of future elections, pro-
vided this corps of teachers fully re-
Allies the new conditions confronting
the teachers of this country,
If there is teacher present who
does not fully realize that there Is a
decided movement toward the highest
possible excellence in the public schools
of this country, and is not prepared to
enter most earnestly into 1t, / would
advise him to study carefully the sit
uation. There was time when pulls
friendship, politics, religion, charity
and relationship made use of this
greatest of all public institutions to
such an extent that it would be quite
liberal to designate the public schools
as political organizations, operated and
supported by the indulgence of the pub
lie. AS an indication of the change in
public sentiment regarding this phase
OF school life, l wish to refer to our
city. OF this corps of $50 teachers,
there have been less than one dozen
requests of assignment and promotion
during the past three months. This is
certainly an enyiable record. 1t shows
that there is an organized school sys-
tenn in this city; that the teachers and
citizens respect the organization; that
the schools of the district are to be
equally good, If permanency will make
them so; that the schools are aeknowl-
edged by the teachers and their friends
to exist for the public good and not
for the convenience of the Individual
teachers. This showing speaks volumes
for this corps of teachers and may in
terest our friends and neighbors
throughout the state who so often
thoughtlessly comment upon the wick
edness of Butte and its political ma
chimes and combinations.
There were several things accom-
plished in the schools last year worthy
of special mention at this time. We
started out right and the schools are
fast securing a simple and practical
footing. We secured good results in
writing reading and arithmetic; start
ed our drawing, and to an extent
taught language IN practicat way
We prepared the way for the election
of special supervisors in drawing and
music; we made good use Of the teach
ers' professional library and established
the fact that the teachers of this city
hold their occupation to be a profess
sion.
There are a number of things to be
accomplished this year Among them
are: More practical results in teach
ing all branches of study, and in par
tieular arithmetic and reading; a
stronger professional spirit among the
teachers. Your occupation will be what
you make 1t, and it will be either a
profession or calling. The introduce
ton of drawing through a special SUI
perVisor should lead to art decoration
In all schools and eventually to prac-
teal lessons in the industries. Sloyd
and manual training should find its
place in these schools before the close
OF another year. Heretofore, we have