The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-11-25
STATE TEACHERS
In ANNUAL MEET
Great Falls Royalty Entertains State
Association. Glasgow Instructors
Elected to State Office.

The thirty-second annual conven-
tion of the State Teachers association
met at Great Falls November 21-22
and %, and after a formal welcome
by Mayor Ray M. Armour the work
for the three days session began.
About twenty-three hundred teachers |
and trustees were in attendance. A |
mixed chorus of voices from the Great |
Falls high school opened the Monday |
program. A quartet of vio-
linists played the obligato from
Godart's Lullaby. Principal Bruce E.
Mill;len of Butte responded to the
Mayor expressing the teachers ap-
probation of the city's hospitality.
DR.. David Starr Jordan, who has
played an important personal part in
the relations Of the United States with
many other countries, has become one
Of Americas most noted men. He was
president of the World Peace Con-
gress. He has acquired an acquaint-
ance which is worldwide and has
studied the results of war and the
development of international rela-
tions at close hand. Consequently his
message delivered to the Montana
teachers, who packed the theatre,
made a great impression. The main
point of his talk was a comparison
between the amount of money which
has been spent and is being spent for
war and with the amount of money
which is being spent for education.
Needless to say the most is being
spent for war.
Probably the most important work
tion plan for the Teachers association.
The change provides for the transac-
ton of business by elected delegates
from community organizations. The
change would place the business of
the convention on the basis Of gov
ernment legislative body. The six pre-
dominant are C) provides for COM
munity organization of twenty-five
members or more, (2) provides for
the transaction of convention business
by elected delegates from community
organizations, (3) provides that Of
ficers of the association shall con-
sist of president, vice president, and
secretary-treasurer, (4) provides for
the personnel of an executive council,
(5) provides that a salaried secretary
treasurer shall be permanently en-
ployed to give all Of his time to the
associations business, (6) increases
fees Of members from one-tenth of
one percent Of their salaries to two
tenths of one percent. The meeting
at which plan was taken up was a
lively one as some of the old guard
tried to filibuster the plan and there
by cause delay in it's adoption. The
new constitution, however, was adopt
ed with several amendments. The
committee which drew up this consti-
tuition was Mr.. D. S. Williams, Payne
Templeton and Mabel Jones.
It is argued by many that teachers
should not look into methods of taxa
ton but when the association discuss
ed the same thing at the Billings meet
ing, it came as shock to certain in
terests. Mr. Cummings, president of
the association, probably struck the
keynote of the Great Falls meeting
when he discussed this point. He said
that many argue that teachers have
no right to discuss taxes because they
do not pay taxes. at is self-evi-
dent fact that taxes are paid from
profits on production and processes
necessary to get the productions to
the consumers. Without consumption
there wiuld be no need for production.
No one denies that the teachers are
good consumers and as such contrib
ute their share of the taxes even
though indirectly" He also said cap
italists, merchants, farmers, laborers
tradesmen, and professional men are
all discussing finances and each from
a prejudiced view point. Starvation
strikes, etc. are the results. Teachers
can do no worse. In Montana the cry
of hundreds and even thousands in the
rural districts deprived of their school.
ing because of short terms made nec-
essary by poor methods Of finance
should goad the true teacher to ac-
ton. Experience has shown that leg
islative action when blocked by GER.
tain interests con not be looked for
It is to the people themselves that
the teacher must look for relief. II
4 is hoped that this convention will au.
thorize the initiation of some bill by
the committee on finances which will
give proper help to education.
DR.. Hamilton of the Gallatin Valley
who is new president of the conven
ton, stated at the trustees meeting
that he believed that permanent relief
could be secured in the following ways
There is a tendency to split up the
larger districts into smaller ones
, thereby establishing rural schools fol
, ten pupils or less. This is very ex
pensive and very ineffective. Small
schools should be eliminated and the
, pupils transported or the familie:
move to some nearby town. 1t is ul
to the parents, with the help of the
board of their district to see tha
every child in their district is in school
, There are nearly one Thousand
| schools with ten pupils. Therefore too
D much money is being wastefully spent
e Another way in which to secure per
/ manent relief would be through the
county unit and still another Way BY