Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-16
THE SCHOOLS
Of MONTANA
State Superintendent Offers
Some Suggestions.
LEGISLATION IS NEEDED
The Past Year Has Been One of Pro-
gress-Teachers Salaries
Are Too Low.
LEGISLATION IS NEEDED

, State Superintendent of Public Instrut
ton. T.. A. Carleton, yesterday filed in tn
e governors office, his annua report i
which, while giving due praise to tn
schools he calls attention to room for i'm
provement. The report says in part:
. THE past year has been, on the Who'll.
; one of progress. There are, however
some few schools, mostly in small places
where the educational sentiment is n
better than it was last year, or so year
ago. The schools in those places, there
fore, do not improve. Many Of the teach
ers of the state are in the forefront o
the profession, and are doing as goot
work in the schoolroom as in done in an,
part or the country. While the unpro
fessional teacher is still found in Mon
tana, and. occasionally, a school officer
charged with high responsibilities, is t.
be met with who does not believe in edu.
cational associations, or in anything cal
culated to improve the teachers of the
state. the representatives of this class are
very few, and are becoming fewer every
year.
From the reports to this office W.
learn that there are 67S school districts
in the state, being an increase OF nine over
1898; Thai there are SO. 632 census children,
an increase Of 4,154 over 1898. The in
crease in the number of census children
from 1896 to 1897 was 1850. The increase
from 1898 to 1899 was 3,106 less than from
1896 to 1897.
THE enrolment for the past year has
been 31,117, an increase of 2.O47 over
1898: 1877 male and 929 female teachers. a
| f0fQI nf l 10R have honp on,~l4,,-l l..-.--
the year, an increase of 40 over the pre-
ceding year.
During the year 5000. 800. SO were appor-
toned to the 67S districts, an increase of
Sl,65S.S2 over the preceding year: SILL
S29.so We're paid for teacher salaries, as
against $493, 22O.6S in 1898; 50, 1909. 55 were
expended for library books, as against
s.. 1865 81 for the preceding year. There
are 24.967 volumes in the school district
libraries OF the state, against 6,493 VOL
umes IN 1898. The value of school houses.
Including sites, is 81, 426, 592. being an in
crease of $37S, 1912 over 1898.
They show that S,493 volumes Of good
DOCKS We're purchased for the children
and added to school libraries during 1899.
This item is most significant as showing
mat the tendency of our schools is in the
flgnt direction. | am most happy to state
that most If our schools nave libra ries
for the pupils.
The special tax decision Of our supreme
court to the effect that the special tax law
was imperative and void, threatened, for
a time, to close many Of the largest
schools of the state. But the genius and
patriotism of the citizens in the districts
aHected were equal to the
and, in most cases, they cheerfully paid
the special tax, notwithstanding they
could not be compelled to pay it, and thus
the schools were kept open.
The state appropriation is made up of
the interest on the public school fund.
ana rents from school lands. This state
apportlonment is made annually by the
superintendent of public instruction he
tween the first and tenth of February.
The first state apportionment was made
IN 1896 and amounted to $51, OF so. In 1897
the amount was SIT, 731. SO, and in 1897 If
amounted to 1928, $50. IS. For the year 1900
II Will reach, approximately, $50. 900.
rms sum is apportioned to Zach county
according to the number of censu chill
dren for 1899. AS there are 81. 632 census
children In the state, the per capita will
be $l.5O to each census child. This az
seen. is. by far, the largest apportion-
ment ever made in the state, and will be
doubly acceptable this year. 1t is con-
more than double that of last
year, and will come at a most opportune
Tune. The city of Butte will receive some
i4,ooo as it's share of this sum; Helena
VSoS ~o,VoO, NICdl r ais ABOUT "a .OOO. and
anaconda a little over So, 900. The other
will receive amounts in pronor-
t'on TO the number Of census children. ,
.Ihe work of the county institutes has
oeen seriously interfered with during the
past year on account of the prevalence Of
diseases, particularly small
pox. In the counties of Flathead. Cho-
teau, Cascade. Deer Lodge and Silver
Bow no institute was held as it was not
prudent. Should condit;ons
warrant institutes in these counties thew
%ill De held at an early date, otherwise
'hey will be postponed until fall, In the
'emaining counties, however, with the +
exception of Valley, most successful inst;-
.utes were held,
~ IS quite remarkable that since tha
in 1897 of the optional free text.
'voA law not 2 single objection or COM
'ialht OF any kin has come to this dc.
regarding it, although more
nan one-third of the pupils of the state
ave free books. In those districts which /
ave ADOPTED them no suggestion is made !
l gong back to the old system, and moi !
OF the myriad evils prophesied by the
OF free books has appeared /
ne law is an unqualified success and
ives complete satisfaction.
1t is very gratifying to report the sue.
essiu! meeting Of this association. held
! Hete2a Pee: 27-29. The attendance.
o,wIthstanding the very many unfavor-
bl conditions existing in the state. was
largest for a number of wears.
lost profitable session was held, one that
III II Is peiieved. result in much good.
ne association Is composed OF the pro-
teachers and educators of the
ATE. II Is thoroughly democratic. II
lrl'es TO elevate the character Of teach
g. anu raise the standard Of our
n MI - ~ EL.E& 70.