Montana news., 1906-08-09
Women's Clubs
Socialist School Boards.

AS inc sociaiists are beginning 10 elect
their nominees TO various official posi-
tions we find we have many school dis
tricts where they now have controlling
voice. The editor of the News" is fire.
quently asked as to the proper method
of procedure of such socialist school
boards.
There should be no attempt TO reduce
taxation according TO the socialist line
Of procedure. Taxes are levied on prop
erty. and it from property that the rev.
enues must be drawn to improve the
condition of the whole people. Taxes
should be levied sufficiently liberal TO
insure the children proper training and
surrounding. Grounds should be made
as attractive as possible and shade trees
planted. Outhouses should receive the
closest attention. A janitor should be
provided for country schools whose bust
ness it is to keep the premises in con-
dition of the utmost cleanliness. Win
dows, floors, cloak rooms should receive
most careful attention. Surroundings
have a great influence over the growing
mind of the child. Means of ventilation
are too often neglected in the country
school. As the socialists are the most
intelligent partisan of the proletariat,
and the only ones that stand for a higher
civilization, they should give evidence
Of their higher ideals in their manage
nent of whatever public affairs come
into their hands. Proper and scientific
ventilation can be attained in any house.
Good air makes good blood, and good
brain power. 1t is indispensable to sat
isfactory results in the school rooms.
Where district is strongly socialist
we might as well tackle the problem of
education squarely, by putting in we'll
posted socialist teachers, if any such can
be obtained. Reports show that social
list teachers give superior satisfaction
when employed. They should, because
they have a superior basis from which
TO teach, and do not fill the minds of
the children with senseless traditions
and parrot-like repetitions that make
up the bulk of bourgeois instructions.
One of the most important conditions
is that one teacher should not have the
care of too many children. Pestilozzi,
the father of the public school system,
said that fifteen children were sufficient
for one teacher. Twenty-Five children
should be the maximum. When there
are more, an addition should be built and
another teacher hired. Fifteen little
children, just learning to use their fac
ulties and employ themselves, will keep
one teacher busy.
The school books in Montana are pro-
vided by law. The capitalist class have
legislated in the interest of the school
trust, so we are obliged to put up with
the dope they ladle out to us until the
socialists can control the legislature.
But supplementary text books can be
provided by the board, and the library
fund is a prolific source of opportunity
for providing correct material in science,
history and literature. The Kerr Pub
fishing company has excellent works for
a school library. The following list is
given of books that may be proftably
selected: Class Struggles in America,
A. NJ. Simons; Germs of Mind in Plants;
Evolution of Man; The Triumph Of Life;
The End of the World; The Worlds Re-
volutions Science and Revolution; Who
the Socialists Are and What They Stand
for, John Spargo; The French Revolution,
Belfort Bax; The American Farmer, A.
NJ. Simons; The Origin of the Family,
Private Property and the State, Fred
erick Engels; Oratory: Its Requirements
and its Rewards, John p. Altgeld; A
Rebel at Large, May Beals; The Record
ing Angel Brenholtz; Civilization, Its
Cause and Cure, Carpenter.
A School thus equipped with whole
some reading matter is a fair way to
start the young generation on the road
to correct Interpretation of life and
the facts around them.