The Nome nugget., 1903-04-01
MONIES SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Just now when an election for new school board is pending it mi ght not be out of place 10 discuss briefly, school matters as applied to Nome. The acts of the first school board have passed into history and need not here be dwelt upon. TIE NUGGET had casion critcise their acts, and justly, for subse quent results have proved that the criticisms nduged in were entirely warranted. The present school board inherited the of their predecessors that is 10 the first board had built school house in the dead of winter and partially equipped il. To their sue was bequeathed the duty of making it hab itabe so that the health of the children might not be injured. This done at considerable expense. \ school system had also been naugurated which it deemed wise continue. In justice the first school board be it stated, that that system was a compre hensiye one, and quite equal to any that could be found in towns of similar size i'll the states Indeed it superior to any. The present board continued the system they found established. and they added it. with additional expense But if they erred, have no hesitation in saying that 1t not done wiliully or in stiff-necked manner. Ii to have q school system in this far northand that is equal superior to that found elsewhere in th United States is wrong, then this school board has erred. If the and daughters of the hardy pioneers, who have made, and are making, this geeat northland to pro- duce golden harvest not entitled to the best eouCatlonal IaCllltleS lnc!r children, then the school board have discharged the duty entrusted to them if there good and sufficient why the schools of Alaska should be inferior to those of other and more favored portions of this great repub lc then the parents of Nome children and the chil- dren themselves should protest against the blessed privileges accorded them in Nome in obtaining the foundaton at least of education that will in future years equip them in partial way to embark in the str of ia if given with grudging hand by congress for the edu cation of the youth of Alaska, then it were better that the children of Nome should be content with the bare rudiments of an education.
 We are foolish enough to believe that in the free public school system of the United States is to be found the genesis of American liberty, the strength of the republic and its promise endurance so long as time shall last We also hold that it is the duty of the state to educate the children the state This then being the case why shall the people of Alaska not have the best educational facilities for their ctl- dren that money will secure? The schools of Nome as wo have said, will compare more than favorablv with those of any other section of the United States Is there man in Nome who would impair their efficiency at the expense of the children of Nome? We do not believe there is any such to be found
 The law provides that a certain amount of the money accruing from United States government
 licenses shall be set aside for the support of schools in Alaska Al then, that any good citizen should demand, and he has right to demand it, is that the money should be used economically and judciously Without desiring to either extol the present school board for the work that has been done or to reflect upon any citizen who aspires to position upon the board, want to say right here that we believe the schools of Nome should be maintained at the highest point of efficiency; that the greatest privileges should be extended to the chldrel of the northland that they should be made to feel that te right cure an education is theirs free and unettered With the dipanution of funds the present hlgh standard