The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-12-19

New Law Passed BY Last Lse}sja-
ture viii 7-'--dy The Unequal
Educatio, tunitjes In The
State BY Iai Distribution
OF Specie Levy.

State BY al Distribution
OF Specie Levy.
Through the Efforts Of Miss. -r-~
L. SeeIey, Supe- 4ntendent OF 81
OF the county an attempt it be-
made to have McCone county take
advantage OF the new county unit
system, which was passed by the last
legislature, as it is thought to be
practical to put same into operation
in McCone county because OF there
being no school in some parts OF the
county.
Believing it a move in the right
direction, we will attempt to help
boost the proposition and present
20 our readers as many facts re-
garding same as we can, and we are
satisfied that if the county unit sys-
tenn is carefully studied and compar-
ed with the present system, it will
be adopted in McCone county also
According to a survey made last
September by the school Superinten-
dent it was found that there were in
McCone county no less than 162 chill
dren Of school age without school
facilities OF any kind. These chill
dren are either not in school at all
or attending school away from home,
outside the county in most cases.
Such conditions should not exist. and
the new county unit system is the
only practical solution of the problem.
One county in the state, Cascade, has
already adopted the county unit sys-
tenn and it is said to be proving very
satisfactory. There are at the
present time twenty-five other coun-
ties in the state that plan to adopt
the system and will bring the matter
to vote of the residents in the diff
ferent counties next spring
One of the main reasons and In
fact the only one IN many instances,
why there are no schoolsin various
parts of McCone county. is that there
10 AOL 6QAlL10Ab tdAaOl0 l04AQ OW1AA 10
much homestead land not having
been proved up, and valuation too
low to be able to build more school
houses and maintain them. Under the
new system as we understand it,
there would be a uniform tax of about
z or mills for all districts, and in
fDn io<v -icfo ~r,hf
sent are helpless for want of funds
would be given a chance to get school
facilities.
Following is copy of a circular
letter on the subject that has been
sent to all the school trustees in the
county by the county Superintendent
Miss Seeley, which explains what the
county unit system is, and we will in
succeeding issues have more to say
on the proposition:
In survey made last year OF the
schools of Montana, it was found that
there were 100 children without
schoo advantages. Later Investigations
showed that there were 5000 chill
dren in the state in place Of 100 who
were deprived of educational oppor-
tunities. There was also $4,000, 900
worth OF property without any special
school tax Recognizing the fact that
not poverty but the unequal distri-
button of wealth and the UNEQUAL
burden of taxation made it impossib-
lie to provide school facilities for these
children. the County Unit law was
passed by the last session of thelegi-
stature with a view to remedying
the unequal educational opportunities
of the children Of this state thru 4
more equal distribution OF the speci-
al school levy There wore 163 chill
dren In McCone County last Sept
ember without school advantages. It
has been possible to provide school
for few Of those children. but the
majority are either not IA school
or are attending school outside tho
county where their parents have been
compelled to move for the sake OF
educational advantages Pleas for
schools are being constantly recei-
we'd by us often from communities In
which there arc six or more children
living from four to fifteen miles fran
any school and without means 70
support 4 school Of their own. Wa
cannot AFFORD to hay1 children In oerF