Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-01-14
GIG

Teachers IN tho pubic SCHOOLS navo
for several years noted the fact that
there is . falling OF in the standard OF
scholarship in the various departments.
This is most marked in the higher class
es. It frequently happens that pupils
who have struggled through the various
grades up to the High School. fail in
their examination for promotion. Oh
srs who succeed in getting through are
unable to sustain themselves in their ad-
vanced position. and. falling behind.
their teachers are compelled to degrade
them.
In o recent communication to the En-.
.srpris. Principal Gray. Of the Virginia
High School. called attention to these
facts. and made an appeal to parents.
asking them 10 join the teachers in an
eudsavor to restrain and reclaim the
rising generation from habits inevitably
resulting 90 deplorably.
In his excellent article Professor Gray
did not 60 quito far enough. he shsuld
have stated the nature Of some Of the
evil habits that 20 seriously interfere
with school work. More than that. he
ought to have suggested some practical
means OF eifecting . reform.
The writer OF this does not claim 10
have % extensive information upon the
subject a. would naturally come to .
practical teacher actively engaged In the
school-room, but has noted at least one
psrnicious habit among the boys Of the
public schools which will in q measure
explain their loss Of vitality and mental
activity.
Cigarettes!
This word explains the whole matter.
10 far as the boys are concerned.
The habit OF cisarete-smOkius has
spread so generally among the school.
boys Of Gold Hill and Virginia that there
are few exceptions to the rule. In fact.
the lad who does not smoke cisarsttss 10
rather looked down upon by his com.
panious, and the urehin who is most eI-
pert In rolling ard smoking these things
10 the most highly esteemed among his
fellows.
The natural consequence is that BY
the time the average boy has reached the
age OF fifteen he is q confirmed smoker
OF cigsisties. This means an ability TO
take the smoke through the mouth into
the lungs and blow 1t out through the
nostrils. Here is the point where the
most serious part OF the trouble comes
In. The act Of inhalation is the cause
OF the most serious injury sustained by
the juvenile smokers. II they would
simply smoke tobacco without inhaling
the fumes the consequences would not
be 90 balsiul. BY inhaling the smoke
the lungs become quickly affected. tho
system poisoned with nicotine, the
nerves shattered. energy destroyed and
the brain psralyzsd.
These are the reasons why certain
boys fall behind in their classes.
Naturally. the question which pre-
ssnts itself to thinking parents Is whether
or not there is some remedy possible.
!. really seems that there ought to be.
A combined effort on the part OF parents
and teachers would certainly effect much
good. even IL 1t be not possible to en-
tirely root out the evil. Let there be
organized o "Socisiy for the Prevention
Of Cigarstte-smokiug by Boys" aud let
the members enter upon their duties in
the case like earnest men and women.
II il Q matter which loudly demands
action. Communications and news
paper articles will accomplish nothing
unless they prove an incentive to action
upon the part Of parents and philan-
~thropists. 1t is impossible to snumerats
here all the degradation sntailed by this
noxious habit. Tobacco-smoking 10 any
form Is bad enough, but when cigars
and pipes arc used tho smoke Ia not in
hailed and the results aro not 80 serious.
The users OF the weed in that form are
also generally OF more mature sge.
The paper commonly used for making
cigarettes. is almost universally medicaisd
with opium. and the tobacco is mixed
with the sams drug. It has heretofore
come to be recognized that cigarette
smoking leads to opium. smoking almost
rs naturally as . sans.plank leads to q
ship. opium.smoking entails inevitable
ruin TO mind and body. II 10 the certain
precursor Of lsziness. poverty. vssrancy
and the peniteutiary.
Parents who do not wish to see their
children degraded and disgraced should
1t once take steps to make an organized
effort to suppress tho habit Of cigarette
smoking. Let there be no delay.
There has been . great deal Of abuse