The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-01

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70 judge whether or not II Is lTeu done I
replied that each one would have hia
own time In which 10 complete the course,
and we would have to trust 10 the honor
OF each one 10 do this we'll. ! 1organiEed
two classes upon the above conditions, and
In our educational meeting In the evening
stated my plan. But Il created no IN.
terest. No one could see either point or
edge To II. II fell fiat as tlounder." /"
myself felt that It was 0 failure, and for
the first time wished that somebody else
was experimenting the schools. After
the meeting adjourned ! retired OF the
house Of friend, but found no rest l
was full Of toSslngs too and fro. Thought
Of returning home and resigning, but
that looked Ike cowardice. Thought Of
the pleasant places occupied by presi.
dents and professors In colleges, and prin-
cipals and teachers in high schools, and
almost envied them their pleasure.
remembered noticing not long before,
upon the wall Of 0 parlor In West Virginia,
diploma, belonging to young lady, a
graduate OF the high school OF Fort
Wayne, Indiana-my native State. Then
the inquiry came In my mind; II they
graduated pupils in high schools, why not
graduate them in lOtp schools? In q MP
ment the darkness fed from my mind
the light flashed and I fancied 1t was day.
! felt sure ! had made the discovery. I
said we will bring all the plans and appli.
ances from the higher schools, and apply
them to the primary schools.
We will have annual examinations, and
commencement exercises, and we will
grant diplomas and form alumni associ-
atoms. rlI .I-U
Early next morning entered upon my
duties with renewed energies, and under
took TO organize by the aid Of the teacher
In each school a class OF volunteers who
would agree not only to take up the free
school course, but 10 complete 1t in given
length Of time and to pass public ex-
animation in the same. l found very few
pupils who were advanced far enough to
enable them 10 complete the course dur
ing that term, so ] proposed that public
examination be held by the County Su-
perintendent in each district mot sub-dis-
trict) in the county, at the end OF the
school term Of the next year, and that
each pupil who shall pass such examina-
ton creditably would receive o handsome
diploma or honorary certificate, signed by
the County Superintendent and the teach
or OF the school in which he had COM
pleted his course.
OF the ultimate success Of this plan it
is hardly necessary to speak, where, as is
this section, recent exhibitions Of its entire
adaptation to the end in view have been
given. Its good effect upon the schools
which adopted it becamea at once apparent.
Pupils and teachers became interested in
plan which combined the two features OF
encouragement, requisite for any VOL
untary undertaking, fixed task
to be accomplished, and a proper
recognition Of the work done, at its close.
Tie attention and interest Of the public
was attracted, and wherever the plan was
given fair trial, as in this city, the gen.
cral verdict was that it supplied promi-
nent feature needed to make the public
school system a success.
We should be glad to supply the infor.
nation contained in Superintendent
Wade's address, as to the effects Of the
plan upon pupils subsequent to their
graduation, the character of the alumni
meetings held, and the endorsements Of
practical educators and observers. The
foregoing, however, will serve to indicate
the prominent points in the history Of
a plan, with the introduction Of which
a new era began in West Virginia public
school education, and the benefits Of
which are likely to increase with time, to
our advantage, and the honor of its found