Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-03-01
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.
- ANNUAL RRRORT
or tho Storey County superintendent
Of Public Instruction.
Hon, A, F. White, Superintendent Of Pn
struction for the State of Nerddd:

the luf0TnlutO0 III IekhTu 10 Iut ISSClpbo hhA nv
Sursements or school moneys in this county. for
what purposes expended, the amount OF cash IN inc
hands OF the County Treasurer. the names OF the
teachers 81 sm IaSyis , Inc GimG 81, o. ., sSeo Svcr aGS t al.
tendance, an abstract from the reports OF the Census
school Marshal. School Trustees, Teachers. and
such general Information as the school Law REQUIRES;
suggestion. In this connection. may not be out OF
place.
the special school law Of November. 1862, which ex:
empted Storey county from the school law approved
November, 1861, under which the Storey county
Board Of Education was organized. and worked with
great efficiency for nearly three years. This change
abolished the old Board OF Education and brought
our schools under the provisions OF the new law,
which was poorly adapted to meet the wants ofthis
small but comparatively thickly populated county.
The schools Of this county were placed under my
supervision on tho 10Th day OF May, last past. l
found the county. which formerly consisted Of but
who, BY O decision OF the Supreme Court, held the
office Of County Superintendent without legal ALL
thority-into four School Districts, two OF which,
from q pauclty OF population, could not maintain II
school for q time sufficient to entitlc them to draw
the funds, distributed by the State Board Of Educa-
ton, without resorting TO district taxation; though
one Of these districts embraced the extensive Re-
ductlon Works Of the Gould & Curry Mining Com
pany, and seven or eight Quartz Mllls-having an
amount OF taxable property, the school fund from
support q fiour1shing school for the entire year. Con-
sidering SO much Of the action OF my predecessor as
illegal, that divided the county Into four districts, l
restored the anne TO one School District, with q View
OF making the schools moro efficient. by bringing
them under one management, and appointed for
School Trustees for Storey School District, MessrS.
Louis FcusIer. u. o. Addison and 3. ii. Robinson.
three gentlemen well known for their public spirit,
energy OF character, business capacity, and devotion
to the interest and prosperity OF popular education.
These gentlemen addressed themselves at once 10
the important work Of enlarglng, repairing, renOrat-
Inc, ventllatlng and furnishing those school houses,
which were constructed or lifted Temporarily Tor
- Nn lEsD nHI 1874 .rlNl Ia lln that
they would soon be displaced by more commodlous
and permanent school ediflces. These improve
ments were attended with considerable expense, but
were Indlspensably necessary. Their labors have
been arduous. They have already accomplished
very much, but much moro remains 10 be accom-
pllshcd. The result Is. the Board OF Education has
now eleven school rOoms. which arc comfortable.
| neat, spacious, well lighted and well ventilated, and
equal to the school demands OF the present, and will
probably serve q good purpose for a few years In the
future. These houses have yard room, which, In
this city, arc fenced In and covered, In part, by sheds
TO protect the pupils from rain and sun. The Board
own oil these school houses with the exception Of
two. Two of these arr well constructed. hard finish.
cd buildings. The school furniture consists OF two
hundred and ten chairs and single mahogany desks,
for tho accommodation OF the more ADVANCED pupils,
The balance Of the school rooms In the County are
furnished with neat and convenient desks, by which
the smallest pupils have comfortable seats, ana by
means OF which can use their states without incon
| venIrncc. II Is bIfe 10 affirm that there are not on
the Pacific coast, San Francisco not excepted, mort
comfortably furnished rooms than those OF Storey
/ county, inc COTps OF teachers eWplOyCu VIII COM
| pare ~tavorably with any In other cities. Under theIl
administration the schools are rapidly risinr In pub
lie estimation. Though the population OF the county
Is diminishing, the schools have Increased about j
per cent, and are rapidly augmentlng In numbers
Two new schools have been organized, and l M
happy 10 be able 10 report that our schools are IN
healthy and tourlshing condition. The Board o
| Education employ q singing master, who devotei
| himself entirely 10 the work OF instrncting the pupil
in all the schools In the county. IN vocal music. IN,
influence upon the scholars has been OF q softeninI
and subdulng character. This enterprise thus ia
has worked charmlngly.
The county school tax for ls6i and ls65 was lNct
by the Board OF County Commissioners at Is cent
| on each 500 of surface taxable property In the coun
ty-a tax hardly equal TO the wants OF this depart
we shall probably he able to maintain the schools II
the county through the year.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
District School Libraries constitute ono OF tn
most efficient Ruxlliaries to our Public Schools tina
can be employed. Their Importance. when wisrl
selected and JudlclOusly managed. can not be easlL
over estimated. There are books admirably adapt
| ed, both In style and thought, to every grade Q
mind, rich In Information, moral lessons and religion
instruction. untalnted with scctarian bias. whcI
ever these libraries have been successfully estat
llshed they have awakened and cultivated n splrl
for reading. and have essentially modified the char
| acter Of those districts for good. IL the Legislatur
would offer the Trustees Of each School District
premium Of my cents for each person. between 81!
d"na,Ions in cash should double that sum, and 10 b
aided thereto. ! feel confident that In less than on
year from the passage OF that Act, there would b
reading matter for the little folks In every promlnen
| School District In the State, ~insuring pleasure AM
profit 10 the pupils. and u rich reward. particular!
