The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-03-03

A good deal of interest is being
shown by the people of Valley county
ON the subject Of County Unit. Dis
cussions has been raised especially on
three points, which might be we'll to
bring before the public. They are; (1)
1t is not necessary to conduct schools
in rural communities. (2) County
Unit will not equalize taxes. (3) The
plan is not successful in Cascade
county.
As to No. 1, should say that is a
narrow and selfish vision to have.
We ought to cultivate little unself-
ishness and feel it our Duty as Amer
ican to see that ALL children in our
rural schools have an equal chance.
Every child is entitled to an educa-
tion no matter whether he lives in
town or country. Education is the
basis of society. The purpose of the
public school is two fold. It trains
the mind and fosters the spirit of
democracy. Can we afford not to have
rural schools? "Our people must be
at a par 1. mentally, 2. physically,
and 8. morally" County Unit aims
to give all children in third class dis
tricts as nearly as possible equal edu-
cational opportunities.
Point (2)-It also seeks to equalize
the burden of taxpayers in third class
districts. Taxes are based on valu-
alton. Valuation depends upon three
conditions ~ quality of soil, (2) dis
tance from railroad and market, and
(3) wagon roads. The county is di-
vided into districts and the land in
each valued according to the above.
Would it be fair to expect a district
along the Canadian Border to be val
ued as high as district along the
railroad? The land along the railroad
is taken first because it has so many
advantages that the land 40, so and
70 miles from the railroad has not.
Point (3)-A recent letter from
Miss Jane Keeney, county superin-
tendent of school, Cascade county,
will show whether or not the County
Unit system is working in Cascade
county.
Standards
YEAR 1919-192O.
"The elementary schools of Cas-
cade county were given an average
Of 177.05 days, raising US from eighth
rank among the counties of Montana
to first in the state; provision was
made for a nine months term for
each school in the county, although
due to the teacher shortage mad ne
cessary time to work out difficult
problems of isolated sections, we had
a few schools which fell bit short of
that term length. 167 isolated chill
dren living distances of from three
and half to eight and ten miles
from established school were provided
with school facilities and in addition
to the aforesaid 167 children, 500 boys
and girls with less than six months
terms the preceding year were given
nine months terms"
YEAR 192O-1921.
"The elementary schools of Cascade
county were given an average Of
1887 days. Not one school fell short
of full nine months term and not
one child in the county but had provis-
ion made for it's full attendance the
entire term.
Our attendance was excellent-fol
with provision of school for all ou1
children we have also brought about
the enforcement Of the truancy law
with all our parents.
1t was our pleasure last spring to
have children reported for the eighth
grade examination from schools which
heretofore, with short terms, had sim.
ply held the children beyond the age
of compulsory attendance at which
time they had dropped out of schoo
entirely.
Under County Unit, we have beer
able to adopt a salary schedule, basee
on successful experience and profess
ional preparation. This has done
much to raise the standard of ou1
teaching force; has had a remark
able holding power and has been {
powerful incentive toward norma
training. Our rural schools are hold
ing teachers as they never did be
fore not only for the entire term bu
for a second and third year in the
same district. This salary schedul,
was adopted our first year under
County Unit and has been sustained
with but one minor change since tina
time"
YEAR 1921-1922
Gall the schools of Cascade count,
opened in September for the regular
nine months term and all our isolatet
children were as in the two years pre-
ceding provided with school facilitie
It is course of much satisfaction t.
US that up to the presen date, Decem
ber "a, 1921, we have had but on
Continued on page Four)