Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-02-05
GOLD HILL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The American Plat aad Lower Gold
Hill sehseis Disceasinued-rhe
small Childrea % Astsod nus
one Half Of Each Day.


have Of late been beset by many and
grave difficulties, which have been CON-
sidsrsd in every possible light with the
view OF finding the best and most salts
factory solution. The difficulties which
presented themselves were not only how
to continue the schools o heretofore
constituted, but how to furnish more &C.
commodations for the scholars. The
matter would have been easy enough OF
solution with plenty Of money in the
treasury; but this. unfortunately. was
not the case.
Night before last the Board met and
acted. That they acted for the best il
undoubtedly true; but that they chose
the o satisfactory course may be
questionable; for frequently that which
Is best 10 far from being most satisfac-
tory. They closed the American Flat
school with its Is scholars. and also that
in Lower Gold Hill. They also deter
mined to allow the small children to at
tend but q half OF each day. In q
financial point Of view the closing OF
the two schools VA about a. near .
necessity ~ people come in this country.
and the latter determination Ii unques.
tionably and under all the circumstances
Q wise one.
The risor OF the winter Is well nigh
over; and the scholars who have been
attending the closed schools can now
very easily come to the Central buildings
or the Divide schools. Where they
attended they were deprived OF all the
benefits Of graded schools and could not
possibly receive the attention from the
teachers which they will get in those
schools to which they will now be
assigned. In schools OF mixed grades
the teachers are compelled to form
almost a. many classes a. they have
scholars and, however industrious, can
not bes,ow that attention on each pupil
which is absolutely demanded. The
graded schools are run on q sort OF
division of.labor principle; hence the
teachers have fewer things to attend to
and can attend to those few things
better.
The fact that the scholars from the
discontinued schools will have the ben.
eft Of better and more thorough instruc.
ton than they could possibly get Ia Q
school OF mixed grade will more than
compensate for all OF the Inconvenience
to which they will be put In the greater
distance they will be compelled to 90
order to reach their schools.
Any one who knows anything about
the care aud training Of small children,
must acknowledge that two or three
hours per day are enough to confne
them in school rooms. SO obvious is
this fact that in all large cities the small
children attend school but half OF each
day. There are 20. 900 Of this class In
Chicago, about a. many In st. Louis
and nearly Us many In San Francisco.
Not only do these small children learn
faster when they attend school . limited
number OF hours each day. but they are
healthier. There Is no good reason,
then. why any n should be dissatisfied
with this action Of the Gold Hill Board.
Il may be true that some parents send
their children to school to get them out
OF the way. and for this reason may mud
fault with the present arrangement ; but
that is no reason why the present course
il NOT pre-sminently proper and decided
ly best. Schools are not intended for muir
series and should not be used a. such.
Besides. teachers are hired to educate
children, not to relieve parents OF the
duty OF nursing or taking care oil them.
A Q Measure OF economy the action
Of the Board 10 no less commendable.
The two schools discontinued cost about
$3.50 per month. II continued and ad-
ditional schools opened to accommodate
the children all day an increase oil out.
lay OF about $3.50 more per month would
have been required, besides providing
the buildings. Here Is $500 per month
saved-or $4,000 per yesr-to the tax.
payers; and at the end OF the year the
children will be better Of than II the
retrenchment had not been made.
It 10 because Of the foregoing and
other reasons which 1t Is not necessary
to mention here. that the action OF the
Board should DO not only acquiesced In,
but firmly sustained by all.