Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-03-20
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS.

A recent report made by the Superin-
tendent OF Education, in the province Of
Ontario, Canada, on the state Of popular
instruction in the various countries Of
Europe and America, contains consider
able interesting information as to the
diIercp. systems adopted. This officer
appears to have visited some Of our
Eastern aud Middle States, the British
Islands and thirteen Of the principal
countries Of Continental Europe. In
| Franco, schools are established and
maintained by the joint aid Of the State,
the departments, fees of pupils aud indi-
yidual contributions. The very poor
are exempted from paying school fees.
| These arc called communal Schools"
and while religious instruction is given,
those differing in their religious views
from the majority arc not compelled to
receive it, and ministers Of different
faiths are admitted to visit tho schools
and instruct their respective scholars.
UNCONVENTIONAL schools, however, have
increased, and nrc regulated on the
s,rictest principles of exclusiveness.
They form one-third of the entire num-
Der Of schools. Out of 1885, 900 chill
dren attending the schools, u million
and q half are admitted free of charge.
But their first communion ut church is,
according to this report, the limit Of
their stay at school. This, We judge, is
subject to exceptions and Limitations
not mentioned in the report.
In Prussia, where education is COM
pulsory, the system is mainly denomi-
national, the common schools being
either Protestant or Catholic, but rarely
mixed. \ regular graduation of school
au,horities, from the schoolmaster up
to the minister Of education, exists
throughout the entire kingdom, and the
| whole is under the control Of the Gen.
trail government. Germany appears
pcrhaps moro interested in the subject
of education than any other European
nationality, every small town having
its schools perfectly organized, en-
lowed and inspected. The entire popu-
lation appear to regard the instruction
of the youth rs q matter OF personal
duty, and the highest minds consecratc
their time, labor and means to this OBJ
ject. Holland is also justly praised for
her school system. Hero the religious
instruction is based on Christian ethics,
but does not otherwise trench on con-
trovcrsial ~diNlculties, and all dcnomi-
nations unite in tho same school.
In Belgium popular instruction is not
greatly developed. Thirty-one per cent.
of the militia cannot read or write, and
religions discussions greatly retard the
progress Of instruction. Austria main
tains compulsory education, the parents
being fined for the non-attendance OF
children, and certificates of school in
struction being made essential to APP
premiership or marriage. The English
system is UNCONVENTIONAL, though an
immense number of Independent schools
are now arising. Great changes proba-
bly await her in this rs in many other
important matters of government.
Passing to the United States, the re-
port alludes to an amendment to the
| Constitution of an Eastern State,
adopted in 1855, which the London
Times declares fought to be cmblaz-
oucd on the walls of the chief public
buildings in London, Manchester and
Liverpool, and elsewhere" 1t roads ms
follows /" Every person shall be able
TO read any article of the Constitution,
or any section of the Statutes Of this
| State, before being admitted rs an
elcctor." Tho Times adds, One won
| dcrs how such q law would operate in
England. Suppose we were to prohibit
children from going to work before ten
years of age, absolutely, and further,
We should provide that no one should
| vote at elections or in parish vestrics
unless he could read and, further,
that no parent should receive outdoor
relief unless his children, up to n
certain age, were sent TO school, tho
guardians paying school fees. Might
not these provisions, added to the
strong Inducements which the nature
of almost all employment except agri-
culture, at the present day, carries with
it, to acquire tho elements Of learning,
lead to some sensible improvement in
the attendance ut schools, and clear
the streets, to a great extent, OF those
waits and strays whose time is spent in
selling cigar-lights, or tumbling for
half-pcnce ~
In this the potent fact appears to be
overlooked, that it is primarily the Sc
we're poverty Of the suffering masses Of
Great Britain, that causes the school,
house to DO comparatively vacant, while
the factory is crowded with the young
and tender victims of destitution. It is
hardly probable tina. any large proper
ton of parents in that or any other
country, would willingly sacrifice their
children's best interests for anything
short OF actual necessity.
Az INCIDENT on Sr. PATRlcE's DAY.
As the procession passed Kearny and
Market streets yesterday, a milkman,
who was DESTROYS Of going ahead, at
tempted to drive through an opening in
the line. lie was ordered by II police