The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-12
The PnbIio Schools.

10 tho hulLDrA OF tuO lnLclllRcuCeEs
A personal acquaintance with the con.
dItion OF school affairs In portion Of the
State, Compels me TO take the liberty OF
infringing upon your space in making q
few remarks.
According 10 the terms of the school
law, 1t is required that there shall be IN
average OF Jour months school in each
school district of the State Tho spirit
OF the law, US l take it, does not mean
that q few favored districts shall have six
to ten months, and others, less favored,
two or three; but 1t seems that majority
OF the school boards Of tho State hGve
construed the law. according 10 the for
mer belief, or at least their actions and
tho results seem 10 indicate thiS. The 70.
suit Is, that in many portions there is be-
ginning to prevail certain feeling Of dis
true: Of the system, which, If allowed to
continue, mag eventually work great
disaster to the cause OF education In
West Virginia. ...
And this Ia not all, nor scarcely the be-
ginning. The people are continually
complaining Of high taxca, too much cx-
penIitnrc, and SD on, and 1t may hc that
they arc right, bu, this state OI feeling,
too makes itself ielt on tue school system.
Teachers arc to be- employed, must be
employed, in order 10 run the schools,
yet the tendency In consequence Of the
general feeling against reckless expendi-
ture, is 10 take those persons who are 10
DO obtained for tho least money; trustees
scarcely once remembering that in this
case moro than in any other pursuit those
who are cheapest IN beginning arc apt to
be the dearest In the eud. Teachers who
are actually competent to render good
and efectual service in this capacity are
generally those who arc able 10 give
satisfaction Id other and more lucrative
emplOyments, and consequently, unless
they are actuated by high sense OF duty
and their obligations to humanity, land
thoroughly good teacher must feel thus,)
and q strong love OF State, they arc apt ~
leave a profession which Tor the exercise OF
SO many and varied talents, qualifications
and virtues, ofiel3 such slight recon-
pense. Tho best teachers Of the State are
fast leaving for other portions Of the
country, or engaging In other pursuits.
Another thing: The examination Of per-
sons for teachers is not sutllcicull,- CON-
prehensive and thorough, in many in
stances, and by this means persons thor
ouchIy unfit Tor the task are often entrust.
cd with the important duty OF training and
developing tho minds OF children, The
cause of this fault often lies with the
county superintendent, who Is often as
unfit for tho office which ho holds rs are
tho persons whom he appoints to the office
OF teacher, and tho only way that this
can be rcmediCd Is by arousiug the people
10 sense OF the Importance Of selecting
competent persons TO fill this office. PO-
litiCal sentiments should have no influence
whatever in determining the selection Of
school officers.
West Virginia Is sadly behind her sister
States in the cause Of education, and be-
hind she will no doubt remain for some
years in spite OF any and nil efforts that
NAV DO made TO advance her. There arc
too many who cannot, by any possible
means, ever DO brought TO realize tho i'm.
portsucc Of q liberal education generally
dIhused. Parents are content 10 allow
their children to grow up in comparative
ignorance, simply because they have got
ten through tho world without any eX'
tended education, aud they see no reason
why their children should not do the
same. And there is only one way to
overcome this difficulty, and that is-la,
Dor; persevering, unremilting, untiring
labor. No system OF compulsory eduCa.
tion could ever succeed in the United
States, and the people OF this State are
distinctly American, and being such,
would hail as an encroachment upon
their liberty any attempt OF this kind.
II Is not absolutely necessary, in order
to correct existing errors, to make any
change in the school law. The faults
seem to DO without the pale Of legislative
enactment, and also, in consequence, their
remedies. The remedy lies with the PEG.
pie, guided and directed by those who