Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-04-24

bled at the Third Ward School-house,
Virginia, at 10 A. N. today. The meet
ing was called to order by Trustee Hut.
faker. OF Virginia. who presided, - Pro-
lessor Young wished to be on the floor
as o teacher and to take part in the dis
cushions Of the question Of establishing
uniform grades for all the schools Of the
county.
1t was understood. % appeared from
the discussions today. that representa-
tive teachers from each grade were to DO
present from Gold Hill and Virginia to
illustrate their grades and the methods
OF teaching In each place. the grade BY
an essay. the method orally. For some
reason the Gold Hill teachers had not
been required to prepare their essays
and this brought about q hitch.
The Importance Of the subject to DO
considered and the interest in the Illus
t~rations expected to be made Of methods
brought all the teachers out. and among
the auditors were Hon. d. r. Sessions,
State Superintendent. Prof. Howe OF
Carson. Prof. Van wagenen Of Silver
City, Prof. Bray Of Dayton, Prof.
Flint Of Virginia. and other teachers, be-
sides others who wished to hear and see
for themselves.
After some preliminary talk which
was as gravsly entered upon as nsgotia-
tions OF q peace conference, the outlin-
ing OF the work in the Fourth Primary
grade was decided to be in order. Be-
fore, however. Q commencement wa
made more talk was INDUCED in. The
teachers OF Gold Hill were to take the
initiative and Virginia to follow. both
showing methods and the progress made
under it.
The Gold Hill army was to maneuvre
under Professor Young and that OF vir.
Rinia under Professor Baker. Ten min.
utes were then allowed In which to
arrange the schedule. These ten min.
utes wore the source Of more talk and
productive Of charges and counter
charges, and the time for the represent
alive Of the News to withdraw arrived
and nothing had been accomplished.
The Virginia Board, . majority OF
which was present. requested the essays
prepared by the Virginia teachers,
whether read or unread. to be delivered
to them for future reference In an en-
deavor to establish q uniform grade,
etc., for the schools Of the county.
The News representative had the sat
isfaction OF . glance at the essays Of
Prof. Baker Of Virginia and OF Prof.
Young OF Gold Hill. and perused por-
tons Of both. Prof. Young devoted
space to the proposed uniformity OF
grades. The importance Of the subject
was hrst touched upon. That Is evil
dent to all.
The essay did not attempt TO discuss
how the grade should be brought about,
nor by whom. Neither in n day. nor
n month could Q definite unchange.
able plan Of the work be arranged on
paper. II required experience and caro-
full study, months and years OF attention
to bring the system to anything like per-
lection.
Public schools arc OF the people, by
the people, and for the people. Each
locality has Its peculiar ideas. and 1t Is
impossible. however perfect u System Of
instruction may be. 10 transplant the sys-
tenn entire from one community to
another. Nations, States and individ.
uals have systems. What 10 favored in
one place 10 not tolerated In another.
In some Of the cities, modern languages,
drawing. music. aud the industrial arts
are prominent features in school mat.
tiers; here they have few supporters and
have received no especial encourage.
ment.
Our community Is composed Of pecu.
liar people having peculiar require
mems, and o very different curriculum
Of study 10 needed to what prevails In
Germany. Scotland. or in many places
in the East. But there 10 no reason
why Storey county should have q
peculiar course OF study for each Of her
two School Districts.
By actual count there are at present
in Gold Hill $50 pupils who have
attended the Virginia schools. At least
an equal number have been transferred
from Gold Hill schools to Virginia. Dill.
ference in work. difference in textbooks,
different grades. difference in methods
OF teaching. have retarded the progress
Of all these.
The essay then advocated certain
changes in the course OF study OF the
schools and methods Of imparting
instruction. II was not examined FUR.
Their.
Professor Bakers essay wa headed
1--WE Teach too Much" The tendency
at teachers meetings was for the MEM
bers present to resolve themselves into q
mutual admiration society. 1t was un
popular to find fault and the ''you tickle
me, I tickle you" Of the occasion was
proverbial.
Mr.. Baker took up the assertion that
children in the public schools are not az
we'll prepared now as they were twenty
years ago for the real duties OF life. At
times and places there was o semblance
Of truth in IL; yet books have been mul.
tiplied on teachers desks and in pupils
hands, a. well a. the costs Of instrus'
ton. Such remarks were usually
laughed at by teachers /; they should
receive . more careful consideration.
While there are many evils creeping
into our school work-such a. the blind
adherence to method rather than trying
to reach certain results; . zeal to prepare
pupils to pass the 6nal examination
rather than to give them mental SUBJ
stance; . rigidity Of grading; . cultiva-
ton OF memory rather than perception;
ar inveterats riding Of hobbies; q cater.
ing to false public sentiment. etc.-ths
Professor thought the greater evil block
ing the way to proper education OF the
masses to be multiplicity OF studies
aud the chAngesblsnsss Of teaching"
New methods Of teaching this or that
branch vas eloqusntly advocated by
riders Of individual hobbies, and
every innovation vas welcomed
AZ reform. With . flourish
Of ,rumpsts and blowing OF horns II IL
.l.... . vovsl rad 10 learning. The