The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-03-29
State House Beat
FRANKLY SPEAKING
By FRANK SMALL

is also responsible for the projectin
machines and mimeographing tn
, teaching materials.
The team approach was so success
full that it will be extended to tn
fifth grade next year. While it wa
thought that there would be a disci
primary problem none appeared ant
the individual help necessary for tn,
gifted and the slow was availabl,
when the classes were handled in tn,
larger group.
The drop-out problem is not only
in high school, but the grade schoo
also has this tragic problem. The
teacher not required in a lecture can
give attention to the potential drop
out.
The Lewistown civic center is used
for the physical education program.
Harland Seljak, principal of the
Powell County High School. probably
has one of the most interesting APP
proaches to the problem of English
education.
Seljak believes that a great deal
of the trouble is in "overcrowding"
That is the student is required now
to set back and let all these teaching
efforts filter into his brain, and they
become terrified in college where
they are more or less on their own
efforts.
Seljak has six girls who are start
ing out to master the techniques of
research. One is his own daughter.
First he gave ten half hour lectures
paper proving point in an area
they picked themselves. They made
a survey of the subject first and be-
sides the paper there will be given
oral examinations on the subject by
experts in the field.
Research is not all done in a test
tube. How do you start on a subject
like The Unitarian Aspects of Verse
Poetry? The school library and city
library in Deer Lodge is limited so
the Extension Library ait the Univer-
sity in Missoula was brought into
play. Some books were borrowed. 1877
so far and still no protest from the
Extension Library.
The key to research is not deciding
before hand but to go over every
thing available before the point to
prove is arrived at. The trouble so
far is that the teachers want to get
INTO the. act when their only proper
function would be to criticize, and
not tell them what to do.
This has the parents licked because |
he subjects are too difficult and the |
I'D card system can't be used because
enough information can't be COM
pressed on to them.
Seljak claims that the skip read
ng now so fashionable to consume
hundreds of books is about the worst
hing that is happening in education.
Ancient poetry can't be read fast if
is to be of any value.
1t is more important to be able to
ather than believe everything printed
J gospel.
The girls had wanted to start writ
ny the first day but have been held
if until the first of April. This has
cen the curb to rash statements
rhich are such common nuisance in
ur times, and has taught the girls to
cad more critically. only wish that
was possible for me to read the
esults of the research into the Gull
lral backgrounds of the families of
ne West Side Story and Romeo and
uliet. It
I wish | were able to spend "a :
ours one Saturday with Philipsburg's Y
[r. Johnson to help me with my sci r
nee project. L wish | could have had 7
lie expanding world of the team I
,aching in Lewistown when my
lends would be three times the I
sual class room. wish I were kid y
pain instead of a dull old goat wan
,ring around with the politicians
gaming about taxes and uncivil de-
nse and etc. wish / were a kid 7
rain. Don't you? I