South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-12-21
Our Public Schools.


very efficient County Superintendent,
has just returned from a weeks tour Of
visiting the Schools in two OF our school
districts and reports favorably. We are
glad our young friend realizes the re-
sponsibility resting upon him by virtue
OF his Office, and that he comprehends
the arduous duties required Of him by
the school law, not only to visit, but to
examine into the modus operandi Of tine
Teachers; to suggest. to advise, a1d to |
instruct wherever he finds it necessary
all Of which we know he will do and
perform conscientiously and faithfully.
We believe there is n manifest and de.
cided Improvement in our teachers. Our
very efficient Board Of Examiners are
doing good work for the county, and
we believe much of the improvement in
our teachers is due to the faithful man.
ner in which they as a Board perform
their duty in requiring qualification as
tho only ground Of merit in securing a
certificate. If this faithfulness is con
tinuad, with the thorough drill Of the
county ami district Institutes our youn
teachers will soon be brought up to
higher mark of respectability, and our
schools be proportionably improved
We are inclined to think that our Board
require higher attainment in knowl.
edge than the Board Of our neighbor
county. Mineral, as one Of the teachers
examined here last fall, was awarded a
No. certificate, and afterward went to
Mineral for examination and received
there No. !. The time between exam
nations was very short, the improve
mens must have been very rapid, or the
standard must have been lower than i'm
this county. We do not think our Board
requires too much. We have heard
some complaint recently in regard to
the want OF moral control Of some Of our
! schools; it may be that our Board over
! look the necessary proof of moral char.
acter IN some OF our teachers. This is
very important qualification, as the
example of the teacher is hourly and
daily before the pupil and must exert
an influence for good or for evil. A
teacher who does not possess \ good
mora! character, and disposition to ex-
ert good moral influence over the pu.
pills is not fit to teach in any SCHOOL,
From our present boys and girls will
grow our future men and women, and
what Is q man or woman without n mo.
raj character? Some OF our teachers
may conclude that they are not employ
Ell to teacn morals, but only letters.
This is grand mistake, and the teach
er who takes no higher view of his call
ing than this. only knows and performs
half his duty; the very law which ere.
ates this school system makes good
moral character one Of the first reaui.
sites of a teacher, and makes the want
of it, one of the chief grounds Of his dis.
missal by the trustees. When we look
at our public schools sometimes. we are
reminded of that great sheet that Peter
saw, let down as it were by the four
corners TO the earth, and containing all
| kinds and manner of food, ard n good
many things that Peter turned UP his
nose at, and called common and I'M
! clean; but Peter then and there learn.
cd an important lesson. and never, per.
| haps, looked upon the Gcntiles rs dogs
/ aftcrward. So with these public schools,
they gather in all sorts. the cool and
! the bad. and some Of them so unfortu.
nate as not TO have any food for their
moral natures at home. Then let us be
careful not to- send TO our school houses
any but COOK moral teachers WHO will
| teach them that it's sinful and wrong TO
tell lies, to swear, TO steal, and to fight
and black each Others eyes, and that
these are violations OF law both human
/ and Divine. Teachers who will feel the
responsibility resting on them, TO teach
them all the good they can, and correct
so far as they can. all the bad they End.
] Do our teachers feel that the RESPONSE.
| bility Of all tho parents Of his pupils is
| shifted TO lis shoulders, so soon as the
. pupils come under his charge, from the
morning to the evening and every day
Of his term? We mean the duty OF
( looking 10 their moral culture, rs we'll
as their Intellectual. If they do then
they must feel that their calling is a
high calling, and responsible call.
ing. -
Why is handsome girl like a mirror?
Because she is a good looking lass.
IAISISIIcD.