South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-06-23
NoRrs RIVER Mills. W. va
June z. 1872.

MR.. HARPER I'VE should be glad to
say word or two in reply to our wor-
thy teacher, "Once In a While" if We
were not considered guilty of ARROGANT
conceit." or ''aippant criticism" But
while he wishes TO escape the eve o! the
critic, ho does not fail ia every letter To
criticise our schools and teachers, and
as matter Of course those who criticise
others. generally lay themselves open
10 criticism.
think the gentleman will Gnd. IL he
lives long in the world, that criticism is
reflex and reverbsratiag, he, however.
cares not TO flirpautiy criticiso his
brethren, If "tbe shoe only fiis."
1t seems as though the brother can
not get things TO work to suit hi N, some
tines the sehcol-oilicsrs are in FAULT, hu.
generally the schools ard teachers. He.
like the Centrifugal force. would recede
from tho center and ay off at tangent,
or would like to make comparison on
disputed territory even at "venture.;'
and like the Old preacher who called on
ono OF his brethren 10 pray, and becoIn-
ing disgusted ut his tedious petition
cried out: Amen. NJ s. renture." The
fort against which his batteries are main
~ directed is the Incompetence OF the
teacher, aud "his comparison" is. that
In some or In one district in our county
boy would not get practical knowl-
edge Of arithmetic were no TO attend
school from six years old until he was
tnenty-one.
WAY does he say in 'sone" and then
zone" We presume the "some" was
too general. and he. like the old ret in
tho fatle, seeing the image Of the sly est
in the meal tub. kept at respectful
distance. Perhaps the broLhec has been
teacher III this Ons district. or he could
not know so much about it, il he has.
would advise Eim "a get oek OF it ~ soon
az possible. il 10 wishes TO maintain his
reputation "a teacher.
Whiic IN other Counties in tho ) ate.
he Tells us, that practical arithmetic. pri.
mary algebra, and higher arithmetic are
pretty We'll understood bv the puuil nj
Tue ages Of fifteen or sixteen. ana WHY
this difference he says: lie attributes i,
e"Hreiy TO The iucompetency of the teach
or. But has not tie gentleman taught
school long enough to know that all
children are not equally capaoitated To
pupils arc so capacioGs "a 20 enabll them
10 grasp obstruction even while Young
nnd movc with rspid progress, while the
majority are dull aud learn slowly
ierhaps the parents or some arc cduca.
ted and tesch iheir cliil,ifau az home.
These are considerations which Should
not bc overlooked before we fnsten the
blame entirely upon the teachers. But
| wonder IL there are not some districts
IN those COUNT or one at least. in which
these branches are not understood ut tho
above named ages ? Has tue gentle
man visited all the districts aud schools
IN those counties and examined att the
teachers Ii be has not, his IRE not
only random though,s.' bat rcclc less
assertions. vi hout p.oof. An the fact
IL. II children 60 not complete these stu
dies Ut this rgo it is few, very, verV Ec,g.
aud generally if their learning be exam
med u proves 10 be Of tie iDdax kind,
Which turns 40 student psle. vet holds
the eel OF sciance by the tall"
NOW II needs 10 stock ar.uinenp' or
array OF statistics" 20 prove that our
teachers wilt mol fayorably compare with
those Of other counties. Ono has only
TO visit the teachers institutes in Other
cGunlioa where tie practical KNOWLEDGE
OF the teacher is brought out aud be crn
then STRIVE at iegit mate conclusion;
a"i u our Teachers are so far in the rear
OF other counties why ID thuir teachers
holding No. J certificates and normal
diplomas sometimes fall ~ low ~ No
2, or even 3, in orr county ? This is at
least infercniisl evidence that we nrs
not 90 far behind them in knowledge
oil the branches taught.
But while ne would gay nj this in
publication OF our teachers, we would
by no means andoryane the Importance
OF being thoroughly competent TO tc, ch
al tho common branches, AMI with our
brother 'Onco IN Wbilo" we believe
that new ere will dawn in our schools.
and that they vil reach higher stand
ard OF perfection when The teachers pro.
perry realize the important trust repos-
cd ~ them. IA a teacher We aCkuowl-
edge our Incompetence and unworthi-
ness, end 60 doubt other teachers Hc-
knowledge theirs, but iucompetsncv Of
tho teacher is not the only ut. A:hos
that stands 10 the way Of tie Xerxes Of
education, but there are osher hinderiny
csuaes.
Our letter is nov long enough and we
shall close lest we iutrudg upon ycur
space, hoping that NC may not have 70
answer for "aippant criticism" "lnlse
logic, arrogant conceit." and Inst but
not least, for professional jealousy" Of
the men who tsaCb in districts. where
1t requires hiioon years 90 complete lLe
practical courso of Arithmetic.
with best wishes tONard our WORTHY
friend VIC ciose, hoping tint be may let
Die light slime until t3o morning ,ei.
light Of tic coming day shall dawn up-
ON u5. Yours. truly,
A. {. COWGIIL.
II "a a noticeable fact that Ct the
thousands Of mon now 'on strike
throughout the North nearly all wore