The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-12-03
By MRS. JOHN FITZPATRICK
Dupuyer, Montana


resent themselves at the annual con-
vention of the Montana School
Boards Association (VOICE, Nov s. f.
| did so because | think it is high
time rural people made themselves
heard on these matters so vital to
their welfare. My actions will no
doubt be interpreted by some as be-
ing disloyal to the work of the citi-
zens committee.
| believe it to be my first duty to
call the attention of the people to
the situation as | see it. Only so
long as the citizens committee repre-
sents the cause of the common peo-
pie does it rate any loyalty from peo-
pie like me. eff this be treason let
us make the most of it."
Strong Pressure For Compulsory
Consolidation In NIECE
| have stated and l repeat that
there is strong pressure within the
MSBA and in the NIECE for a brand
of school district reorganization that
is supposedly permissive but in actual
practice would be compulsory. Also
it is not based upon giving the best
service to the people. Rather it seeks
to pare down the total cost of edu-
cation in Montana by cutting down
drastically on the number of rural
schools. To do this the power of de-
cision must first be taken away from
the people in the rural districts. |
more education for the tax dollar"
is the slogan used to sell the idea to
tax-minded people. If Montana were
a densely settled territory with hard
surfaced roads on every section line,
larger school districts and longer bus
lines would be a practical solution.
Even so the long spells of winter
weather would still be a drawback
to such a system.
When the Montana Citizens Com
mittee on Education was called into
being it was supposed to bring to- :
gether the thinking of the people Of i
Montana and from the aggregate h
bring forth a new set of school laws
Simulated Grass Roots Action7
However when the delegates got
to the first meeting they found a bale
IF printed material for them to take
nome and educate the people in their
counties. At one entire meeting the ]
delegates were indoctrinated by the
and out-of-state Eek
)erts" on education. In spite of the
Jealous work of the MEA and the adj
yice of the experts, the committee
las worked out some very construct
i've proposals.
These were turned over to the sub q
committee on legislation to be whipt /
nto legal form. At our last meeting I
We reviewed the results: five pro- q
,osed bills. The five bills as drawn
Up DO NOT follow very closely the n
Intentions of the citizens committee f
IS agreed upon in the committee of b
he whole. IF the citizens commit
ee is to degenerate into a farce and
mockery, the people of Montana e
AVE the right TO know of it. a
It has always been my policy to
erve my community in any way pos t
ible. Beyond that / seek in every t
5ay to serve the cause of the people
eyond those boundaries. Ever since
has been brought to my attention =,
he kind of school district reorganiza- h
ion that is being promoted for all of :.
Iontana | have spoken out against it. :,
The people of my county have
ressed me into service in their be- W
alf on the committee on education o
'ur county of Pondera is an average Il
Iontana county in most statistical
Iassifications. It's area is largely d
lral My proudest mark is that / n
epresent rural people. | was born
nd raised on farm, taught school n
Or 10 years in rural and small town n
,hools and have retired to a farm q
, raise my family. II
She Too, At One Time Believed In d;
Mass District Consolidation re
i can remember when l too believ sc
/ in consolidation of schools and Ell
.hool districts. But | have learned fc
great deal since my retirement from tf
aching. When | was struggling in OF
one-room rural school to teach the re
sp'e, ooJ oil tba aytra thinUS foo