Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-21
oVERwoRKED SCHOOL CHILDREN.
VINO Is Responsible :

VINO Is Responsible:
Correspondence ofthe Register.
A short time since, / noticed a very
interesting discussion in the New York
Herald on the topic suggested by the
above headline. 1t is undoubtedly a
subject attended with many great and
serious difficulties; and now, that in the
late elections, to the apparent satisfac-
ton OF the rank and file of the two
great political parties, the people have
so triumphantly vindicated their rights
against "bOss rule" and the great 'tma-
chine" so long engaged in crushing out
the life-bloOd Of our free institutions, IL
may De a proper time to inquire dis
pasSionately into the operations of this
boss and machine work in matters more
Immediately affecting our home
interests. The people will naturally
inquire-as they have right to do
what general politics should have to
do in such matters; especially as re-
lateS to our municipal life? i mean,
particularly, as to the election or APP
pointment Of County Commissioners,
Sheriff, members of the City Council,
police officers, Justices of the Peace,
School Commissioners, and other func-
tiOnaries Of similar and inferior grade?
And upon candid reflection, the answer
will be, Nothing at all. Then how
does il come to pass that the persons
filing the offices referred to, are chosen
almost exclusively with reference to
their political leanings, and often with
but very little regard to their real quail
ficationS? Now there is evidently q
great wrong here-a wrong seriously
affecting the public at large.
That this state of things is brought
about through the agency of the ina
ehine,n the public mind is we'll con-
WINGED. But what is meant by the
machine?
1t means the subordination of the
public interests to the interests of more
or less unprincipled aspirants TO Office.
1t means q division of spoils among par
ties generally the least worthy and most
INSCRIPTIONS as to the means of attain
ing their end. 1t means simply most
detestable system of aXe-grinding, in
which the most unworthy persons
standing in the background, or coming
boldly to the front, in defiance of pub
lie deeeney, are wont to take the lead.
Now, wish to apply the foregoing
general remarks to the management of
our public school interests. 1t would
seem that interests so sacred as these
could hardly come within the range
of this deadly Upas-the Machine. But
alas! such is not the fact. Boards OF
Education are elected-it is so in this
city at least-by the Machine. School
Commissioners are put in nomination,
their names tackled on the tail end Of
one or the other party tickets and voted
for at the district elections, in such a
way that but few know or care who the
party is that seeks the office, or what
bis qualifications. And there he is, and
there he will remain for three long
wears, and perhaps three times that,
until he begins to thinks that he has
life estate in the office of Commissioner.
He NAV be an ignoramus, or drunk
ard, or shrewd axe-grinder, or any
thing else that honest and honorable
men may hold in contempt; but
there he is for six long years at
least, and there seems to be no help
for il. 1.-THE machine cannot be mashed
here. as elsewhere, then things must
run On for an indefinite length OF time
in their usual channel.
Now what is the legitimate outcome
| of all this? Just what we see. L do
not mean that our schools are not OF
respectable grade-as much so, at least,
as the average throughout the country,
| for this state of things prevails almost
everywhere, even IN good old BOSTON,
| but / should Lot have the courage OF
INV own convictions if 1 did not say,
| there is great room for improvement
There is one general wall of discomfort
| ali over the country, and much anxiety
~ EXPRESSED lest our public school sys-
tenn should be brought into disrepute.
And for all this l honestly believe we
| are indebted to the machine-not the
machine Of one party or the other, Out
of all political parties.
a BOARD of Education-with more hon
I orable exceptions, of course-ignorant,
scbeming and unqualified, and you
have the inevitable result that L nave
| depicted.
1t is difficult sometimes to nix the re-
| sponsibility on the right shoulders, even
| where YOU may be We'll satlsneu tnaI
there is something radically wrong
! For instance, do not pretend TO say,
] that the parties are entirely gunty. gu,
perintendents, Principals, teachers anu
parents are doubtless often at fault, even
wben irving to do, as they think, for
the host But the chief responsibility
rests upen the Board of Education.
which has the control and the power to
correct existing abuses. But often the
ROard of Education is found-perhaps
in striving to correct errors as they see
tbem-themselves inflicting the most
outrageous abuses. For years they nave
been i'm the habit of making the teach,
ers scape-goats for their own sins; and
n the teachers dared to resist, they
would give the crank another turn, ana
sasten the screws still more tightly.
This miserable system NJ grade-grlnd-
inc and oppression has been going on
for wears, thus crushing out everything
Ike freedom of action, so Indispensable
to the successful teacher. Hence our
schools are run almost entirely by ma
| chinery. There can be no doubt on
This point, and hence, the Widespread
and disastrous evils which are likely 10
result from our otherwise admlraole
system of public instruction. But l
shall probably be better understood II l
descend a little more to particulars L
srraign. therefore, the present manage
menf of our public schools upon
the charge and specifications foi-
lowing. There is too much ms
cbineTy. too much vote work, too
mnch memorizing, and too little free
Thought. too many studies, too many
hours spent In study, too many exam
inations. too much mental excitement
and high pressure, too much night
studv. too much nervous exhaus-
tion. too much danger to the future
health and happiness, especially OF the
gentler sex, and, to sum up IN one wore
(which does not embrace the haif-too
much disqualifeations of females for the
dnties of future maternity and house,
Keeping, and males for manly, large ano
liberal Views in transaeting the business
Of life.
Ihave but one further suggestion, ane