Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1882-02-18
NEVADA
POOR BOOHER.

Young Booher was undoubtedly
indiscreet, but it has not been shown
that he really Geant any harm il his
utterances during the debate. The
beginning of his indiscretion was in
taking part at all in a debate on that
subject or any other with his own
pupils. This, under the circumstances,
was not very much to be blamed, as
it is the custom for school teachers
who wish to hear themselves speak,
and who loYe to air their oratory, to
take part in school children's debates,
and acquire fame and win admiration
= by swapping the youngsters under
mire of facts spread over them and
their arguments by u multitude of
gestures. A statement made by the
teacher is not to be disputed, and
debate in which he takes part is usu-
= ally nothing but the assertion of his
opinions; the decision the submission
of the scholars to his authority and
superior knowle 1ge. The teacher
should hold aloot from school de-
bates, as his greater experience even
without much knowledge, places the
pupils under disadvantage. They
should be allowed to conduct their
own debates, and the only part taken
by the teacher should be to keep
them within proper bounds. Another
objection to the practice of debating
with the scholars is that teacher
whose vanity will lead him into that
kind Of contest is not likely to
have much regard for fair play should
his wits be unable to keep him in the
lead, ana it is q reasonable SUPPOSE
ton that the wits of the argumenta-
tive school teacher will not keep him
much ahead of the average pupil
who is old enough to engage in a
debate. Booher, however, was only
following the example set by older
teachers, and his utterances showing
political bias, although foolish and
out of place in school room, were
but in imitation of his associates,
who frequently use the school plat
form to ventilate their personal preju-
dices. Had he been old enough to
join the Confederate army the wire
edge of his devotioA to the Lost
Cause would be worn OF oy contact
with Northern soldiers, and he would
now be old enough to know better
than to make the school rostrum q !
political platform, even temporarily.
Although indiscreet to the extent of
permitting and taking part in politi-
cal debates IN the school room, he |
has shown that it was not vainglo.
rious desire for prominence and noto-
riety, as during the newspaper dis
cussion of his case he has kept mod
estly silent, where those who set him
the example of measuring wit with
pupils would have found ample ex-
cuse for getting into print over their
own signatures, and many grounds
for libel suits at the close of which
the scholars could be made to listen
to an address on the beauties and
benefits of litigation. He apparently
realizes that school teacher should
be an unebtrusive man, and that his
usefulness is curtailed in proportion
to the frequency with which his name
is mentioned, and an impartial locker
on is compelled to credit him with
not endeavoring to make capital for
future speculation out of his present
unpleasant notoriety. The charges
OF undue severity in Furnishing chill
dren saver of persecution, and he
has not tried to reap harvest OF
maudlin sympathy. 1t is evident
that he has some confidence in his
Own ability and does not intend to
thrive upon persecution nor fear OBJ
Dcurity should the persecution cease.