Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-04
WHEFIING w. VA MONDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 4 1882
STATE SCHOOLS.
a Talk with tie ssa,se supeYiaSeaaeat
CNne&SnfnS Them.

STATE SCHOOLS.
A Talk with the Ssaste superintendent
Csncssnniy Then.
nthe progress that has been made in the
educational affairs of West Virginia .She
last Eve years continues in the same ratio,
this State is certain TO rank among the
foremost in the Union before the close Of
the century. The progress that has been
made is simply phenomenal, but 1t is -
nothing compared with the possibilities OF
the near future. School houses, that b
public school houses, are Of very recent oc-
currence in most sections OF this State,
most of them dating their erection to
years succeeding the war, and'a large por-
ton of them to the last ten years.
The secret Of the progress. bowsver, Is
that the people OF this State have been
Awakened to q realizing sense OF their
peril" and have set themselves 70 -hHye as
good schools as any other State The work
has beef, rather of an uphill nature, but
persistence has done much and will yet &C
compiish more. These facts We CLEANED
Yesterday in the course of brief conver-
sation with Col. Butcher, State Superin.
tendent of Schools, Who has Just returned
from a,tour of nearly ell of the coulhes.
hoionu8 ahSas1sSS So S -
. s'isf afSssS kays bssn 6Ty, y,iasitptns lsa6an,
this State this yeaf-one in each county--
and in the counties of Harrison, Marion,
Jackson, Mercer, Wetsel and jefferson one
extra institute washeld, a. the importance
of such o movement was satisfactorily
shown. The cost of holding these insti-
tutes, as provided by law, is SIS each, but
the appropriation was only 500, which was
u of . sba al a
felt, however, is made up by the receipts
from the Peabody fund, else it
would have. been imprscticable to
hold them. In addition to the
county institutes already held there were
three distinct institutes held by me, viz:
One at Wayne, G. H.; another at Moore
field and third at Weston, Lewis county.
At all these institutes there was large
turnout of teachers, and the interest mani
tested in them was very refreshing. The
attendance upon them'by the residents OF
the locality in which they were held, also
encouraged us very much, as they took
lively interest in the proceedings, and often
participated in the discussion Of topics.
Physicians also were present and gave US
some valuable ideas in regard TO school
hygiene. The members of the State Board
OF Health placed us under obligations for
their suggestions, and DR.. Reeves lecture
was of much service to Us. At Weston
there were over leO teachers in attendance,
66 per cent. of whom were young men: In
the district institutes | was assisted by
Prof. T.. V. DE Graf, Superintendent Of the
Paterson, n. j.. schools, an able ed
ucator and an efficient instructor.
Prof, A. l.. Wade, of this State,
also lent valuable assistance? Yes, sir, after
nv experience among the teachers and
educators of this State | feel much encour-
aged and think more and more Of our pos
sibilities. The county superint'nd re-
ports so far show a much better condition
of things in all the counties and their pre-
dictions for the coming scholastic year are
Of the most cheerful nature
How are the normal schools
Last year they were very successful, and
the principals predict year surprising all
others. The schools are officered as fol-
lows:
West Liberty-Prof. d. r. Williams.
Fairmont-Prof u. S. Fleming.
Concord-Prof. French.
Glenville-Prof. Kidd.
Marshall College, HuntingtDn-Prof.
Thaxton.
Shepherdstown-ProiD ID. II. Pendleton.
at Fairmont last year, there was an At
tendance Of two hundred and twenty-seven
pupils, large proportion OF whom were
teachers All these schools will open up
for the year this week.
''One thing that attracted my attention
was the interest that the teachers In the
interior manifest in the carpSssvne connfthyr' on
Twelfth pole district ~, IL Who taught not
account OF the meagre wages paid hsr, t-t
because she felt it was her duty; ohe
found only three families in her district
supplied with books, but nothing discour-
aged she went TO work and soon had the
school in first class condition, and
for several years has taught II.
She came fourteen miles on horse.
back to attend the institute, aud l found
her to be one of the most intelligent and
proficient teachers ever met.
DO you intend having another State In
stitute here this fall similar to the sue
cessful session you held here last Thanks
giying2''
well, hardly on as large scale. There
will be teachers institute here for the
benefit of the teachers OF Wheeling and ad.
Joining counties There will also be Su-
perintendcnts Convention at Charleston,
kanawha county, about the lst Of October,
at which there will be present Professor
Peaslee. OF Cincinnati, Prof.. smart, of In.
diana. and more than likely DIR. Runner, OF
Virginia. ,,
ope said Col. Butcher in conclusion, the
most discouraging is the enrolment and
the attendance. The average enrollment
in the State is only 6S per cent. and the
average attendance 43 per cent Add to this
pcr cent. who attend Catholic schools
and IL Leaves at least one half not in attend
ancc. We are endeayoring ~ overcome
this defect and have been reducing II IN
the last few years. The school houses now
building are good substant tial building ana
everything considered, | feel much encour.
AGED"