The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-01-17


Helena, Montana
Dear Editor:
Enclosed. please find $500 for one
years subscription of The Peoples
Voice. 1t is heartening to feel that
we do have a paper left that is not
under the domination of selfish in
terests. 1t is much to be regretted
that your paper does not reach more
people. The article by Leonard Ken
field, of the Farmers Union on 'Who
shall have control of our public school
system in Montana" reached me at a
very opportune time. The report of
the Governors commission was re-
Gently sent out to the school clerks of
the various school districts of Mon
tana. Our community called two diff
ferent mass meetings to study the pro-
posed legislation to scrap our present
school system. Rural residents are of
course not in favor of the controls
and the bus transportation that loom
largely in the proposed bill. Certain
ly such reports throw little light on
the implications and ramificatiOns of
such an issue when drawn up by its
proponents for presentation to the |
legislature. So our meetings accOmp-
lished little other than expressing the |
rural citizens disapproval of the |
whole proposition.
Rural People Will Suffer Most
From the first, this issue has been
sort of hush-hush affair as far as
the general public is concerned. The
rural people, who will suffer most if
this bill is passed, know the least
about it However, local papers have
carried numerous news items of how
local proponents of the issue explain
ed its various aims before eating-meet-
ings of different city groups and or
CARNATIONS where mems minds are
and manipulated to go
forth from the meeting shouting for
the thing they were told was good
After reading Leonard Kenfield's
report and commentary relative to the
bill as he heard it explained
at the county superintendent meet
ing held recently in Helena, there is I
little left to ask questions about. He {
covered the issue in a masterful man {
ner. His report should be in the hands +
Of every father and mother of school {
together with every member i
Of the 1947 Legislature.
There is something that | wish to I
add as a rural teacher, a mother of q
children, and a rural citi- f
zen. Having been connected with the I
'ural schools of central Montana for
he most part of the past quarter cen V
.ury, in the capacity of mother, teach s
or and school official, | feel qualified C
o make the following commentary:
Have Many Objections c
Our objections to the proposed re-
plan are many and valid. =
ike unavoidable government controls
t takes vital decisions regarding chill
Iren from parents, placing the meth r
IDS and place of instruction in the ;,
lands of those less concerned and less
Qualified to Judge the hardships and
angers of transportation by bus.
The committee of seven, four of
hOlil Incht Tic uCClolOuo III CctCh vi
he four proposed districts of our .
Fergus) county would naturally be Il
realty influenced by the superinten- l.
ent of the high school system in the
istrict. AS we all know, ambitious 81
outh from farms and elsewhere have y"
ften sought career in schools, not
} be a great teacher-one capable pl
+ inspiring and leading-but to be an sc
xecutive. So, from his very entrance CT
} that field, he devotes himself to CT
purses not in any way connected IN
18th the furtherance of good teaching, tie
ut concerned with making out bud re
cts, accounting, management of bus &C
IS, grading systems, study of organ re
of public speaking which OF
i'll enable him to sell his ideas to We
lie community, the ordering of sup tn
les by cartons and possibly carload IN
It's, the ALLEGATION of funds-paints
Id repairs and kindred subjects, on
hich leave no time for the cultural is
Id ethical studies so important to ov
ose helping to shape character and co
eals. GU