The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-02-04
W0LETTE EXPLAINS
BOARDS STAND
SECRETARY OF TRUSTEES OF
COUNTY SCHOOL TALKS OF
MlD-YEAR CLASSES.

The plight Of about 20 schoo chill
dren who graduated from the eighth
grade in January and are ready to
enter high school and proceed with
their studies but who are denied this
prlvilege-mention of which has been
made in The Missoulian several times
recently-has caused considerable dis
cussion among parents and members
OF the city and county school boards
during the last few days. 1t was re-
neWed yesterday with vigor. Plainly
stated the situation is this: The pub
lie schools have a course of study so
arranged that some classes finish the
eighth grade in January and are ready
for high school,. The high school,
under a ruling of the board made in
the summer of 1911, refuses to accept
a mld-year entrance class. In conse-
quence the pupils who pass from the
pubic school grades are denied a
school FOR the rest of the term. Par
ents of these children are demanding
that some provision be made to meet
this condition. The county board
holds that it's position is well taken
and can not be. changed at this time.
A number of suggestions have been
made to the city board and a meeting
has been called for this evening when
the situation will be4threshed out and
the parents hope that immediate pro-
vision for the care of their children
will be made at his time.
High School Boards Position.
When asked concerning the position
of the high school board in the matter
yesterday A. J.. NiOlette, secretary of
the board, said he could only speak
as one member of the board in offer
ing the following explanation of it's
attitudes:
AT the meeting of the board of
trustees Of the high school in July,
1911, it was decided to abolish the in
stallation of mid-year classes in the
high school for two reasons-first, on
account of lack of room in the pres
cnt building and secondly, because the
benefits resulting from such classes, If
any, would not Justify the expense
incurred for the maintenance of the
same throughout the high school
course. Again last winter, when the
question was agitated, the board
passed a resolution reaffirming its
decision and outlining it's policies,
which resolution was passed at a
joint meeting of The city board and
thereafter published in full in the
newspaper.
I'VE had good reason to believe,
therefore, that the city schools would
SO arrange their courses of study that
the question of a mid-year class in
the high school would not arise again.
Accordingly we made a levy sufficient
to carry out our work as planned and
in accordance with the policy an
nounced. In order to establish de-
partments of manual training, do
nestle science and a business or COM
merclal course We had to use every
available room in our present build
ing; and then to provide for the fu-
ture development of these departments
we have secured a five-year lease on
the Hollenbeck building at a moderate
rental, and have there established Il
gymnasium, which every school of this
size should lave for the proper physic-
al development Of children-critics to
the contrary Notwithstanding. Next
year we expect to move the manual
'idihlhS department TO the Holien-
beck building and to use the room now
occupied by that department for a
commercial department.
Thus it is impossible for us to con-
slider the installation of a mid-year
class at this time without d~isorganiz-
ing the school as planned and with
out affecting the efficiency of the
three departments already established
and their future development.
PERSONALLY, l can not see very
much advantage in a m~id-year class
as the pupils, in the end, only gain
four and one-half months in four
years. Then if they desire to enter
an institution of higher learning they
lose 1t again, for a m~id-year class will
not be established for them there.
While | am speaking only as one
member of the board | believe that it
reflects generally the sentiment of the
other members and they are all anX-
ious to have this matter of m~id-year
rl1SGpS SPttln1 ono, ND fnr all TIM, ~ |