The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-05-20
THE MALTA HIGH SCHOOL.

4
Commencement exercises, which are
to be held in the Bison Theatre 10
morrow evening. This occasion is
landmark in the educational growth
Of Malta. Ever since the SCHOOLS
were established in this city there
has been gradual progress. The
school trustees were ever trying 10
build as they saw best to meet the
educational needs of the community.
The advancement has been as rapid
as could be expected. 1t has kept
pace with the growth of the town.
Under such men as Supt. Atwood
the interests of the school We're ad-
vanced. AS early as 1910 the hig',
school work was carried to the tenth
grade. This work was efficient but
for various reasons it was not ex-
tended to the higher grades of high
school work. In fact for three or
four years there was no progress in
the way of grades to the course The
to. that of other towns of the same
essary for parents to send their chill
dren to strange cities for the adj
vance work. We are glad to note
|
We unite with the rest of the citi-
zens Of Malta in feeling proud that
at last full high school work is be-
ing afforded our boys and girls.
And while we are congratu1atlng
ourselves on this educational attain
ment may we not pause moment
to see just how the goal has been
reached and just how great an event
this Commencement really is. In
considering this question the Enter
prise seeks only to give credit where
credit is due and will not lavish it's
praises where they are undeserved
While all of the citizens OF MALTA
are indirectly responsible for the
growth of the high school there are
a few persons who are directly re-
sponsible. These are James Bait
ram, F. W. st. Hill, L. G. Edwards,
G., E. Secrest, Prof. Elliott and Miss
Eva Robertson.
The first four gentlemen as mem
bers Of the board of trustees during
the past two years, have wisely pro-
vided the means for the adding of
the last two grades Of the high
school work. They have been liber-
al to a large degree, as liberal as the
finances of the district would per-
nit, with the teachers who had the
high school work directly in charge.
tThav have r,.~ qstsf1 this progress and
stood ready to advise, and assist.
Nor is their work done with mere
care for the present needs. They
are constantly looking far ahead for
the future welfare of the school.
This is so self evident that there is
no necessity of charging here.
The actual work of planning the
high school course and carrying out
these plans has fallen upon the two
teachers in the high school. To Mr..
Elliott and Miss Robertson the city
OF MALTA owes a great deal. 1t is
not possible for the editor of this
paper to measure exactly how much
our debt is. But we shall endeavor
to tell something of it, using facts
that we have obtained from the
teachers themselves.
Two years ago this spring when
Mr. Elliott and Miss Robertson were
chosen for the high school and
eighth grade work they were strang-
ers to the school and to each other.
Mr. Elliott made it a business to
learn all he could about the high
school work that had been done by
consulting with his predecessor, Mr.
Hallstone. He entered into CORES
pondence with Miss Robertson, found
out what could be done and came to
Malta in September, 1913, with a def
mite plan for the enlargement of
the high schol. That fall the elev-
| enth grade was added with Lille
Davidson and Mildred Wilson as
members of the grade. In order to
give work enough to cover these
grades of work both teachers had to
teach every minute of the day at top
speed. But by perfect cooperation
through an exceptionally fine spirit
on lne part Of the boys and girls the
WORK was carried on efficiently and
the effort to increase the scope of
school work was very successful
But tney were unwilling to halt
there. In the fall of 1914, at the be-
ginning of the present year, the an
nouncement went forth that twelfth
grade work would be added. On the
face of things this looked almost i'm
possible. The previous year, with
eleven grades, the time of the teach
ers appeared to be taken up to the
limit. Yet the final grade was un-
dertaken, with the three graduates
as members the grade. Miss Robert
son took charge of five eighth grade
classes and three high school classes
Mr.. Elliott taught one eighth grade
class and nine high school classes.
1t meant hard work but they were
undaunted and had great faith in
the willingness of the pupils to help
make school success. They have
succeeded. The work that has been
accomplished is surprising. The
course that has been offered is up to
the standard of other high schools.
The graduates, who go out from the
school tomorrow night, know that
they have gotten great deal out of
their high school course. They will
not only be able to enter higher in
stitutions and do creditable work,
but they have learned much which
will be useful in the making and the
endowment of life