The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1891-08-29
fco-zunie8ted-l
Our COMMON SCHOOLS.

social or polfiical ethics winch mas
occupied the public mind, or which
has aroused greater degree Of public
in.eres. than that OF common school
education.
That the system adopted in tie
Tinted States : one Of the best-if
nos the very besi-at present existing
is conceded b a. other nations. Il
i Al acknowledged fact that other
nations are slow in adopting our sys-
Ten. Baf II ne have few imitators,
We have fewer competitors in the ex-
eeIenee OF Cur common schools, al
thonxh the sane can scarcely said OF
our high schools and universities,
With, perhaps, the single exception
Of Harvard.
= However, i is not Of the UNIVERSE
ues that propose to speak in this
article. d. Of institutions Of vastly
greater importance 20 the public in
general and the people Of Nevada in
particular = namely, the common
schools Of the State. And here | viii
safe that the people Of Nevada de-
serve The highest praise for the spirit
Of enterprise they evince in all mat
ters pertaining 70 the welfare Of the
SAFE and chiefly that Of education.
Notwithstanding the decadence of
population and public wealth, as
connected with the mining industry,
which constituted the chief source OF
revenue Of the State, the public
schools are still fostered with degree
OF Interest unsurpassed in its palmi.
est days.
The present school laws are so
framed that every little district, how
ever Isolated. in which half a dozen
children reside, may claim its quota
Of school money and employ teacher
for al least six months in each year.
As TO whether this is the best method
under existing circumstances there
may be differences Of opinion. Some
people claim that the schools should
be centralized in the towns, properly
graded, and a staff of trained teachers
employed. But, as this course, if fol-
lowed. shuts out the ranching popu-
lalion, who are generally large tax
payers, lis practicability is ap
parent.
The recent action of the School
Board in neighboring town ia de-
Gliding that none but trained teachers
should be employed, and the dismiss
sal Of their present staff, IL exciting
A great amount of discussion aud i'll
feeling, not only among those imme-
diately concerned. but among the
public in general Many think that
It will have the effect Of ,iiscouraging
the pupils and rendering them indif-
ferent 10 their studies, knowing that
foreign teachers are preferred to the
home product.
These will, however, remember
that the great object in education as
well as in political government is TO
do the ssgreatest amount OF good TO
the greatest number" and / deem it
very poor economy to subserve the
interests OF the children to those of
the teacher, whether trained or un-
trained, unless he or his work is equal
10 the best that can be obtained for
the money,
In cases where "Normal School"
graduates cannot be found to fill va
cant positions, would suggest that
the State should adopt uniform sys-
tenn OF examination for every county
In the State, and that no applicant
should receive a certificate whose
average is under 90 per cent.
The axiom that "large bodies move
slowly is true OF any great reforma-
ton, whether in education, religion,
or politics, consequently we cannot
hope TO obtain the maximum of ex-
cellence at single bound. AS the
remedy for all the abuses, whether
political or educational, lies in the
hands of the people, it behooves them
to elect honorable and impartial Off
Gals to public offices, whether as
school trustees, superinteDdents or
teachers.
III we desire 10 retain our intellect
ual supremacy over all other nations
we must apply ourselves to the
closest investigation of the best meth
DDS which modern science places at
our com mand for the moral and
mental instruction of the youth of
our country, and endeavor TO i'm bue
them with sentiments of loyalty and
heroism worthy of sires martyred on
the altar OF their country's freedom.
Very respectfully,
PHILOMATHIAN.