The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1908-03-16
NEW EDUCATIONAL
MOVEMENT IN NEVADA
General Interest Manifested BY
Educators and Citizens In
Improved Schools

In our last issue we promised to give
a synopsis Of the movement toward o
uniform system of education in Nevada,
and something definite in regard to
what is expected to be the outcome.
The sentiment seems now to have be.
come sufficiently crystallizsd to enable
those who are working in this direction
to see clearly what the aim should be,
and the meeting held in Eureka last
Friday evening under the direction of
Principal +. e. McLucas and Deputy
Superintendent A. b. Liahtfoot showed
beyond question that our State does not
intend to lag behind In this important
field of human endeavor.
In the course Of his discussion Of edu-
cational work Mr.. Lightfoot made the
statement that nearly every high
salaried position which carries with it a
high educational requirement is filed
by some one educated outside Of Me-
vada. and gave as the cause for this
condition the fact that the schools of
this State have not educated the
young people of Nevada to fill these
positions. II this statement is true
and a careful investigation of the facts
shows that it is true-a stronger con.
demnation of the system that has been
in vogue. and a greater demand for re.
form cannot be pronounced. The need
was recognized by the last Legislature
when laws which practically demand a
reorganization of our schools were
passed.
The first step taken In this direction
was the appointment of deputy superin.
tendents OF public instruction to take
the place Of the ex-officio county super
intendents. Immediately upon assam
ing their offices the deputies set about
developing a uniform course Of study
for the primary schools. This was for
INFLATED, and a preliminary course Of
study placed in the hands of each teacher
in the State last November. An eighth
grade examination will be held in all
of the schools this Spring. and the
successful candidates will be given a
diploma by the State which will admit
the holder to any high school in Me-
vada without further examination.
Iu order to secure the largest possible
measure of uniformity in the work done
IN the primary schools. and to effect a
more efficient supervision OF the schools,
the Department Of Public Instruction
has devised a system of monthly reports
to be made by each teacher showing the
work done during the month. A uni
form system Of examinations for all
grades upon questions furnished by the
State will be put in operation next year,
when a complete course of study will
have been issued.
The meeting at Exc was held for the
purpose Of discussing means by which
a uniform course of study for the high
schools can be made to meet the pecu-
liar needs of Nevada in the best possible
manner. but with as little change in the
work now being done as can be aud
maintain a high school system as good
as that of other States. The unani-
nous opinion Of those in charge Of the
high schools is in favor of n four-year
course of study which will prepare
students for entering any of the profess
sional schools. and give them a stand
ard high school education.
There is another conference Of a COM
mittee composed of 10. the five deputy
superintendents. five University profess
sors, and five high school principals
elected at the preliminary meetings to
be held in Reno April 10. and a final
meeting is called for some time in May.
1t is expected that a course Of study
will be agreed upon at this final meet
ing. and steps taken to have it printed
ready to be put in operation next Fall
when the schools open.
The two members of this committee
from Eureka have expressed themselves
in favor of making the study of Eng
fish the basis of high school work, and
OF cutting the number of subjects taught
sufficiently to secure the utmost thor
oughness in the work undertaken. They
also favor reviews in U. S. history,
grammar, and arithmetic in the high
school so as to prepare the students for
teachers examinations. and to give
them further drill than can be afforded
them in the grades in these important