The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-07

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The Cause OF Popular Education.
The IS7ELL'aEScr8 Is indebted TO the
Rev. Mr.. Curry, Of Richmond, Va, agent
Of the Peabody fund, for pamphlet con.
tanning bis report OF the condition Of the
fund, and the manner Of distributing tho
interest arising from itduring the last year,
ss submitted to the twenty'hnt meeting Of
the trustees in New York On the 4th oil
October last.
It seems that the innd Last year iron
October, 81, to October, 's2) distributed
sS0,3H OF to the cause OF education In the
Southern States. VI this amount West
Firginia received $500, allotted as follows
-viz-to the aid oil the Educational Journal,
500; to Normal Schools, LOO, and to
Teachers Institutes, $1,000. shperlnten.
dent Butcher writes 10 the agent that III It
were not for Peabody aid weshould be un.
able to reach the great majority OF our
teachers He, however, adds with respect
to the Cause Of education in West Virginia
and the growth OF the schools tina. the
outlook Tor popular education was never
brighter" He speaks Of the demand for
better teachers, the increase Of teachers
salaries in many localities, the improve
inents among the teachers in matters OF In
struction, the increased interest taken by
parents. the improved buildings, furniture
and apparatus now being built and used,
and the very general and favorable COM
ment by the public press throughout the
state"--ail of which, be says, "are unerring
signs Of the general advance all along the
line"
Nevertheless the average number Of
school terms throughout the State was only
about sixteen weeks, and this average is
brought up 10 that figure by the ten
months schools Of Wheeling, and the long
terms in such cities and towns as Parkers-
burg, Charleston, Morgantown, Fairmont,
Martinsbnrg, Grafton, Wellsburg, Mounds
vile, New Cumberland, klugwood, Pied
mont, Keyser, Weston and other less I'M
portant places. The average term through
out the country districts proper would per-
haps not exceed 10 weeks, or at most u.
These short terms, as the agent OF the
Peabody fund notes in hia report to the
trustees, are great drawback to the cause
OF education in the South. He says that
they constitute zone Of the most serious
obstacles to the improvement OF teachers
and public schools" First, thew IRE
hindrnnce to the procurement Of GOOD
teachers. Second, ''just enough education
is given to satisfy the ignorant and cove.
tous; such public schools destroy private
schools, and thus only a fraction OF the
children get an imperfect education. Third,
in long vacation scholar loses much
that had been previously acquired. Length.
eaing the session will save antecedent re-
suits, give continuousness and increased
valie to instruction, and secure better and
more permanent teaching"
The bad effect OF these short terms is
further shown West Virginia being no
exception to other Southern States) BY the
disproportion OF the school attendance to
the number Of children Of school age. The
State and the people 20 through the form
OF keeping up system Of public taxation
for q minority Of those who should embrace
and enjoy its advantages. This is one Of