The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-11-15
School Reorganization

system And the which the conclusions arrived
in the reached should also interest the people
the state.
The committee was authorized by an act of the
sion of the Montana legislature The act directed the Cover
to appoint committee to make study of the public
school system the state and submit of findings
recommendations for changes to him by November To- Strange
H enough appropriation made for in
ton with the work of the committee and of the
named by the Governor there probably only who might
be repaid for expenses incurred in the work. by the state
According the statement of employee of the Montana
Education Association the expenses of the committee have
been borne by the Montana Education Association and the
Montana Taxpayers Association logical to
that these organizations primarily policies
which will prove benefit to them would exercise influence
the committees findings and recommendations since they
were paying the bills They may by doing they
only with the public welfare but the record
of their activities the past casts cloud on any such claims
The Montana Education Association been called
Company Union and instances in the past have clearly
ough indicated the teachers little
the organization which dominated
by superintendent and principals working in close harmony
with school boards and Welding to them whenever
of the boards conflict with the interests of the teacher clear
point is the of Violet Eastman which attracted
discharged by the school board
after satisfactory teaching in the Helena high
school without being given She had been mem
Der of the Montana Education Association for but
the organization turned hand to help her just
hearing to compel the school board to give its reasons
dscharging her.
The MEA has collected large part if not
has expended in the costs of the investigation made
by the committee from the teacher membership of the
This much known, though this writer does not
know how the organization made its collection the
entations made by to the teachers However, the
sana increases in the salaries of teachers and this probably
the principal interests of the MEA shall refer to this
again, later
Ordinarily up the present. the program of the Mon
Taxpayers Association often called the Taxdodgers AS
ISOLATION has been constant in ressng the necessity and de-
STABILITY economy public expenditures for all
Since this organization maintained by the large interests of
the state prevention opposed increased taxation
constantly preaching obviously strange to find it
giving its blessing to proposals which involve the expendi
ture of considerable to accomplish reorganization of the
school system the salaries of teach
claim be neutral about this report since its
executive secretary has been member of the committee max
ing the study and report and apparently agreed to it ALL
Now let how meeting of minds could have been
reached by those wanting to spend large of to
organize the school system and pay higher salaries teachers
out of public funds derived from taxation and agreed by
the Montana Tax-dodgers Association
The report makes recommendations only for the
zaon of districts changes in filling the office of State Super
ntendent of Public Instruction and of the functions of
that office and for the payment of larger salaries to teachers
1t mute how the incurred by all of these changes
shall be met where the to be obtained And herein
believe lies story of by the two organizations
paying the expenses of the study by the committee crafty
extent of being able to get subsrvent legislature to put
the Ubiquitous sales tax legislation long sought by the special
interests of the state
Can appear reasonable to any citizen state the
Montana Taxpayers Association would advocate additional
expenditures of public funds which might bring about ncreas
ed taxes for the big interests which maintain IT. And know
the powerful interests back of the movement for sales tax
legislation the Montana Education Association would not be
out OF character in lending aid and comfort to the program
of the Taxpayers Association it could thereby build its
tige influence with the Montana teachers.
Neither Elizabeth Ireland superintendent of public insruc
Martin Moe executive secretary of the Montana Edu
Association have publicly stated opposition to
sales tax The farmers and aborers and the white collar
workers with fixed incomes want to know where the educators
the question of sales which will
them the extent of deprvg them of necessities
han they lack They do not feel that these educators
be besmrchng their towers by getting down to
such matters taking leading part exploring
income which do penaze the weak and defense
They justly look to leadership of the educators who are
proving themselves earthly enough to be asking for money
finding of which will not hit hardest those
east able to pay.
In opinion with definite exceptions the re-
and recommendations have merit believe that reorgan
cation of districts needed Whether not the plan
yested in the report the best cannot believe that
he teachers should be better paid but not at the of
hose unable to pay. is
One of the most Objectionable features in the recommends
ions of the committee the proposal that the State Supern
of Public Instruction should be appointed by the State
Board of Education So long the great foreign corporations
dominate the political life of the state they do such
constitutes added danger the interests of the
people of the state. =
earnestly suggest that ask for copy the report
md recommendations of the committee study carefully dis h