The people's voice., 1947-02-07
MEA President Writes His Thoughts On
Proposed School Reorganization

least twenty qualified electors are
present. OF the seven members
elected four must be elected from
trustee districts and three must be
elected at large. This means that
each quarter of the districts, even if
| it has only ten percent of the popula-
ton, will be entitled to one trustee.
( 1t also means that the rural areas
will have three trustees or more and
that they will have a vote on all
seven. This trustee district idea will
also give the parents of many high
school pupils a voice in the manage
ment of high schools. Under the pres
ent law thousands of high school pu-
pills attend high school in districts
other than their own. Therefore,
their parents have absolutely no vote
as to who is to be trustee in that
district. But with this new set-up
their parents will help select the
trustees who exercise the local author
ity over the high schools their sons
and daughters attend. Is there any
reason to believe that these seven
trustees will be less efficient than the
Montana people who were elected un-
der the smaller district system? 1t
simply means we will have fewer
trustees but each one will have more
responsibility. He must be able to
visualize the problems of a larger area
than he has in the past.
Another fear that seems to have
arisen is that after this new board is
elected it will set itself to work ruth
lessly closing a large proportion of
the rural schools in the district. Of
course it is to be expected that some
schools will be abandoned as over
2 1000 schools have been closed volun-
tarily in the last twenty years. In
the first place it does not seem reas-
enable that the people would elect
men to the board of trustees who
also be pointed out that before
school may be closed notice must be
given to the parents or guardians of
he children attending the school in
.ended to be closed of a public meet
ng which will be held in the school
house intended to be closed. These
notices must be mailed out ten days
before such meeting is called. Does
t seem probable that Montana trus-
ees, who have been selected in such
| democratic manner, would deprive |
heir neighbors of necessary schools |
flor q n,,bIio dicouccion on tho ,DrOb /
EN-? If, however, board should de-
ide that a school was unnecessary
he new law provides that transporta-
ion must be paid, or buses furnished
# something paid in lieu of trans
Last year a total of 21,331
upils were given either some form of
us transportation or money in lieu
hereof. Under the proposed bill the
honey in lieu thereof would be raised
y ten per cent.
While adults are disagreeing ABOUT
he right method to use in improving
he educational program teachers are
ooking on with sinking hearts.
Many Leaving Teaching
For years they have been playing a
)sing battle with old man economics. {
Tany are saying, whats the use of {
taying in this profession?' In 1944-45 {
ne thousand three hundred and thir- 7
y-three withdrew their funds from the i
etirement System and dropped out l
teaching Last year the number t
cached one thousand four hundred !
nd thirty-three. How many more will
0 the same thing when schools close
ext June? Meantime our teachers =
)lleges and normal schools report =
lat they will graduate this year ap-
one hundred and fifty ,
'achers to take the place of the nine
ten times that number who NAV '