The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-14

law nigh remove another serious ob,
stacle to success. 1t would enable the
employment Of teachers for longer
term, and an increased salary per
month, and thereby command the
services OF better and more efficient
teachers. Where the term is short and
the pay small, such teachers in the 10
cality of the school as will accept the
position, are retained. Teaching is a
science, and progressive science, re-
curing not only a thorough knowledge
OF the branches of learningto betanght,
but skilled experience in the art OF
teaching them to others. Professional
teachers, whose hearts and souls and
minds as well as bodies, are devoted to
their calling, can not be engaged tor
short terms and small salaries. Yet
such teacher for one year, in such a
locality, would give to the cause OF pop
ular education An impetus not easily
overcome. Some have not vet realized
or learned to estimate the vast and I'M
measurable distance that intervenes be,
tween the bad and good teacher. And
this they never will learn till they see
the two characters face to face. They
have seen the one whose teaching
"darkened counsel" retarded instead
of advancing the intellectual de-
velopment OF his pupils, or whose
worse morals and pernicious ex-
ample withered, and blighted and de-
stroyed. If happily, some means can
be devised TO supplant all such With
those whose minds are stored with al
usefal knowledge, and who have aPtI-
tude, native or acquired, or both, to
impart to others, and ID inspire the
youth OF the country, whose destiny tor
time and eternity, is, to a great extent
committed to their charge, with an holy
AMBITION to achieve true greatness;
whose morals are pure and whose man
ners are polished, we will then have
accomplished much in the direction Of
the goal of our ambition.
soMF NEEDED NOTIFICATIONS.
The forty-fourth section ofour school,
law requires that the Boards OF Eiuca-
lion shall annually levy such tax on the
property OF their respective townships as
will, with the money received from the
State for the support Of free schools, be
sufficient to keep such schools in opera
ton for at least four months IN the
wear. The sixtieth section provides
that Whenever the county superln-
tendent shall have ascertained that such
levy has been made in any township,
he shall inform the Auditor thereof, and
draw his requisition on him in favor OF
the treasurer OF such township or indie
pendent school district, for the amount
of the State fund to which such
township or district is entitled.
And by tn forty-ftth section no
TOWNSHIP or independent school dis
trict shall hereafter receive any share
OF the distributabie State Fund tor free
schools in any year in which the levy
required by the forty fourth section has
not been made in such township or
district" These several provisions OF
the law were intended TO insure the
levying OF a township and district levy,
and at an amount sufficient, together
with the State Fund, to keep school in
operation at least four months in the
year, in each township and district.
The object intended to be obtained is
landable, and lite attainment indispensa-
BILE to the success OF our system. Bat
our school statistics clearly demonstrate
the inefficiencv of these provisions OF
law to accomplish the end proposed,
Whether for the want Of proper care
and attention on The part o. some OF
oar county superintendent, or the want
Of necessary means OF knowledge on
their part, it is not now necessary to
inquire. The fact exists, however, that
in several instances the State school
fund has been drawn from the treasury
in violation Of these several provisions
Of the law, by townships where schools
have not been taught four months in
the wear, or near that length Of time.
From an examination OF table IF,
herewith communicated, it will be seen
that in several counties the average du-
ration Of their schools was less than
three months, aud that the general
average in all the counties Of the State
was small fraction less than four
months, the time required by law. And
this. Notwithstanding the fact that in
some of the counties, schools were kept
from four TO six months, and in the city
of Wheeling ten months during the
school year. Schools Of less duration
than our months in year are mock
cry. They keep the word OF promise
to our ear and break it to our hope
The Superintendent recommends the
adoption OF something like the follow.
ing provision of the Kentucky law
Whenever qualified teacher has been
employed by the Trustees OF any dis
trict, TO teach the length o. time re-
CURED 10 ertitle such district TO it,
proportion OF the revenue, and COM
mon school has, pursuant to this chap,
ter, been regularly commenced in time
to complete session before the expira-
ton O! that school year, and been kept
TOR one half the session, such district
shall then, for the plrpose OF paying the
teacher. be entitled to forty per centum
of its proport on of the revenue for that
year, as previously estimated, and at
the expiration Of the session 10 the
whole amount.
And by section - it is provided that
whenever district shall become en-
titled to receive its proportion of the
revenue, or a part thereof, as provided
in sec. :, article |, os this chapter, it
shall be the duty OF the Trustees of
such district to Immediately make report
thereof, sworn to by them, to the Com
missioner. In our State TO the Gen
eral Superintendent
In connection with these provisions,
~ UoulI ha an imnroyamant 70 our