Montana oil and mining journal., 1941-10-25

There were but few families living
In Bannack during the years Of 1883
1864, consequently not many children
were there ranging in ages from s to
16 Such would be expected to attend
school in older communities, but there
was no school In Bannack, nor any
provision for one. When 1t was learned
that Lucia Darling had taught school
in the east. she was urged TO take
pupils. and finally consented TO do so.
No building for school being avail
able, except at extortionate rent, Miss
Darling decided to use the front room
of the house she lived In for this
purpose.
At first there were less than a
dozen pupils, but the number gradually
increased until the front room could
not accommodate them and 1t became
necessary TO find a larger room. This
need was met by a couple Of Ohio
men, Charles Sackett and Richard
Fem, who built a small cabin Of logs
on the opposite side Of the Grass
hopper. and close to the house, and
manufactured some kind Of rude FUR
niture that would serve for seats and
desks
Long Winter Holiday
There were but halliday sessions at
first. and a protracted holiday IN WIN
ter. that endured until the weather
modified. In a contribution to the
Montana historical records. Miss OAR
ling then Mrs. Parke, said: There was
no discussion nor was there any al
ference of opinion as to what scnool
books should be used. for the scholars
we're obliged to use such books as
they had brought with them, or as
could be secured from their neighbors
II was a somewhat strange gathering
of school books. for they came from
Maine and Missouri, and many other
states were represented"
Before her school closed in 1865,
Miss Darling had 20 or more pupils.
In his message to the first territorial
legislature, Governor Edgerton en-
phasized the Importance Of education,
and cited the provisions made by the
government to aid 1t in Montana, "by
setting aside two sections of land in
each township for the establishment
of a school fund" This, however,
while it would be valuable in the fu-
ture. could not be depended upon for
present needs, and he asked the legis-
lature "to devise some system Of edu-
cation to meet the immediate wants
of our people" And in this instance
the legislature willingly complied with
his request.
The first school district was in
Madison county, and the first public
school opened in Virginia City on the
fifth Of March, 1866. It's trustees were
Hon Joseph Millard, Samuel Word,
and Captain Rodgers, with the Rev.
George Smith as clerk While the
names Of these trustees is matter OF
record. that Of the principal Of the
school Is not given, although 1t Isl
believed a Mr.. Thrasher, who is cited
as the first superintendent or com
missioner of public instruction, had
charge of this school This seems
probable, as the school records state
Thomas Dimsdale was the first super
intendent of public instruction for
In November. 1865. Gov. Green Clay
Smith called the attention Of the leg
stature to the necessity for further
legislation in behalf of education. Like
Governor Edgerton, Governor Smith
iwelt upon the Importance Of educa-
lion in every country, but especially
n one where there is a democratic
'orm Of government. He then sug
rested what system of education
should be adopted in Montana. If