Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-04-08
THE PRIMARY PUPILS.
Is IL Not Better to Have Tw'
Teachers for Them?

Is 1t Not Better to Have Two
Teachers for Them?
The SENTINEL gives place to the follow
ing communication from Father" on
the advantages of the halliday system"
of school teaching. His suggestions are
worthy Of consideration:
EUREKA New, April Z, 1882.
EDITOR SENTINEL: There are q great
many little children in the lowest Primary
Department of our public school. l I'm
told that there are about 30. They are
such a crowd that they cannot be taught
satisfactorily altogether in one room ct
one time. In view of this fact the Trus-
tees, / am informed, have been discussing
the situation, to determine what to do
about it, whether to hire another teacher
for the little folks and divide them be-
tween two teachers, or to have but the one
teacher, and teach one-half OF the chill
dren in the morning n the other half
in the afternoon. Now, sir, l do not
think much of this halliday system"
1t is better than no schooling
at all, and that is about as much as you
can say for it. After children have been
started in their books they ought to be kept
at work continuously. While their minds
are fresh they ought to be kept going ahead
vigorously. There is great reason for this.
Many of the children have not long to at
tend school, and they should be taught as
rapidly as possible while they may attend.
Also, they lose interest in their studies if
they are not kept employed; they become
careless and neglectful, and they are apt
to be more injured BY a half days idleness
than benefited by a half day at work. And
besides, sir, you know how important it is
to be thoroughly started in a course Of
education. Children who begin their
studies in a loose and shiftless way, such
as is induced by the "half-day system"
are not unlikely to contract a vicious habit
of mind, and are liable never to derive the
full advantage of the education offered
them because they have not sufficient in
terest in the beginning Of their studies to
awake and keep alive their energies.
l know that we are pretty heavily taxed,
but l do not think this a good argument
against having another teacher, whose SER
vices are SO much needed. The additional
expense will be very slight. The Commits.
sioners have ordered a tax levy Of 40 per
cent for school purposes, which / think
this, too. The people Of Eureka, among
whom this tax is distributed so that it falls
lightly on them separately, cannot be much
distressed by an additional cent or two per
capita in order to have another teacher,
who is so much needed to instruct the lit
tie children Of the community. This sort
Of tax is like that of postage. 1t is not I'M
popular because it is light, and its advan-
tages are very great. Every right feeling
person in Eureka is interested in the edu-
cation Of the young, and is willing to con-
tribute to promote it, those who have no
children attending school as well as the
parents themselves. More than this, pri-
mary scholars should receive the first
consideration. Our State law says as
much, l think. Certainly it is reasonable
they should. Tuition in the public
schools is TO a great extent an institution
Of charity and the donors are better salts
fed if the rudiments are looked after first,
if the little children are thoroughly taught
" to read, write and cipher" 1 thought
| would just drop you a note on this very
important subject. 1t is one of prime i'm
portsnce to us all in the community and
everybody is interested in it. Thought it
would do no harm to call the attention of
the School Trustees to the matter in this
public way. I have every confidence in
them and l believe they will 90 what is
right and best for the interest and welfare
Of the children. Yours, FATHER.