The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-03-30
NATIONAL ESSAY
STUDENT CONTEST
Continued from Page One)

1920 was nearly a million dollars
, The apportionment was $500 to eacl
census child, or so cents per chill,
more than it was a few years ago
In time the state funds, by wise anc
safe investments, should prove
great heritage to the children o.
Montana.
However, the investments have no.
always been wise and safe. Thi.
year the apportionment per child i.
$3.50.
The state common school funds
have not always been handled to the
best possible advantage of the schools
of the state owing to the fact thai
the constitution provides that only
the income from invested funds
should be apportioned to the children
of the state between the ages of
six and %twenty-one years.
There have been times when large
amounts of these funds have been
uninvested and have been deposited
in various banks of the state draw
ing only two or two and one-half
per cent interest, which interest was
placed in the general funds of the
state. This interest should have
gone to the school districts.
Recently, since the farm loan law
has been in operation, this condition
has been altered and only a few
hundred thousand dollars at a time
have been uninvested. However, the
farm loan law has cost the districts
thousands of dollars as many of the
loans have never paid a penny of
interest and many more are delin-
quent and never can be paid.
A changed policy during the past
year has resulted in the Land Board
buying more school bonds. These
net six per cent interest clear.
The constitutional amendment Sc
cured two years ago at the general
election shows that the people of the
state desire to protect their state
school fund. Under this amendment
the interest from all funds, whether
invested or u~ninvested, shall go to
the schools, 95 per cent to be dis
tributed annually and five per cent
to the permanent fund.
The Fire Prevention week to date
has been a big success. The child
rem have learned more about fire
waste than they dreamed could be
learned. All Of US have begun to
realize that this is a subject that
cannot be given too much attention
in our public schools. We have found
chat we Americans are a penny wise
and a pound foolish as far as fires
are concerned, We slave to accu-
mulate wealth and then send a large
part of it up in smoke.
The children have learned that
~carefulness is a virtue in fire pre-
.vention. We have also discovered
that u library is lacking in mater
ial on fire prevention. Few books
have been published on this all inn
portant subject. Student after stu
dent has been seriously handicapped
in the search for fire prevention facts
The state fire marshal has helped
us out in many ways this week.
Many good posters have been
made. The seventh grade in charge
of Miss Johnson, made the largest
assortment. These were very good.
The normal training department also
made some good ones. Irene Hanson
won the dollar prize.
The program on Wednesday, even
ing was enjoyed by all. The assem-
bly, room was packed. Each number
showed careful training. The fea-
ture of the evening was the "Trial
Of Fire" Miss Gertrude Dullenty
cannot be given too much praise for
The way in which her pupils handled
this playlet. Even the judge acted
up-to-date by giving the excited wit
ness a leader when necessary.
Harold Lloyd in "Hey There" kept
the youngsters on their toes. The
other two films were also enjoyed.
The banquet for the Firemen and
the School Board members was pre-
pared and served by two representa-
lives from each class. These people
we're under the direction of Misses
Laurence and McAleer. The long
table was cleverly decorated in red
and white. A large fire truck kept
The interest of the fire lads. Red fire
and pictures of the Wolf Point
school were used as place cards.
The menu was: Sandwiches, sal
ad, pickles, coffee, cake and ice
,ream.
The high school students and eighth
grade furnished the banquet. Their
hospitality was much appreciated.
An hour of dancing was enjoyed.
The high school orchestra furnished
he music. Mrs. Tice kindly helped
,ut.