The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1870-07-14
Our Free Schools.

Nh. EDiToR.
Amid the ezcitenents springing up aihoTer
the country upon political issues, and as to
who will triumph at the coming election, we
do not hear word In relation To- question
which isfrahght with greater interests to the
people Of this country, than perhaps any, il
not all other subjects. We mean the question
as to what can be dono to create an interest in
and make or public schools more efficient
and popular than they have heretofore been
Our papers are teeming with communications
and extracts Of political harrangues, coming
from all parts Of the country. And every
measure, scheme and device is resorted to by
politicians and aspirapts for office, whether
true or false, honest or dishonest, honorable or
net honorable, 30 as to insure victory on the
one side and defeat on the other, And this
great and momentous question Of education
and common schools seems to be ignored and
treated with silent contempt, as though IL did
not deserve thought or an effort. Our cons.
titution and legislature evidently designed
that thearestion Of education should stand in
the foremost rank and should demand the first
and last and ths continued effort Of all into
whose hands its great interests are committed.
And who are intereS.ed9. | answer first, that
the whole people ale interested, the teacher is
interested; and the officer o. officers into whose
hands the people in confidence have pat its
management for tho time being, ought to elicit
at beast some concern. Thecause Of our com.
mon schools will die in our hands unless we
do something TO awaken IN interestin It's be.
half. In otheF parts Of our State the people
are moving in this matter. Public meetings
auf,Racher's institutes are being held, where
the best educators in the country are secured
10 deliver lectures aRd address the people up
on the Importance Of our educational interests,
and. the people and teachers in those sections
get the benefit Of age and experience, and all
ths progressive ideas Of the times are introdu.
ced and 6rought into requisition and made 10
contribute 20 the advancement Of the interests
Of the schools in their midst. But how u it,
and how has it been in our county, Our pub.
lie schools have been in existence for mole
than five years aud we have had but one pub
lie lecture and but one teachers institute, that
could be called such, during that time. There
seems 10 be lack Of interest and want Of
energy on the part Of those who have had this
matter in their hands that 10 say the leaStof it
should arouse the people to an investigation OF
the matter, aud induce an Inquiry as to the
propriety Of putting this, the mSst vital Of all
Interests, into the hands Of these who will work
with a will aud determination for building up
the common schools. The people have expen.
dei their thousands and tens OF thousands for
the erection af school houses, in way Of taxes,
and for taition. This money has gone into
the hands Of those who have manifested but
little concern about anything else, only the
money. We want public lectures delivered on
the subject. We wanttescher's institutes held
at least every six months in the year. We
want the great Importance Of the proper edu.
cation Of the rising generation Numbered into
the eRrs OF the parents Of those 10 be educated
aud those who expect to be educators, until
tileY will be thinking Of and talking about It
at the work-besch, the anvil behind the coun.
ter, following the pillow, at the dinner table, in
| the Office, in the dlawiug.roOan, on the corners
| Of tile streets, 10 the market houses, on the
stump, from the forum and from the pulpit
Thequestion now occurs, who is 10 move in
this matter, who is 10 turn the throttle valve
and set the machinery in 1natonf answer
that Che law constitutes the county superin-
tendent the head Of the public schools in the
county, aud Il ne is failure, then the whole
matter suffers. We hope the people win arouse
themselves to The greatness aud Importance Of
the work, aud see that they have live men
where live men are necessary. More amen.
| HIRTYolp CRY July IL 81,