Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-21
PROF. LEAMY L

Prof. P. A.. Leamy, principal OF the high
school, is one of the foremost instruct
ors in the state. AS teacher and princi-
pal in four or five of the largest schools
in Butte preceding his elevation to the
city's highest temple of education, Prof.
Leamy's observations and opinions of
schools and school methods are worthy of
place in any review of Butte's institu-
lions of learning. The writer secured
an interview With the principal of the
high school recently, and the CONVERSE
zion ran along in this manner:
Coming all the way from M~assachu-
sets to these mountains. Prof. Leamy,
what We're your impressions when you
first took hold of school work in Butte?'
Il was much impressed with the abili-
ty of the pupils in our public schools.
The opinions l formed then.-and I ad-
here to the same opinion now,-is What
parents are inclined to place a higher
valu upon what the child could earn
working about town than upon the value
of education. One of the greatest evils
existing in our schools today is irregu-
lar attendance Of pupils. Many parents
are willing that the ch!ld should leave
school before completing his education,
if the boy secures some employment
turning into the family an Income of $25
or $50 per MONTH"
Butte is not a factory town." inter
rupted the reporter. The opportunities
for boys to earn s25 or $50 a month, it
would seem to the casuai observer, are
not so great as to cut nluch figure in
school attendance. Surely, the boys are
not employed in the mines or Butte as
girls and boys are employed IN the mills
of eastern cities and boys in some of the
coal mines of Pennsylvania"
There are more boys employed in
Butte who should be going to school than
you have any knowledge off, replied
Prof. Leamy. "Of course, sney don't
Work in mines or about mines. They
are employed as messengers, as elevator
boys, as bell boys in hotels. They are
found about newspaper offices and in
various other places. Many are appren-
ticed to trades. In fact, few places you
go to in the business part of Butte
where a boy is not found doing some
thing
The reporter surrendered and the pro-
fessor talked along the lines of improved
systems of education in Bn.~s
THE school system OF L e has i'm
proved greatly in the past four or five
StdlS. L ID ~ II II louISG vi
study and in the ability n character
of instructors. The standard of knowl-
edge has been raised and better work is
expected from teachers at this day thar
existed in tn past. Prof. Young is doing
a great work in bringing Butte's schools
UP to the highest standard of p%erfec-
ton
Define your meaning of the high
Get cta ads ri nf npy-fertinn , parh y,,,
refer to the high school,"
After pupils leave the graded schools -
said Prof. Leamy. in answer ''uhey are
offered exceptional opportunities in the
high school. The courses of study pre-
pare them to enter the best colleges in
the United States when they graduate,
THY are prepaid to take up the duties OF
life in any vocation they may elect. The
curriculum prepared for them in ehe
high school is exceeded by no city OF
Butse's size in the United States. Dur
ing my long experience as student ant
teacher. I have never seer a more lOya
class of pupils.-boys and girls whose
department indicated the true instinct o.
gentleman and lady in the future mar
and w~oman-than 1 have observed il
Butte"
How do teachers and trustees ge
along together? What can you say abou
the board of trustees?
Il an much impressed With the worl
carried out by the school trustees, t,
further the interests of education. be
lieve the high standard attained in tn,
Butte schools is largely due to the wis,
and conservative policy of the boar
during the past four or five years.