Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-02-20
: Communicated
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
vrnar,1. CITY. Feb. 20, 1855.

+ Mr.. ED1roR:-Preachers tell US that
all the items will appear only in the final
account and Carlysle has elegantly set
forth the same idea by saying that "history
is solid, having length, breadth and thick
ness-yet oil we ever see of it here is the
surfaces that bound it." This must o.
necessity be SO with mortal man, since ne
has neither the eyes of an Argus nor tnose
other attributes of the immortals which
are necessary to the perfect itemiser. 30
1 have no fault to find with either one or
the other. Yet we have some men right
here in, "this metropolis Of vice" VINO
try to persuade US that in this "uppef'
neither and surrounding darkness" we
cannot see even the surfaces of those facts
which daily surround us-and with them,
would take issue. This they endeavof
to demonstrate, not by covering up the
naked facts themselves, but by indus
tfiously pulling the ,oool over the public
eye. For example, let US look for a mo-
ment at the Public Schools of this county
not through the reports of either the
President or Chairman Of the Board, nor
vet the report of our late committee sent
here by the Legislature, for these would
rather serve to conceal than reveal facts, as
may be seen by all who will but look for
themselves. Notwithstanding the present
condition of our schools is reported as
perfectly satisfactory to these men, yet to
very large and respectable class OF our
citizens they are far from, being satisfac-
tory. Let us see to what they object: In
| the first place, we had cause to suspect
| foul play from the manner of their cleo
ton. Of the present members in this city,
not name was published nor ticket cir
culated until after the polls were opened
on the day of election, and, suspecing no
opposition, the people did not turn out
ueo their election. This made many be-
lieye it had been set up somewhere in ad-
vance. 1t being well known rule of the
| Board, as of other deliberative bodies,
that the members elect from any particu-
lar locality would control the affairs of
that locality, they did rue their want OF
vigilance and fear It's consequences. And
they were led to expect the worst when,
within two months after, they removed
the principal teacher arbitrarily and with
out preferring single charge Gas may be
seen from their books and put In his
stead one of their own creed, both poiiti-
cal and religious. So universal was the
disapprobation of this act, that the schol-.
ars were withdrawn from school until the
average attendance in that department
was but six or eight, and they were COM
PEELED to turn him off or have no school.
Yet we are told by these reports that
Democratic Board turned him off because
he was Roman Catholic, and put in his
stead Protestant. But they do not tell
of what political faith his successor was,
nor how many Union men stood above
him BY their own figuring of their of their
own examination; but they say he was
recommended by some Union man, and.
ergo, his election. But they say that all
the female teachers that were employed by
the old Board were retained by the present
until December 4. How does it come
that in the minutes Of their meeting on
July IA, resolution appears as having
passed, suspending one lady of undoubted
loyalty, and how does this appear in con-
nection with the assertion that said lady
did not appear for an examination by the
same Board held on July %, thus placing
herself beyond the power Of the Board to
appoint-when they had already notified
!, her of expulsion. This publication, to
say the least, would not be very reputable
| to one who boasts of his gallantry; yet,
with the partial showing, it may appear
all right to the public eye. Again, by the
minutes of a meeting held December 4, it
appears that another lady teacher, of un-
doubted loyalty. was suspended for req
sons there assigned as being established
on due trial and examination, which rea-
sons or charges she never heard of before.
Yet one of our reports says, any one can
hear what really ,cds the matter by calling
on the Chairman of the Board; and the
other says he has reconciled all parties,
and it is all right. And whom did they
put in the places of these ladies 30 remov-
/ eds Were they of the same faith, either
political or religious Neither of the re-
ports say exactly. The Chairman says:
with these matters the Board can have
no concern; we deal with their actions
only" The man of the Legislative COM
mittee says, it is plain they need the SUI
pervision of an extensive, practical mind
| like his), and recommend the immedi-
ate passage of bill to that effect. Nor
are these all the changes made by this
Board, and for the sake of doing them and
their reports no injustice, we should not
nmit others. Before any of the changes
were made, the teacher of drawing-al loyal
Union man-was suspended, and instead
of him teacher of military tactics was
employed. Is he any exception to the
rule which appears to have governed the
Board all alongs Thus. have four teach
ers been removed, and four others put in
their stead, not one of whom will claim
that their sympathies are with the Union
party to-day. Indeed, I very much doubt
that there is not more than one teacher in
the Public Schools of this city that will
claim it. But as Mr.. Bien could not
see it, and the Board can have no con-
| Germ whatever with it, the patrons must
bear it, and we will pass it for the present.
But let us look at this report of Mr.. Bien,
and see what it amounts to-. He says it
was at the instance Of the President of our
School Board that the Committee was ap-l
pointed. Was not this superAuous, as
4 the report should speak for itself. He sets
\ out with two strange assertions; !. g. "The
Board received him with good vii" and
gave him access to all their books, papers
etc +, but what use does he make OF these
books and papers. He says they set forth
all the monetary transactions Of the Board.
and he is satisfied. Now very small
monetary transaction, though it be not set
forth, sometimes satisfies man very well
indeed. AT this point hemakes no figures
but only says he is satisfied. save and ex-
] cept they have raised some salaries, which
/ he thinks unwarranted, and also thinks