Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1915-04-10
SCIENCE WORK
IN THE
HIGH SCHOOL

HIGH SCHOOL
1t is only when we, who are in mid
die life, stop to consider what science
has done for the world since oui
school days, that we can understand
why there is SO much money and at
tention given to the teaching Ci
science in the high school of today
To enumerate few of the things that
have come to make work easier and
life more varied and enjoyable there
are the telephone, electric lights and
power, phonograph, movies" trolley
cars and the automobile, each OF
which represents invested capital run
ming into the millions of dollars, Civ
ing employment to a vast army and
completely changing the status OF liv-
ing for everybody. In all departments
OF knowledge there has been an enor
nous increase but most of all i'll
science. Does it not seem reasonable
that our boys and girls, if they are to
measure up to their generation, will
reed to go out of our schools with
a better and more practical knowledge
OF science than we had when we left
our school life behind? If so then we
must be ready to furnish the means.
Scientific education is no longer a
matter of book study, but requires
that the student shall investigate for
himself and apply to his own activ-
itles the facts of the material world.
The idea that those who study science
must become doctors chemists, en-
ginecrs or inventors is entirely wrong
1t IS becoming more and more neces-
sary that an intelligent person have
a good knowledge of the principles
of chemistry, physics and biology.
Perhaps no large industry is being
more affected than that of agriculture
Those who ridicule scientific farming
are simply exhibiting their ignorance
and the day is coming when a man to
be a farmer will need an education
and training corresponding to that of
the engineer or lawyer or teacher. and
the standard OF product both i'll guam
tity and quality will be vastly ahead
OF the standard of today. Now i'll or
der to teach even high school science
there must be room and apparatus
In our day. il there was a laboratory.
il was apt to be relegated to the attic
or basement, and the teaching given to
the teacher who happened to have the
least to do. Nowadays the laborator-
les occupy the best rooms and special
teachers often commanding higher sal
aries are often put in charge In the
Lyon County High School fine be
ginning has been made, and the de
partment has been equipped without
any useless expenditure so that ex-
cellent courses in elementary physics,
chemistry. biology, physical geography
and agriculture can be given. But
more is needed and each year should
see a substantial addition. For in
stance, at present there is only one
compound miscrope belonging to the
school, so that pupils must take turns
using it, and they do not get sufficient
time to see things well, No public
money is so wisely invested as that
put into school equipment. and those
who hold the responsibility OF seeing
that the spending is done to advan-
tage have in this instance succeeded
remarkably well. In addition to the
school work the department is get.
ting as L. 5. cooperative weather
observer, daily recording the lowest
and highest temperatures, amount Of
rainfall, character of sky and wind di-
reetion. These are published monthly
with reports from other stations, and
kept on file at the high school, Only
one other school in the State is doing
this work. This data will be OF great
value in future years in giving a basis
for determining average weather con
ditions for the valley. 1t is hoped that
more of our citizens will take the time
To visit tie science department and
see the kind of equipment that has
been acquired.
A. +. r.