The Nevada journal., 1858-10-29
For the Nevada Journal
Public SchOOls-An improvement.

tenn of free Public Schools has been our
countrys boast. Nor should our yoang
State, in her abundance of gold and
agricultural resources, undervalue its
Importance she has not, and for one l
am glad of it.
Wednesday, the goth. inst, was a
memorable day, not only to the little
folks ofo county, but to many of us
old folks, especially those of us whose
hopeful sons and daughters distinguish
ed themselves in public on the stage
The appearance of over hundred boys
and girls, was truly an interesting sight,
in this mountain town. The examina-
ton at Temperance Hall, was in many
respects highly creditable; yet it was
not characterized by thoroughness-
Scholars generally lacked in distinct and
vigorous enunciation, and there was a
sad want of order. This perhaps, was
in consequence of the unusual surround
ings of the occasion, more than the lack
of discipline and good government in
respective schools. Our own town at
least is proverbial for thorough discip-
line and order.
The exhibitions in the evening at the
theatre was entertaining - much the
same as such performances usually are !;
but what shall be said of the ball at the
Court Hoasea To many of us old TO-
gies this is something new under the sun;
Superintendents, trustees and all of the
public schools constituting themselves
a committee of ball managers, and clos
ing up an examination with a ball com
mencing at 10 clock, P. NJ. Isuppose
a staid old New Englander would be
scarcely qualified to Judge of this ar
rangement in the light of examinations
witnessed in other days-and l suppose
our religionists who think the bible
ought to be read in our public schools
and the urchins reminded somewhat of
the fear of the Lord, could hardly con-
template the improvement without some
futtering of their pious hearts. But /
must confess that looking at it in the
light of our times, and the demands of
our society-it seems just the thing
We want. not so much staid, common
sense, matronly wives and mothers now
a-days to make happy, pious homes and
raise industrious, virtuous families, as we
want dashing, pleasure-lcving ladies
who can attend at the theatre, ball
room and everywhere, but at home
Then where can they be better trained
than by appearing in gossamer dress
scant as decency will possibly admit on
the stage, in the theatre and while in
the midnight dance. The kind of gen.
tlemen demanded by the times can be
manufactured in much the same way.
But there is another important con-
sideration suggested by this added i'm
provement in our public school system
it is eminently philosophical. Are not
these schools exhibitions and all, quar-
rying and manufacturing pillars for the
support of republican institutions and
christian civilization? Certainly they
are ! How shall these pillars be made
strong7 Consult the pyramids, the ev-
erlasting pyramids-upon what philo-
sophical principle are they constructed 2
Wherein consists their strength ? 1t
is in their bases, certainly it is! Had
the engineers and artists who send up
those wonderful columns put the largest
stones in their apices, and failed to
strengthen their bases, would they have
lifted their heads to the clouds and de-
fed the storms of more than two thou
sand years No sir, never. Then give
us pillars for our civil and religious in
ciple as the pyramids, and this new
branch of education is just tie thing.
1t is a we'll known law in physiology
that exercise is the condition of strength
and the members of the body most con-
stan:ly exercised will most develop in
all the conditions of strength. Then let
our children con A. B. G. and spell ba-
kerfour hours, and dance all night, and
if like the pyramids, they should be
small and light in the upper story they
will be mighty in the calf Strange that
it has taken SO long to explode the alb
surd notion that our children's under
standings were to be strengthened by
stufing their heads.
l would venture to make one sugges-
ton which would be well-pleasing to
those parents who do not like to keep
late hours and have some little scruples