In the future. TO the public. One thousand dollar
expended In this way by the State. would produc'
results OF great moment.
VACCINATION.
II Is very important for the continued p%rosperit!
Of -four Public Schools. especially IN own and cities
has demonstrated that there are many parents ant
guardians. abundantly able to lear the small ex
| should remain at home than 10 conform 10 the rule
OF the Board. To Danish children from school OF
account Of parental ~araricc Is contrary to the geniu'
| ofour Public School system: works n hardship boil
to the pupil and the public. and should not be tOler
ated. In such cases II certainly seems just that tn
school authorities should be invested with the powe
10 have such children vaccinated. at the Delinquent
expense, after - days notice by the Clerk Of thu
Board OF School Trustees for the district.
There are children OF INDECENT parents who should
bo yaccinated at the public expense. In these case
the county should bear the burden, as IL Il for TN
Interest OF the county that both children and adult
should be qualified 10 successfully resist the loath
some disease Of small pox.
NEGRO, INDIAN AND M0NGoLIAS CHILDREN.
Some law more efficient than now exists. shoulS
be framed, TO secure educational facilities TO the chill
dren Of negroes, Indians and Mongolians. 4 sever
penalty Is attached to any district that Will adml
ssi sESoo Z, az sn ih E. s snS pLSSSsn'SiTS r nSy school 4 iT DlstriS
even by q unanimous vote OF Its citizens. the RICH
10 admit one OF these unfortunatcs. The California
School Law. OF which ours In It's principal features
Is a transcript, has been. ] believe. 50. far modified
to meet the advancing spirit OF the age, US to rcpea
this penalty.
seven negro, thirteen Indian and fifteen monaghan
| children In this county,. between six and eighteen
years OF age. The Board OF Education have eXpcnd
cd much. both OF time and earnest labor, 10 organic
| a Public School for their benefit; but there are mu
tual prcIudices existing Of one race against another
almost. iG not quite, rs strong as that OF the siiperio
race, which bolts the doors of educational hall
| against them all; but thus far, have been unable I,
accomplish their purpose, without mourning a mlcl
greater outlay OF money than the occasion, In thei
| Judgment, seemed TO justify. From the organization
| OF the Territory TO the present time the property 0
the negro has been taxed for the support OF Publl'
| Schools. The Assessors books. for lS9, show tina
| the taxable property Of the colored peopleO OF Virginia
City. for that year. amounted to the sum OF Ss2,oo
| Upon this amount q school tax Of two.iths Of on,
per cent. WAS paid into the County School Fund
selfrespcct. II not our sense Of Justice. should coun
sci us to terminate or modify this system Of wrong
IMPORTANCE or EDUCATION.
The genius OF our institutions rests upon the pop
| ular will. The great highway OF the multitude cal
be illumIned only BY a system OF popular education
The Public School system, as now understood
tional facilities 10 all the children Of the State, ire,
| spective OF condition or class-is emphaticaily az
American system. II Is the hope. and should %
s sSsB D5is % . Sf Sr ,S sSSn% }scii,,i I. i sae ne Ssa sSll i %o tSsS
certainly the children are under obligation 70 tmc
State to avail themselves OF these Invaluable iaSil.
ties. Rights and duties are CO relative. ing ~ p tgnn.
NhllAlO oIlpNu w ahV" e"g
rance or letters. Ignorance Is the natural enemy 70
society, II generates and carries with II an IN
| healthy and contagious atmosphere. Vastly HloIe IN
furious TO society, and more 70 oe arsaaeu v iISn
are so strongly guarded against, by all governments
by q perfect system OF most stringent sanitary resu'
The School Department is the most important in
It's conservative influence Of any branch OF the Slate
Goyernment-not In cure. but In prevention, inc
power OF the State for all the purpose OF good aug
ments with the growing Intelligence OF the people
composing Il. In the train OF ignorance ioLow ais,
Courts testify against Ignorance with an elo9uence
and logic that should not pass unheeded. wisdom.
the fruit Of education. brings security andpeace,
Tho schoolmaster conserves-lgnorance DESTROYS.
tain schools and schoolmasters than criminal Courts
and criminal onicers--to construct School. Academy
and University buildings, than prisons. penitentla.
rlcs and gIbbets. As the morning dew disappears
sun, 20 recedes crime with Its necessary appliances
in those communities vltallzed with q comprehen.
sive education, softened by moral and religious In
duenccs. The recent rebclllon-the greatest war oil
mature graves, and consumed the earnings Of the
present and past generations. and mOrtgaged the
labor Of generations u"nbOrn-wouli probably not
have occurred had the worth md importance OF the
ted. and his presence and influence been invoked in
every part Of our Federal Union. How forcibly, In
this connection, is illustrated the truth Of the pro.
verb. that Prevention Is better than cure" These
great truths should inspire US to cherish our Public
Schools as the life and hope OF the State. and our
Legislature should give Ioyiully for their support.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
With the great fact staring us in the face, that
nine.tenths OF the present generation OF children In
our State will be entirely dependent upon our Public
Schools for their education THAT more than four.
aths Of this number will be drawn into the various
chalnRlA of lahOf hnf0Fa they Hhall attain IN fnftFfa.n