Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-08-30
Our coMrrLsony EpucArrox.

There arc only 1--WE States in the
Union that have laws making. education
compulsory. Massachusetts,, Connect.
cut. New Hampshire. Michigan and
Nevada each have statutes which are
Smea to compel children to attend some
KIDD OF school. In each OF these States.
excepting our own. the laws are enforced
with good effect. It il found that the
percentage Of illiteracy is growing less.
Compulsory education has begun to
exert n salutary influence upon the
morality and intelligence Of the people
that constitute the commonwealth. The
benefits will not emily be rsapsd by this
generation, but will b doubly realized
in the generation that Is to come. when
the inhabitants and voters Of the States
shall more nearly approach the standard
Of intelligent citizenship. We need to
advance no argument in support Of the
usefulness Of schools. That Is . fact
that Is patent to every hsht.thinking
man. A system Of common schools
has been established in every State.
The moral right to tax property for
educational purposes rests upon the
ground that schools have become more
necessary than armies for the defense
and preservation Of the State. Our
Government may sometimes think that
IL Is q stroke Of policy. at the same time
that II 10 one Of economy to cut Cd APP
preparations for the army and navy. But
not 80 with our schools. The Govern
msnt never feels too poor TO support
them. Our own State Of Nevada has
never sought to abridgs their field
Of usefulness. We pay our teachers a.
high salaries. comparatively speaking.
as any State In the Union. We draw
money from tho public funds TO support
tho schools. aud in turn We ask tho
public to reap the benefits Of tho gsnsr-
ssity of tho State. Our lawmakers
found that all tho children did not at
tend the schools. The Legislature en-
acted u law making attendance at the
schools compulsory. The law has been
upon the statute books OF the State for
four years and nero, but prastica lily 1t
has been q dead letter. II has never
been in.orcsd. for rsassns that we
are unable TO give. Its instructions
To school officers and parents
are very simple. In plain words
il says that ali children between the ages
Of eight and fourteen shall attend soms
school OF least sixteen weeks during the
year. eight Of which shall DO consscu'
tive. It makes it obligatory upon the
school trustees to compare the names OIL
the census roll with those upon the
school record, and then to prosecute the
parents or guardians whose children arc
not enrolled in 4 school Of the district.
The law provides that these parents or
guardians shall be punishable for their
neglect with q hns Of not less than fifty
dollars for the first offsnse. II parents
are not able to furnish school supplies
for the children. tho trustees are in
structsd to supply them. No law can
be palmer than this u upon compul.
sorry education. and We fail to nee upon
what grounds II is not enforced. 1t has
never been declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court, and we doubt
whether IL could DO ~ declared by that
tribunal.
Our schools will open next Monday.
There has never been seventy.fve per
cent. OF our school population in at
tendance at the schools. II this law IL
enforced. as it should be. there Is NO
reason why almost every child OF Gold
HIN should not be in attendance. Two
years ago tho School Trustees made n
slight attempt at its enforcement. John
Y. Paul. as y special officer. compelled
many negligent parents to send their
children TO some school. He died while
in the midst Of his labors. aud since
then NO one has taken the matter In
hand. We call notonly upon the School
Trustees of Gold Hill, but the school