The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-24
MGERrcEoRs INaERUclEp.

Anspieious OPENING ofths stale Edasa,
tiOnal Convention a the State House
Yesterdny-Pleasant ana Instructive
Exercises or the initial Sessions.
The Convention Of county superintendents
and teacher institute called BY State Super
intendent Butcher, met yesterday forenoon
at o'clock In the hall Of the House Of Dele
gates at the State Capitol.
The attendance was quite as good as had
beenexpeCted much better than had
been hoped for the opening session, The
number Of ladies present was one pleasing
feature Of the audience, and another sugges-
tive fact was that q large proportion Of the
teachers Of the schools OF the city took Hd'
vantage OF the facilities afforded to meet with
the leading educators Of the State, and leading
educators from other States as well, The
number Of outsiders who attended as inter
ested spectators was also gratifying and
spoke well for the public interest In our
schools
Superintendent Charles II. shreye and the
teachers Of his schools at Martins Ferry
were also interested listeners, their Board OF
Education having granted them holiday to
enable them to attend,
The Convention was called to order by
State Superintendent Butcher whoa appointed
| W, II. Anderson, Principal Of the Union Dis
trict School OF this city, Secretary, and Prof..
7. b. Mccain, Of Washington district, Eli
The exercises were opened pleasingly by
the singing Of "America" by the chorus Of
one hundred pupils from the city schools,
The manner In which they sing reflects
great credit upon their instructor, Prof, SchO-
field, as well as on the discrimination shown
In selecting the members OF the chorus, whose
names were printed In the lSTILLIGEScER ex'
ClusiYely yesterday morning
Prayer was offered by Rev, DR., Cunning
ham, pastor Of the First Presbyterian Church,
after which the boys and girls sang Merry
School Bells"
THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME,
by Superintendent John N. Birch, OF the
Wheeling city schools followed, and was q
brief and appropriate speech for the occa-
sion.
The following is brief synopsis OF the ad'
dress:
The gentleman, after few remarks OF vel
come, called the attention of the association
to the importance OF such meetings to the
cause OF common school education; that the
State, by her free and open schools, afforded
an education to all her youth, and gave owl.
denCe that she believed great and powerful
State was not constituted by territory or
wealth. but by q population OF well edu'
Gated men and women that tho question
whether the future citizens the State should
fill places of trust with ability and honor
must be answered by the teachers of to-day,
as they are molding the age that Is to be,
and should not underestimate their obliga'
ton and responsibility that new plans
new theories, new books and new methods OF
instruction would be under discussion IN the
meeting, and as everything which could be
found to abridge the labor OF the teacher and
make II moro efficient was OF great COnse'
quence lie asked them 10 enter into the ex-
ercises Of the institute as into sacred en-.
gagement, trusting that its instruction would
exceed their highest expectations by It's
adaptAbility to practical life. He stated that
, this institute should be the first OF new era
AN cru in which the education OF all the
children in the State should be realized.
He offered the warmest expressions OF
gratitude TO those whose means had enabled
them to secure the instruction OF able men
to the teachers OF West Virginia.
In conclusion, he called upon the teachers
10 be enthusiastic, or rather earnest, In the
cause OF common eduCation-to try TO catch
the spirit of teaching-tO have as o prolnin.
ent object OF their assembling together the
gaining an interest In and love for the pro.
fession, and II would follow that transfer.
nation would gradually take place In the
educational theories OF this State; that ignOr-
ance would be forced to relax It's hold; that
the people would he aroused 10 conscious.
ness OF their duties, and that growing thought
would widen and make visible Its splendid
results through the fertile valleys and be-
You'd the lofty mountains OF our newborn
State
Superintendent T. H. Dennis, OF Greenbri.
or county, made
i THE RESPONSE
which was also happily fitted 10 the place
and the nature Of the gathering.
II Mr.. Dennis speech was too long to print
entire, yet we cannot fOrbear giving resume
Of 1t, lie returned the thanks OF those pres.
enL for the kind words Of welcome they had
heard from Superintendent Birch, and for
the lospitable reception rendered them by
the citizens OF Wheeling. lle said 1t was
gratifying to know that tie visiting teachers
we're among friends who Sympathzed with
the object OF the meeting, and who would do
all In their power to make the stay OF the
visitors as pleasant as possible. He said that
In response to Prot. Birch's words he would
content himself with quoting;
~ can no other answer make, but thanks,
And thanks and over thanks
Often good turns are Shuilled of With such incur
ntpRy"
He congratulated himself and his friends
on the opportunity to visit the capital OF the
State. He had long desired TO know the peo-
pie OF Wheeling, for In Greenbrier county
they have u reputation, not only for hospi.
tality, but for Intelligence, public spirit and
thrift lie had desired 10 know more OF the
great commercial enterprises and manuiac.
tories OF this city, and above all, 10 witness
the efforts put forth here In the interests Of
popular education. With tho accounts OF
the business enterprise OF Wheeling men had
gone out also the praises OF tho culture, the
refinement, the virtue and the loVelneSs OF
Wheeling women, and when the visiting ed.
ticators had verified these reports, lie doubted
not that all would say with the daZzled
Queen OF Slleba, 1.-THE half has not been
told.'
The speaker alluded 10 the additional
duties prescribed for County superintend.
ents at tho last session OF the Legislature,
and said that II was matter OF regret that
while so liberal in the imposition OF new
duties, the Legislature was not more so in the
matter OF compensation.
He then went somewhat In detail into the |
status Of West Virginia schools aud ConSid.
cred their merits and dement's, and the prime
causes Of each. His closing remarks were
devoted to eulogy upon the profession OF
teaching, and a consideration OF the neces.
sary steps TO elevate the calling to It's proper
position among the vocations OF the age,
The singing Of a.prctty little song entitled
Kindly Deeds" by the children Of the
choir, followed, and was In turn followed by
a recess for the enrolment OF those present, |
who desired to become members OF the Con.
vention.
SUPERINTENDENT DE0Rirr
was then presented by the Chairman,
and delivered bis famous institute lecture
How TO teach pupils to read,r which NAV
be summed up In the following: l. Directions. |
I. Present an object. 2. Ask questions about
the object. 8. Give information about the
object. 1. Show picture OF the object 8. |
Make drawing of the object. o. Name the
object. :. Write the word on the board. s.