The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-01-02
Group Discuss
Edu. Problems


of people listened to the panel dis
cussion Of school problems at the
New Central School Auditorium
Friday evening, December ~, at a
meeting sponsored by the Libby
Woman's Club.
Those taking part in the panel
were as follows. Mrs r. w. LeDuc,
Chairman; Supt. Gillespie of the
Libby Schools; Mrs. Jessie Eager
berg, Lincoln county Supt. Of
Schools; Calvin Kusler, President
of Kootenai Teachers Association;
A. H. Sheldon, Past Master of Koo-
tenai Valley Grange; A. J. Agather
of the j. Neils Lumber Co.; Senator
D. F. Fewkes of Troy and Repre-
sentative-elect, Charles D. Rowe
The discussion centered around
the report of the Montana Com
mittee on Public Elementary and
Secondary School Organization and
Finance which has been submitted
to Gov. Sam. c. Ford, with a re-
quest that it be submitted to the
l947 Legislative Assembly with a
special message on the educational
crisis in Montana.
The report presents problems
which face Montana as follows: The
State Department of Public Instruc- |
ton is understaffed and too inef- |
fective to establish and maintain 1
the desired long-range program for
the improvement Of education in
Montana.
The school districts of Montana
are too small and too inefficient to
provide a modern program Of edu-
cation.
Administering schools through
l7lO separate boards of trustees com
ohcates and reduces the efficiency I,
Of the administrative machinery.
The present pattern of school or
5anizatlon does not provide a con-
.lnuous program of education from
ne first grade through high school.
Large numbers of Montana's tea
hers are not properly qualified.
Present laws pertaining to school ]
entrance age and compulsory at
enhance are confusing and not to
he best interest of Montana chill ]
iren.
Specifications relating to build
ng construction are not adequate to
insure the health and safety of the I
chool child.
The length of present school terms
S not uniform in all schools, and
not adequate for the proper pres /
ntatlon OF the foundation program. i
Plans are suggested in the report,
UbJect to restriction of the State '
legislature for redistricting coun-
les in Montana to form larger school a
nlts, each unit to have a board
t trustees of seven members
yho would determine the number Y
+ schools to operate in the district
he report further makes recon- I
lendatlons regarding transporta-
ion, length Of school year, conf
ulsory school attendance, standards
Or school buildings, teacher train d
lg, teachers salaries, and school {
with the hope of accom- f
fishing the following detectives: Il
Educational equality; 2-Ad-
efficiency; Super
isory efficiency; 4-Economy of OBJ
ration; Equality of taxation; g.
User use of public funds.
In the local discussion, Mrs. Fag-
-berg outlined minor changes in
le plan as recommended by the v
1unty superintendent of the state; D
II. Gillespie giving a similar report Il
ON the School Administrators al
Getting held recently in Helena. d
alvin Kusler, gave an earnest plea d.
II a minimum teachers salary law,
so a teacher tenure law. Various e
'urces of taxation were discussed, F
it'll an agreement that increased H
xes on property should not be b.
An increased liquor
x, cigarette tax, sales tax, and in b
me tax were discussed with no N
'ecial recommendations made. Mr.. cl
1lespie brought out that each
'unty may be obliged to give and N
Ike" before an equitable plan can
evolved for the best interest of
e state as a whole, and it was !; y
reed that the general welfare of n
e school children should have
lramount consideration. It is hoped
at these discussions may be con- VI
mad IN fhn Tr4ttrS -,