Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-10-01
THE PUBLIC sOHooLs-No. s.
BY j. n RnYn

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.-NO. 8.
BY J. n. BOYD
Having presented, in previous articles, sys.
tenn, proven to be more economical and ut the
same time tending to elevate the character of
the Public Schools of the City, to a standard OF
excellence equal TO the schools of any other
city IN the country, we nOto present a Inodiica-
ton OF the system, which will, perhaps, be
equally beneficial to the City Schools, and, at
the same time, affect the schools of Ohio county
1t is as follows: Let there be appointed, or
elected, Superintendent, possessing all the
qualifications we have specified, and let him
have jurisdiction over all the schools of the
county, including the city. Let it be one Of
his chief duties to examine teachers, so that by
refusing certificates to those now engaged in the
city who are unacquainted with the improved
methods OF teaching and awarding licenses to
those only who can pass satisfactory exami
nation in the cart Of Teaching" the number
oil teachers can be reduced to twenty and the
salaries of ten Unnecessary teachers saved. Let
1t be his daty to visit the schools of the city
and county as often as practica bic to see whe-
Their the teacher is really what he supposed him
TO DC on examination, and also to encourage the
pupils to be Gigent in their studies and 0bcdi-
ent to their teachers. Further, let it be his
! duty to hold public meetings in every district
and lecture to the people on topics pertain
ing to education. Again, one Of the most
potent lnStrumentaliteS for :hc improvement
OF teachers would be, TO hold numerous Insti.
tWtes, or Normal Schools, for their special train.
ing. In short, let his entire tine, talents and
energies be devoted to the Improvement of the
schools under his Charge whethc: it be by
school visitations, teachers institutes or lee.
lures before the people. The qreat acuHt as
we before remarked is first class teachers-
This want Is felt i'll the rural districts, as we'll
us III the city, and until something is done to
improve the teachers or drive from the profes
thn n
who have no love for the business of training
youths, but teach, or rather stay, in the school
houses, only to get the money the people will
lingly pay with view to educate their children,
no advance can be made IN the improvement Of
the schools, The city and county would, of
course, bear propoTtionate part in paying the
salary OF the Superintendent. There are, we
believe, in the county, thirty one districts, all
OF which have schools. The average attend
ance of pupils is about the same as that in the
city, so that the time and labor OF the Supcrin-
tendent would be about equally divided between
the two places.
BY this arrangement it would, perhaps, be
necessary TO retain male Principals in the
schools of the city, but still, by the reduction
OF the number of assistant teachers which
would be sure to follow the election Of COM
petent Superintendent, enough, and two thou.
sand dollars more than the city'S proportion of
the Supcrintendent's salary, would be saved
every year.
And now, few words as to the steps ncces.
sary to take in order to either system, and we
are done for the present
The school law provides for the examination
! OF teachers by the Commissioners or a Board OF
Examiners, appointed by them. All that is ne.
ccssary, is alittlelcgisatve action, sufficient to
repeal this section; and by short amendment
| to tue law, providing for the appointment or
election OF Superintendent, whose powers,
duties and privileges shall DC fully and cxpli.
city defined The SUPERINTENDENT would a(.
feet the present Law only, SO far as it relates 10
the examination of teachers; the other duties of
the Superintendent being entirely outside and
independent OF, any portion of existing statutes
we cannot close without expressing the hope
that the time is not far distant when our legis.
latorS Will see the necessity of adopting some
plan for the improvement of the teachers of
the State. IL it is admitted that other2 States
have stole march" on the cold Dominion ("
in matters Of improvement and reform, the
cause must be referred, in part, to the little at
tenton she has given to the subject OF Popular
Education, rs compared with the nnnificcnt an.
preparations of money made by other States
Ihe agricultural, mechanical and laboring class
ses, the true stamina of Commonwealth find
IN the common schools u surer source of power
than wealth itself For whatever Influence the
higher institutions have had, or shall have in
the diffusion of knowledge it is to the common
schools, the peoples colleges, that the great
mass OF the people must ever look for the ads
yantagcs aud blessings of education In these
humble, though mighty agencies, labor will find |
the secret OF its power, aud the means of ele. |
vatlng itself to that just and honorable position
Intended by the Creator.
We suspect that, after all, the people Of Nor.
gantown arc right glad that Mr.. Wiley was not
taken away from among them, and made Lient /