The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-02

where the schools. have become so perfect
that this knowledge Is impaired IN the
schools themselves, and this can only be
where all the schools are supplied with
efficient teachers; until then these schools
must impart knowledge as well as to
teach how to teach. But l do not
propose, because my idea Of Nor
mai School training is not carried out,
TO lend my influence to hinder
other agencies, that are aiming to accom-.
plish the same end. We have
as much need for the work .ot the
institute to-day as ever before, and 1t can
be made very effective work in our own
State Just now Il properly conducted.
These Institutes should arouse an enthu.
siasm in every county that Will do great
good. Our people need TO be educated as
well as our teachers, and l am not 30 sure
that we need the former just now worse
than we need the latter. But l started
out 10 answer the propositions made by
the writer, and TO the first we say that the
instruction impaired In a fre.day inst:
tute, surely can be made practical. Hail
10 see why 1t cannot, and Just as thorough
as far as It goes, Us II the inetitute were
five weeks instead OF five days.
Second-I know OF three institutes held
last summer, at which the aggregate at
tendance was 260, over so per cent OF the
teachers OF the said counties. Grant that
this is an exception, and that but lew
teachers attend them. The same might
be urged against our Normal Schools.
would that all our teachers attended these
institutes, but contend that 1t Is a pay
ing investment to expend the money Il
even but small per cent attend.
| Third-The State has provided that 3
Eve day institute should be held in each
county, and appropriated the magnani
NOUS sum OF $500 10 pay teachers Of ex
perience for conducting them-about one
half enough to pay the conductors ex
penses ifhe happened to live some. dis
lance from the place at which the insti
tute was held. After using the Peabody
fund allowed last year, but $25 was pait
for each institute, which very poorly com
pensated any instructor unless he wa
placed at or near home.
Fourth-We simply deny that institutes
are becoming unpopular with people. ant
teachers, but will admit that they hay,
never as yet become popular from til!
fact that neither people nor teachers real
ize the great importance OF institute work
and it Is simply ridiculous TO assert tina
institutes have anything to do with tn,
low wages; |. e., that they cause low
wages, It Is more likely that 1t is tn,
want OF institute work that causes the
wages to be SO low. Were our teachers 81
thoroughly drilled as they can become il
institutes that they would show thei
proficiency by their works, the wage
should not long be wanting. Our worl
will generally bring Its worth when tina
worth Is known.
have written warmly on this subjec
from the fact that our whole system Of ed
ucation is suffering to-day from these
Clashings OF the Interests OF ditferen
schools, and 10 sum up my opinion on thu
whole matter | will say that We need one
grand harmonious working whole in this
matter OF education, and II one branch O.
it is starved the whole must suffer. W.
need our University. God bless it anc
prosperit. We need our Normal Schools
May our next Legislature be made to SCI
the necessity OF giving them back to Us
We need our institutes; may they evei
prosper, We need more perfect system
Of county superjntendency; may we soor
have 1t. And above all, We need the peo
pies own schools and may they be fillet
with true, earnest and competent teach
era ANXIOUS,