The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-05-19
RURAL DISTRICTS
FOR COUNTY unit
HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM NOT AF-
FECTED BY ADOPTION OF
COUNTY UNIT. ....
SYSTEM WILL HELP FUTURE
Superintendent Patton Points Out the
Reasons Why Rural Districts
Should Vote for County
Unit System June 3.

Oulk oyStCuA OuAsS Os
On June Bird the voters of Valley
county will be called upon to vote for
or against the adoption of the county
unit system of school government.
There has been great deal of argu- |
ment over the county for and against
the proposed change and some Of the
county papers have attacked Mrs. Pat
ton as fostering the movement for
selfish reasons.
Mrs. Patton has no personal inter-
est in the movement and is simply ad-
vocating her idea of the only feasible
plan for lettering the conditions OF
the rural schools of the county. The
following article, prepared by Mrs.
Patton, sets forth clearly and concise
" the issues which are to be voted
upon June 3rd:
County Unit
The advocates of county unit are
Cooking into the future" for equal
educational opportunities for all the
children of school age in third class
districts. Under the present district
system some of the small towns of
third class districts are "looking into
the future" but not for the sake of
the children of their district, but ra-
ther for the advertising of their town
through "a large, expensive school
building at the sacrifice Of the educa-
ton of the rural children.
The opposition to the adoption OF
the county unit system has come from
the small towns and not from the ru-
raj people. The rural people only have
expressed their desire for the adoption
of county unit by signing the petitions.
The county unit has nothing to do
with the high school system. A coun-
ty high school tax is levied which
should take care of the high schools.
Beside the high school levy each high
school child in the county gets his ap-
portionment from the state and coun-
ty six mill levy, which all grade chill
dren receive as well. The tax collect
ed from the special levy of each dis
trica is placed to the credit of that
district. Each child receives his share
of such tax; high school as we'll as
grade. Should the apportionment for
a district be pooled and used for the
purpose of establishing an extrava-
giant town school system? The coun-
ty unit believes not, as it advocates
equal educational opportunities for
country as we'll as town children in
third class districts.
1 believe we are placing the cart
before the horse by establishing so
many high schools, for we are not
properly taking care of 55 per cent
of the grade children. We need bet
ter foundation and the foundation is
laid only in the grades. But, the
county unit does not aim to do away
with the high schools of the third
class districts-its interests lie solely
with the grad children of third class
districts-rural as we'll as town.
Valley county's special levies II
third class districts vary from mills
to 25 3-4 mills, a fourth of the dis
tricts having a Is mill levy or more.
The average term in this count!
last year was only 1912 days; ovel
five weeks less than Cascade county
The district with the levy of 1 mil
had 1876 days of school while the dis
trict with the highest levy (25 mills
had only 140 days of school. Their
were 2O6 children enrolled in schools
with less than a five months tern
last year. There are over $50 chilarel
not provided with a school at tn
present time and approximately tn
same number with short terms.
In answer to statements made il
regard to county unit, l will merel
quote the law verbatim: Chapter ~
County Unit Law; Section S, Para
graph (page 35 School Laws): 9Th
county superintendent Of schools shal
be ex-officio secretary of the boar
County board) and it shall be his dut
to enforce the rules, regulations an
orders of the board, but he shall no
be entitled to vote"
Chapter w. County Unit Law, Sec
ton 5, Paragraph 5 (page 35, Schoe
Laws): The board of trustees of tn
rural school district shall on or befor
the first Monday in August in eac
year certify to the board of count
commissioners the total amount G
money to be raised by taxation for tn
rural school district pursuant to tn
Dudget adopted by the board, and tn
board of county commissioners sha
cause to be levied at the time of tn
levy of taxes for state and count
purposes, sufficient levy upon a
of the taxable property within the RI
raj school district, tax sufficient
raise the amount of money SO cert
fled by the board of trustees of tf
rural school district, after allowing
deduction of ten per cent on accoui
of delinquencies.
Chapter w., Section 5, ParagraI
2 page "a, School Laws): "TF
board of trustees of each sub-distri
of the rural school district shall c
or before the regular annual meetin
of the board of trustees of the rur
school district held on the first Thur
day in July, prepare and certify
the board of trustees of the rur