The people's voice., 1959-01-30
By DICK WARDEN,
In GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE
Concluded From 2 Weeks Ago.

IN Montana through the e1ghth grade
in compliance with the state statute
before it's amendment in 1855.
In the Milford Colony near Angus
ia, for example, children are enrolled
in state approved curriculum under
the directorship of teacher certified
by the State Department of Public
instruction, Mrs. Agnes Kirkwood.
Thirty of the 81 students attending
the Milford school are Hutterites; the
other is Mrs. Kirkwood's daughter.
Although 81 students are "too
many" for one teacher, Mrs. Kirk
wood said her relationship with the
Hutterites is "very satisfactory"
The children, she said, are the same
as other boys and girls of the same
age, except that they forego many
of the extra-curricular activities often
associated vii h public primary
schools.
The school day for the Milford
Hutterite children begins at z am,
y hours before Mrs. Kirkwood con-
venes class at the trim, frame school
house. Until $3.50 the children are
instructed by a Hutterite elder in
Bible training and German, the Ian
guage in which the sect's religious
services are rendered. The teachers
day ends at pm, but the children
continue an extra hour in the study
of German and Biblical subjects.
II hA
Milford Colony are excellent,
Mrs. Kirkwood, an instructor last
year in the Lake county community
of Dayton, said. Unlike the situa-
ton in some areas, she added, par
ents are anxious to cooperate in
rectifying the scholastic problems
of their children.
Furthermore, few of the problems
encountered in the classroom are at
tributable to, adverse environmental
influences.
At age 21a, the Hutterite child
enters kindergarten, where religious
instruction is stressed. At seven, he
begins his study of the ''three RS"
in the first grade.
The Rev. Joseph ]. Kleinsasser,
spiritual leader of the $50 Milford
noted that there is no
lliteracy in any Hutterite colony. All
children are taught from an early
age to speak, read and write both
English and Swiss dialect of German.
The Milford Colony provides the
school teacher with free housing fa-
,ilities with all modern conveniences.
is furniture, upkeep, utili-
les and heat.
Mrs. Kirkwood, an "outsider' in
he colony with her daughter and son,
! student at Augusta High School,
eels cat home" among her Hutterite
leighbors.
81 was told prior to accepting the
'osition here" she said, "that should
lot allow my little girl to attend
chool with Hutterite children" Mrs.
lirkwood added that she has found, c
owever, that her daughter is ''prob- r
bly, happier here than attending an a
ther public school,
DCsPftC Tic AdGL enc 10 dlhicFcnt |
from the other youngsters, Mrs. g
Kirkwood said her daughter has e
never experienced any unusual D
problems. The Hutterite attitude
of tolerance toward persons of h
beliefs apparently applies g
to the younger as well as the older a
"
Regarding the stir in some quarters q
yer the raising of the national ensign e.
!; the Milford school for the first 81
me in IL years Oct. 30, Mrs. Kirk u
ood said it was unfortunate that so nj
any persons misconstrued the sig .
ficance of this act. II
The flag, she explained, was dis p'
aged before she accepted her pres u
it position, but on the wall inside
e school. Because no one seemed az
concerned over the mat OF
r no action was taken before this sc
ar. Pastor Kliensasser said, eve CT
we no objection whatsoever to the tn
lg flying over the school. After all,
: are American citizens.' tn
Commenting on the status of the ra
in Montana insofar as the tit
Lblic school system is concerned, gr
einsasser asserted, the Lewistown to
stice court in September ruling that ia
1tterite children be sent to school lif
fLn sn,l,I 10 @rI n IA