Gilpin observer., 1908-01-16
NEVADAv|LLE NOTES
NEvADAvILLE SCHOOL NOTES.

ing of the intermediate room. Several
of the little folks were almost frantic
with fear picturing in their minds the
awfulness that seemed likely to follow.
Boys of the grammar grades during
the recent stormy days have been work.
ing faithfully at intermissions trying to
learn the game called Jacks" So far,
not one has been able to get along in
the game sufficiently for to do the alag
ging" stunt, well, the boys say they
do not believe in tagging.
First grade pupils have done 123 words
thus far for the year.
During the past week the primary
teacher has been taking daily doses of
''frignometric functions" to relieve
herself of severe cold. Her affiliation
with the Denver University accounts
for using the above remedy.
Sixth grade pupils are now keenly in
terested in the life of Lincoln. His boy
hood experiences have appealed to them
in way that fascinates; the numerous
incidents connected with his varied vo-
cations in life have no doubt awakened
in them an enduring appreciation of the
mans real bigness in the immediate
world in which he moved.
The aggregate total absence against
all pupils enrolled during the first four
months was 518 days. Seventy-four
days of school were taught during said
time, which makes seven days the av-
erage daily absence from all depart
ments. This amount of daily whole day
absences may not seem extraordinarily
startling to many of the patrons of the
school, but when it is known that more
than two-thirds of the absences were
made by much less than one-third of the
total enrolment, it reveals fact which
is more discreditable to parents of the
absentees than they wish publicly to
shoulder.
The percentage of absences based on
the actual enrolment for each month is
as follows:
September per cent of absences
were made by % per cent of pupils.
October-74 per cent of absences
were made by "a per cent of pupils.
November-75 per cent of absences
were made by "a per cent of pupils.
December-76 per cent of absences
were made by 80 per cent of pupils.
Many parents take the view that their
children are theirs to do with them what
they please so long as they do not beat
them into a helpless pulp, allow them to
go hungry or to go into cold and stormy
weather thinly clad. This assertion is
borne out by facts gained from an in
terview the writer recently had with
certain parents when he called upon
them to inquire into the cause of the
children's absence from school. Says
the mother: 'It is pity that parents
haven't the right to keep their own
children out of school without the teach
er making fuss over it. When went
to school it made no difference to the
teachers whether we were there or not,
but now days it seems that if one of the
children stays out of school a day or two
Us days absent and "a times tardy in
IA days, says the record) the teacher is
ready to make rumpus about it."
Similar instances could be cited, but
this amply illustrates the viewpoint
taken by some of Nevadaville' parents.
Yes, parents, your children are yours
to do as you please with them so long as
you please to do right by them-beyond
this you have no please coming. The
law makes this idea clear both in the
world of labor and society. Most states
have passed laws against the sweat
shop system. In most all mining states
the law makes it clear that man is not
free to work as he might wish to labor.
But the man who goes into the bowels
of the earth to dig for precious metals
or coal, generally takes it upon himself
when above ground to announce that his
life belongs to himself to do what he
pleases with it; that no one has a right
to interfere in any way with his freedom
of choice or action. But the moment
he delivers himself into the hands of his
employer, the law backing him up in his
demand, and rightly so, he is not slow to
inform his employer that unless reason
ably pure air be given him, in the mine
to work in, he will seek job elsewhere.
But the law goes further in its inter-
probation of mems rights relative to
mining. Suppose mine-owner permits
men to work mine of his where foul
air is abundantly present merely because
they who work it do not object because
they feel that they must have the mon-
ey to support needy family despite