Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-10
EXECUTIVE Committee Of State
Association in Session,
PLANS ARE DISCUSSED
Question of Combining School Dis
tricts Observation-Disclosures
Fl" entS and Politics.

Inc executive committee of the State
Ieachers' association held a meeting this
morning. President Craig of the State
University of Missoula, President Sam
dens of the State Normal school of Dill
lon and Miss Duke of the local schools
were present. Miss Duke was chosen
secretary.
The meeting was held for the purpose
of making arrangements for the meeting
of the state association, which will be
held in Butte this year, and which, it is
expected, all the educators of the state
Will attend. 1t was decided to invite
President Jordan of the Leland Stanford
university to deliver an address at the
state meeting.
1t is expected that at least two even
Ing meetings of the association will be
held, each of which will be of great in
terest to the public, as we'll as to those
interested in educational work.. The
committee hopes to enlist the efforts and
cooperation of all who are interested in
the cause of education.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon Hon. F.. A..
Carleton, state superintendent of pub
lie instruction; President Sanders and
President Craig, members of the asso-
cations committee OF legislation, met
at the office of County Superintendent
Downey. Little was done this afternoon,
as other members of the committee are
expected to arrive on late trains.
Among the topics discussed this after
loon was the combining Of districts.
Many of the district schools have only
tendance of from three to ten pupils. The
conditions are such as to secure very
poor results. These schools must pay
low ages hence they can secure only
poor service. The pupils have the adj
vantage Of a very short term of school
nvA apndnVs fnnH9oionf fooNhfnU vThiS
should be remedied. Every child is en-
titled to an equal chance in educational
matters. Under present conditions this
can not be secured by a large per cent Of
the children of the state. BY combin-
ing districts and transporting children
in many counties of the state much bet
ter service may be rendered the public.
An eight months term of school under
an efficient teacher will be Insured. Such
a plan is being carried out in several
states, and is pronounced a decided sue
cess.
Speaking of the office of county super
indent. President Sanders said:
Some plan for making the work of the
county superintendent of greater value
to the teachers must be devised. if edu-
cational progress is to be a success. The
office is now practically a political at
fair. 1t is not the teacher who Is compe-
tent, but the one who is politically
available who is chosen. Often the
question of fitness for the place is not
considered. In some counties, the salary
is no sufficient to secure a competent
person, some remedy must be found. for
this condition of affairs. The office should
offer a salary which will command COM
petent people. Are not the educational
interests of a county as great as any
other interests? If so. why not pay a
salary commensurate with the demands
upon the office? Why should not the
county superintendent receive as much
as the county clerk or the sheriff or
treasurer? 1t might be we'll to select a
county superintendent for a district
comprising several counties, sufficient
salary. could be paid to employed an X
pert in educational matters. Such a
person could hold meetings Of the
teachers of the various sections and ac-
complish far more than is lone under
the present plan.