Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-01-17

be purchased; that the Board sub
scribe for two or three teachers
journals.and that they procure a
series Of books known as the
Teachers Library which costs
about thirty-five dollars, all of
which shall be under the control
of the superintendent, who shall
be required to see that the period
icals are preserved and bound at
the end of each year.
Your committee takes pleasure
in expressing their satisfaction at
the success of the principal in
grading the several schools under
his charge, and at the determiua-
ton which characterizes his efforts
to raise the standard of discipline
by a daily visitation to the differ
ent schools.
Your committee feels constrained
to express their disappointment at
finding so few pupils studying the
higher branches taught In our
graded school, such as algebra, ge-
ometry, Latin and the German
languages. Especially Ii this a
subject OF regret. when we reflect
upon the practical importance OF
these branches, and the ability
with which they are taught for
we may safely say that the
method adopted, and the
success which has attended
the teaching of these
branches in our public schools,
equals that of any OF the private
schools we have had in this town.
Thecommittee would also direct
the attention Of the Board 10 the
importance of the method employ
cd in teaching the branches of
spelling and reading. In the train
ing of children, from the alpha
bet, through the different branches.
to the highest studies that are
taught, we place these two second
to none, and more especially is
this the case In the department of
spelling. In this class. il correct
and careful teacher may, in one
session, be fully repaid for any
trouble he or she has taken to
accomplish the object desired. 1t
lnvoltvs the pronunciation Of the
English language, the meaning of
the words lieed, the facility TO
write the language correctly, and
aids greatly ia the grammatical
construction of sentences. The
most important subject to which
the attention Of your committee
was directed, is the question OF
school accommodations Upon
this subject we have bestowed
much thought, after thorough
examination of the several build
ings now used for school purposes.
First, We condemn the school
building known as "Wysong
Hail. as unfit for the purposes of
education, and for the following
reasons: Theinterior and exterior
OF the building are uninviting,
the rooms are badly lighted they
are cold and uncomfortable in
winter; it has no yard Tor the ex-
crcise OF the children turing recess,
and they make the public street
their play ground to their detri-
ment and the annoyance Of the
public. The rent paid for the use
OF this building h two hundred
and forty dollars per anuum.
Second. We also condemn the
class room Of Miss Colston as unfit
for school purposes. Ii is very
dark, cold and cherries, and its
location is bad, AS it fronts upon
one ofour principal streets, and is
surrounded by busir ess houses.
For the use of this room two hum
dred dollars are paid per session.
Third We feel that we cannot
be too severe in our terms Of con-
domination OF the graded school
building on John street and Col
lege alley.
This Is the highest graded public
school i'm the county of Berkeley
Ill is 10 this schoolft strangers,
who look forward toresiding incur
town, come TO examine into the
advantages ofour public school sys-
tenn. III was from an examination
OF this building, by the officers Of
the State Normal School of Ship
pensburg, that your board shrunk,
because OF The location Of the
building, its architectural defects,
and the arrangement Of its class
rooms. Ia all the rooms the ven
tilation is bad, and in some it Is
almost intolerable, injurious to the
health of both teacher and pupil.
La summer the rooms on the first
floor are very unhealthy, because
OF the numerous privies which
surround the building on two
sides, and the children are rem
dered liable to disease, rs they are
compelled TO inhale this foul at
mosphere during five hours each
day. Lit is now an admitted fact,