The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-11-19

quite accurate. l endeavor to mani.
pulate wagon routes to serve certain
interests, and in this way: The
Most good for the Most People. This
is the rule that chafes.
Mr.. Christian states that the "Leor
route is much longer for the majority
OF the pupils" This is the opposite
OF fact. Further. To make up the
complement of the wagon on the Leon
route, children living within two miles
of Elliott were included, while child
rem living three or four miles from
Elliott are left without transporta-
tion." If there are children three or
four miles from Elliott without trans
portation, Mr.. Christian will render
a service by informing me about them.
When he says that children living
two miles of Elliott were included in
the Leon wagon, he strangely fails to
state that these children are the same
distance from Leon, that some of the
family have to go there in order to
be in high school, and that the parents
insist upon sending all of their child
rem to Leon! My place is still nearer
Elliott and further from Leon, but is
it therefore a crime for my children
to go to Leon?
Again, with his same habit of ma
thematical accuracy: "Every wagon
represents the upkeep of a small
school that could be maintained in To-
calities convenient to the children.
The average cost per wagon last year
was about $48 per month. That
would run fine school, would it not
Perhaps that kind of school would
suit few; certainly it would not suit
many of our people.
Mr.. Christian quotes me as saying
that the Board does not consider the
wishes of the majority of the people
in school matters. This represents
about the same degree of inaccuracy,
What | tried to impress upon Mr..
Christian in reply to certain intima-
tion was that, regardless of votes,
the Board proposes to do what is
right, according to their best Judge
ment, and to carry forward the work
of the school efficiently, as the Board
is elected to do.
He states with equal carelessness
that: "The meetings of the school
board, which the public is entitled to
attend, are held secretly"
Meetings are held from time to
time, as occasion may require, upon a
three or four-day notice issued by the
Chairman and mailed to the trustees.
Usually one or more citizens are pres
ent in addition to the Board. The
meetings are not advertised any more
than are meetings of the teachers, of
the county commissioners, of other
school boards, and of the dozen of
county and state boards which are
carrying on the work that they have
been elected of appointed to do. The
meetings are not secret in any sense. /
The minutes and all records are also
open to the inspection. If anyone in !
forms US that he would be interested (
in attending meetings he is notified /
just as the trustees are notified, and .
invited especially to be present.
While patriotic and capable school
board, superintendent who is at
least earnest and active, and public
spirited citizens in general are really
exerting themselves industriously in
the interest of this country, men who
speak no good of any person in public
work, and who speak with easy au-
thority about all things, gesticulate
out of time and tone with
erybody-and shout the refrain of
their strange anvil chorus; and all
that the country gets out of it is the
knock, knock, knock, smash, smash
of the hammers in their raucous
ehorous. Even though the officials
of this district may be "scheming and
they welcome honest
constructive criticism. Indeed we
urge people who have advice to give
and helpful suggestions, a good tenn
pered opposition, to see US personally,
to come to our meetings, give the
the benefit of their contribu
tion
If the opposition wishes to make
an issue with the people
we shall be more than glad for them
TO do so, as we believe the result will
oe warmer place in the affections Of
III people for the policy of consolida-
ion. l shall be glad to debate the
with any reputable per-
,On nuhlic1v or nrivata1v I