The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-12-20
GLASGOW AFTER
NORMAL SCHOOL
INSTITUTION BADLY NEEDED

All Students From Eastern Montana
Must Attend At Either Minot or
Dillon-No School in East.
ern Part Of State.
The matter Of establishing another
state normal in the state is one Of
greatest interest during the coming
session Of the legislature. Glasgow
will be very strong contender and
considering the fact that it is q most
logical point for the school, it is prob
able that we will be favored if the
state legislature sees fit this year to
establish an additional state normal,
which is 50 sorely needed. The other
towns that desire a state normal are
Terry, Billings, Sidney and Lewis
town. At meeting Of the Chamber
of Commerce and Agriculture at the
club rooms Wednesday night an offer
of free site for the school was made
and a committee appointed to make
a selection for site.
An editorial in one of the prominent
state papers points out that the next
Normal school should be assigned to
the northern or eastern section Of
Montana. We believe that every ef-
fort should be made to secure the
school for Glasgow. If Normal
school were installed in some city far
ther west than Glasgow it would be
cheaper for pupils from Sheridan and
Richmond counties to attend the Nor
mai school at Minot, N. Oak. Should it
be established in some city east of
Glasgow it would be too far for pu-
pills of Blaine and Hill counties to at
tend. Glasgow is the logical center,
being situated on the main line Of the
Great Northern, and between the rail-
roads building out of Scobey on the
north and out Of Winnett and Circle
on the south.
A beautiful site could be had in al
most any direction from the city Of
Glasgow. It could be- located either
on the beautifully woodsd floor or up
on the benchlands overlooking the val
ley. It also would include hill for
coasting and other sports, swimming
pool, skating rink and splendid build
ing possibilities. All the above men
toned improvements could be had at
very little or no expense, to the state.
Glasgow lies in the center Of the
greastest agricultural district extend
ing from the Rockies east to the North
Dakota line. More of this district is
accessible and lies adjacent to Glas-
gov than any other city in this area.
Havre is 153 miles distant, Great
Falls 289 miles, Plentywood 165 miles,
Culbertson 100 miles. Upon investi-
cation of normal school statistics, it
is found that about 85 per cent of the
pupils who attend normal schools are
from families who have not the means
to send their children to universities.
The present school at Dillon is too
distant for the residents of eastern
Montana. There have not been more
than twenty pupils from Hill, Blame,
Choteau, Phillips, Valley, Sheridan,
Richland and Dawson counties who
ever attended the normal at Dillon. In
these eight counties are represented
approximately 10000 people. The
statistics show that eastern Montana
is entirely without facilities for high
er education unless pupils 60 to Mi
not, North Dakota, which is easier Of
access than Dillon.
There are about 800 active teachers
in these eight counties and about 1000
who are holding down home
steads. A census taken during the
teachers institute in 1915 estimated
that rs per cent of the 800 teachers
now teaching would and could attend
a normal" If it were possible. Also,
from general inquiry inaugurated
through the Chamber Of Commerce
and Agriculture, it was found that
about so per cent of the teachers now
IN homesteads would complete their
normal education if opportunity offer
ed.
The number of high school pupils
graduating in this district is about
280 for 1918. This number is increas-
ing each year about 25 per cent. Sta
tistics show that more than 40 per
cent of the pupils graduating from
the high schools in this district enter
the profession of teaching. There
is no doubt that ample enrolment can
be secured for a normal school, that
being the line of education for which
there is the greatest demand in this
section.
The vast area extending east and
west 400 miles and north and south
ESQ miles has practically the same
in all counties. The chief
and only industry being agriculture
nv,I %ho cr,,;vn, raod 10 for tho v,noana