Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-04-29
l45EFFRRsoN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

JEFFERs0H sPUBLIG=s SCHOOLS.
Wm.L. Wilson, Esq !, hein.eliigent aud
worthy County Superintendent Free Schools
of Jefferson, makes the following report for
the scholastic year lending September S0th,
1872:
have the honor. herewith, TO present my
report of the condition aud work of the free
schools of this county for the school year,
ending September 80, 1872:
My connection with these schools dates
from the first day of January last In my
first efofts TO acquaint 1ayse1f. with their con-
sdition and management, [ encountered the
Encouraging fact that there was a general
ignorance or neglect of the school law, upon
the part of the local board and the subordi.
nate school officers. This was, due in part to
the fact that some changes had just occurred
in the membership of these boards, and to
other reasons, which need not here mention.
Some of the boards of education were
crippled by long standing debts, others we're
moving without information as to their re-
sources or liabilities.
My first labors were with view to remedy
these evils; to communicate among all parties
more exact know ledge of their duties and
responsibilities, andto rescue our schools from
the deadening incubus Of debt BY abridg-
ing the school sessions in some townships,
(althongh iE no case did the schools remain
open less than six months and pushing the
settlement of back claims, believe our boards
of education have generally been able to enter
upon the current school year, unembarassed
by debt, and with the ex pectation of conduct.
ing successful school session, in most cases.
of quite ten months.
All of them, [ am sure, begin with much
clearer conception of their legitimate mode of
operation.
Other obstacles yet to overcome will dis
appear, as the management of the schools ins
crefae in certainty and efficiency. We need
more good teachers, teachers of better at.cin-
ments and more exclusively devoted to that
special vocation want which will doubtless
be satisfied, as the compensation and the
length of the school SESSIONS become ample
and certain.
There are several points in this County
where good graded schools would flourish and
ought to be established, and except for the APP
preaching modification of our school machin.
cry to adapt it to the new State organization,
the attempt would have been made to estab-
lish one or more with the beginning of the
present school year.
There are several notifications in our
school law, which it is conceived would make
it more simple and more certain, but ns some
of'these have already been brought to the att
tention of the Legislature, and as the new Con-
stituton of itself will compel others, will
not onter into detail.
L will suggest the incongruity of requiring
county superintendent to report for the year
ending September so, when the actual school
year ends August 81, and all reports made to
him are for the latter.
will further suggest the rropricty and
expediency of allowing greater latitude than
is now permitted in the selection of text>books
for our public schools. So much scholarship
and attention have lately been given to the
preparation of elementary school books, and
such rivalry sometimes exist between differ
ent pant ties that there are, in each one of the
studies prescribed for our public schools, sew
eral sets Of books of equal and very great cx>
ce!!euce. A liberty of selection therefor,
limited by such restrictions as have been
found necessary in other States to guard
against sudden and capricious changes, would
doubtless he more satisfactory to those who
conduct the schools. prove peculiarly bene-
fetal to those who purchase the books, and at
the same time without injuring the schools,
do away witt, unnecessary monopoly and in
vidious distinction. 1have no changes which
L wish TO suggest, but in my opinion, at least
two sets of textbook in each stnfly should
be given. in order TO allow some selection.
The report which forward is complete in
some respects. Especially has it been dfi>
cult to secure exact financial statistics in
some cases, because books have been nesli-
gently kept; in others, because eff recent
changes in the office of secretary of the board
of education. This defect is particularly
cd i1,t no
ship, but am happy to add that, in no one
of our seven townships are the schools man
aged with more regard for the requirements
of the school law, or the school accounts and
records KEEP. with moro care and accuracy,
than in this one.
In conclusion, would say that the free
schools of Jefferson county, if yet very far
from what they ought to be- and from what
they can with wise and economical adminis>
tration. are such as to encourage the hone that
they will eventually fill the wide field of USE
fulness now opening before them
p. ST. omitted to mention that two new
school houses. both brick. ornate and commo-
dious, have been built during the year
As matter of information I append the
levy made by several boards of education for
the current school year. sufficient in most
cases to carry the schools through ten mouths
session. and TO provide for the wants of the
colored children
For school For building
purposes. purposes.
Gnaricstown township: ~ 90 cts. II etc.
Harper's Ferry township. 80 cts.
bolivar townRho ......... go cts.
Shepherd township. y cts. cts.
POTOMAC townahip... cts 9 cts
osourn township. is cts. 5 cts
MIDDLEwAY TowNsu p-Gross amount
levied S2,307.9S in this township. The ILL
ness of the assessor prevented his copy of as
sessment reaching the board when the lew
6 rst