Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1910-02-21
Public School Notes
cusSinE

Now that We have closed the work in
the old building. it might be interest
ing to the patrons to know some of the
present conditions of the school.
When the present principal took
charge of the work three years ago last
September there was All enrolment of
about 120 pupils. At present there is
an enrolment of 213. Three years ago
there were Ave teachers while today
there are seven. Three years ago there
were nine children in the eighth grade
while the present enrolment is twenty
six, This will servo to give an idea of
the. gradual growth of the school.
Judging the next three years by the
past three there should be All enrolment
of $50 January, 1918: OF course. there
can be no certainty what the future
will bring. The Western Pacific, that
promised seventy-fiEe children by. Jan
nary l. 1910, has fallen. far short of
that promise-the total enrolment from
that source being but fourteen.
Atno time in several years has there
been, so much. interest manifested as
during the present year. The pupils
have given better attention. to their
stndies, and the attendance has been
all that the most exacting could require.
We enjoy the distinction of being the
first school in the state to establish q
department of manual training. This
is not new thing, For some FIVE
years the leading schools of the East
have been giving much attention to
the vocational side of school work AS
a result of this movement manual train
ing, domestic science, forge work, brass
working. pattern making, etc. have
found their way into the regular cur
riculum of the schools. These are no
longer experimh ITS. For some time
the disciples of the old school were prone
to criticise the movement, but we are
pleased to note that there is tendency
among them to relax and say that
prehaps there are some thing besides
Latin and Greek hat are worth while
The work in manual training was
started January Goth, and since that
date the boys nave made fourteen
double benches that would do credit to
many carpenters we have known.
These were made out of wet lumber.
The undertaking seemed very great,
but as the result Of the wise guidance
OF the manual training teacher, Mr. G.
l.. Bonham, the lads have shown them
selves more than equal to the task
This work will result in great saving
to the district. Greater things are sure
to come. for the girls have not yet been
given an opportunity to show what
they can do.
Judging by the numbcr Of visitors we
have had during the last few days it
does not seem necessary to describe the
new building. However, | do wish to
say that the pupils and teachers owe
Mr.. Freidhoff great debt of gratitude
for what he has done to get the build
ing ready for Us. He has worked
through the most discOuraging weather
with u tenacity til 1t is inspiring He
has made host oi little friends around
the old school who will think often of
him during the years of comfort that
are to come. May his future be bright,
and may he always wear that smile
that won't come OFF, is the wish of all.
The future seems most promising.
With one of the finest schoolhouses i'm
the state, fine equipment, enthusiastic
liberal patrons, a progressive
School Board, AMI devoted teachers.
our little city bids fair to have one of
the best school systems to be found in
the West.
=. Il. McWHtNNEY.