The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-26
MAINTAINS CHANGED
STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
TO APPOINT COMMITTEE.
Mr.. WEIGH WILL GIVE DATA
Law Makers Will Be Asked to Cor
rect Many Conflicting Sections Of
Montana's State Scho1
Law,
Mr.. WEIGH WILL GIVE DATA

That Montana educators should meet
annually during the holidays to discuss
matters of pertinent professional inter-
est is well in keeping with the general
persOnel of the Treasure state pedal
gogues. They are progressive and up to-
date. Their whole interest is wrapped
up in their work, and no state in the sis
terhood of states can show greater pro-
gress for the advantages enjoyed than
Montana.
1t has been said that Montana is a
state of magnificent distances-and SO
it Is. Out far on the range and in the
fastness of the mountains can be seen
the little red school house. 1t may be
only figuratively speaking red, but it's
influence is the guiding star Of the ma
ton.
Origin of Custom.
The custom of holding annual conven-
lions of teachers and those interested III
school work originated early in the l~'r
century. The greatest step was made.
however more than three decades ago
when the National Educational associa-
tive was born and when the movement
for higher education and better schools
was yet in it's infancy.
educational interests than that they rep
resent the greatest advancement and
for the facilities enjoyed this states
educational system is equal to that of
any Eastern state where the training of
the young mind and the moulding of the
character of the American boy and girl
has long been study.
At Missoula, this evening, Montana
teachers representing every branch of
the educational system will meet and
discuss subjects of live interest. There
are in the neighborhood of 1000 teachers
in Montana.
Butte Well Represented.
This includes instructors of all sorts
and all engaged in school work. 1t is
expected that Butte will be we'll repre-
scented at the meeting.
One Of the most important matters
that will be discussed is the revision of
the school laws. The state superintend-
ent's department will submit a great
deal of important data on the subject
and legislative committee will doubt
less be appointed to present new edu-
cational law for the consideration of the
next session of the legislature.
At the last Legislative session an at
tempt was made to pass laws upon sew
eral subjects which were vaguely treated
in existing statutes but the effort only
resulted in the passage of several laws
which have for the most part proven
unsatisfactory.
The matter of school legislation, which
Is regarded as among the most important
things the legislature will have for con-
eideration, has been continuously before
the legislature since the state was or
ganized
Many Laws Defective.
Many of the laws are defective, and
with others the growth of the state has
made them practically imperative. Thu
several attempts that have been made
to frame general educational law have
been unsuccessful for the reason that
the matter was left in the hands Of the
legislators.
The state educational association VIII,
in all probability, take the matter UP and
appoint a committee consisting Of the
most prominent educators, representing
the several branches of the states school
system to frame such laws as will meet
all the present requirements.
At the last meeting of the state board
of education the matter was talked over
and Superintendent WEIGH agreed tc
present statement of the needed lesis-
1ation to the state convention.
'"The state convention can do great
legislation" said State Superintendent
WEIGH today. '"Those engaged in school
work know the needs of the schools best.
and I believe If committee, such as Is
proposed, is appointed it will result In
the desired changes being made"
Numerous Changes Proposed.
The changes that are proposed are
numerous. The law regarding the TAX
ing of the annual school census by clerks
of school boards is conflicting.
The dates for taking the census and
the date that the clerk is required to re-
port are at variance. The law requires
that the census must be taken the lat
ter part of August of the children in
school in September.
OF course, this is impossible, and the
conflict of dates results from an at
tempted amendment of the law by the
last legislature.
An amendment was also passed last
session regarding the transfer of school
money from the district to another dis
trict, where pupils were transferred. The
law is unsatisfactory in many respects
and a substitute will be proposed.
The institute law is unpopular. It will
quite likely be repealed in it's entirety.
and if the recommendations of Superin-
tendent Welch prevail, a new law will be
passed organizing several summer
schools to give teachers supplementary
instruction during the summer months.
Credits for Teachers.
Mr.. Welch proposes that these schools
shall give teachers credits on their pro-
fessional certificates for work done dur
ing the summer. He believes that a ma
jority of the teachers who go East an
nually to similar schools would he de-