The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-21
No. cases of tardiness..l,l 1876 IL

va
EVENING SCHOOL.
From the detailed reports of these
schools we present the following hgures
Enrolment tor the month-Washlng-
ton 90, Madison %, Clay "a, Union So,
Webster l22. Richie 80, Colored A.
Total 479.
Average Observation-Disclosures 81,
Madison u, Clay u, Union 81, Webster
81, Richie DC, ColoreG %. Total 3Ol.
Branches taught and number of pupils
in each Spelling 479, Reading 479,
Writing 4l6, Mental Arithmetic l40,
Written Arithmetic 426, Geography AZ,
Grammar II.
Per cent of attendance on enrolment
60. Amount paid tor instruction in even
ing schools, 1897.
In the Washington district evening
school, spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION on the
part of the pupils, and also tendency to
defsce property, had reached such point
that, with the concurrence of the local
commissioners, we closed the school on
Tuesday evening, December 18th. Be.
lieving that the continuance OF the school
under such circumstances would DC pro-
ductive of lasting injury to the pupils
themselves, and ascertsnirg also
tina. it was beginning to have
bad influence upon the
pupils of tho day school, this course was
taken from a clear conviction o! duty rs
disciplinary measure. In our visits
during the week we found the other
evening schools to be quietly and effect
lively at work the attendance for this
month so far does not equal in numb'r
the reports herein contained for the
month OF November. Where this re.
duced attendance is likely to be perma-
neDt, | would suggest that the local COM
missioners having charge OF any particu.
lar school, or majority OF them
be empowered to adjust the teaching
force to the reduced patronage.
The Department OF uperintendence
Of the National Educational Association
met in Washing ton City on Tuesday the
18th of December, and continued in ses-
sion three days, holding two meetings
daily. The convention WAS composed OF
forty or fifty representatives,, troa over
twenty States, with some prominent ed
vocational officials VI arlington; also
some members OF Congress who have
taken special Interest in this subject.
The various topics brought before the
Convention were discussed in fair,
frank manner, from a-prscticsl stand
point, the test of pubic necessity, or of
public utility, being applied in each
case.
1t WAS justly claimed that those
having charge OF the school Interests of
the country are to be held responsible tor
the successful working OF the school sys-
TENS, unless there is some radical defect
in the plan itself, which defect they
ought to be able TO point out.
1t WAS agreed that the general purpose
or design of public school education
was two-fold, lst. To qualify the peo-
pie to become good citizens, so that the
institutions of the country may be safe.
ly Entrusted to their keeping, End. To
prepare them for commencing the bus
ness of life so that they may go out and
enter the several fields OF skilled labor
and make for themselves and those de-
pendent upon them, a comfortable living.
Subsidiary to this great thought, they
took up successfully the following topics
THE best System of Education Tor
city," "The relations between mental
culture and skilled labor"
and practical union OF edu-
cation in both directions so that
pupils may go forth from the schools
with taste aud skill for labor, and an
inclination to it, instead of being re-
CURED to serve long ard distssteful
apprenticeship with mental bliss
against it.
1t was asserted that ignorance is the
most expensive product for any people,
and that therefore public utility and
public safety require that the lsborlng
masses be helped both to higher level
of mental culture and TO greater skill in
manual labor.
The Convention favored the idea of
creating a permanently invested school
iund, arising from the proceeds of the
sales of the public lands, the income from
which should be divided for public school
purposes amongst the several States upon
some equitable basis.
Some other matters came before the
Convention, but not being OF much
prscticsl Importance, they are omitted
from this statement.
The deliberations of the Convention