Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-08-12
re- The Teachers Institute for this

GSS The Teachers Institute tor THIS
county convened in Charlestown on
Monday evening last. About so teachers
were enrolled. The following were in at
tendance from this end of the county -
Prot. Joseph McMurran, r. w. Lati-
mer. J. Davis Reutch, Geo. w. Banks,
Geo. J. Hill, G. J. Knott, w. Meade
Deck; Misses Ada Harp, Ida Fleming,
Ida Smurr, Bette Fawcett, Lizzie Nc
Murran, Ida KearDcy, Emma Reynolds,
Lily Reynolds, Anna b. Ridenour and
Mrs Ida Neil. The sessions we're pre-
sided over by Superintendent Hess and
the proceedings conducted by Mr.. Thos.
g. Miller of Fairnont. The exercises
were confined to the discussion Of the
methods of teaching the various branch
es taught in our primary schools and
were handled in skillful and interest
ing manner by those participating in
them. The subject, 'causes of non-at-
tendance and the remedies for il was
evidently one about which the teachers
had thought much. The drift of the
argument was, that, though the teacher
may be 10 blame in some instances, the
principal causes were the difference of
many parents TO The education Of their
children and the want OF parental con-
troll over the children. II is well at
tested fact that some parents allow their
children to do as they please, to go to
school when and where ,hey please and
TO stay at home when they please, and
never show any interest in the studies
of their children aud really do not
know how many days in the week their
children have been at school. The only
remedies suggested were an increased
diligence on the part of the teacher and
an earnest endeavor to do his duty aud
use every possible effort, by precept
and example, TO educate the parents to
right appreciation of the responsible
" that rests upon them.
Following this subject was another
of equal interest-"Sbould the teachers
salary or his position, be made to de-
pend upon the percent of attendance
This was fully and ably discussed and
many valuable suggestions were made.
1t ras shown by figures taken from the
records that il the per cent section of
TIE school law had been enforced in
this county this year, every public school
in it would have been closed and in
many districts if So per cent of the emu
meration were in attendance daily, the
teacher could not possibly .each them
aud do himself justice. This fact may
be briefly shown thus /: the enumeration
in each district includes all between the
ages Of 6 and 81, whether attending
public or private schools. 1t is we'll
known that few over l6 ever attend
public schools and that some included
in the school age (2D are married and
have families. Take out 95 per cent of
those over l6 and all those attending
private schools, colleges and uuiversi-
ties aud the reader can readily see the
truth of the matter. Then; why have
such law and punish the teacher for
not doing an impossbilityi The quas-
ton OF reducing his salary on account
of reduced attendance was likewise
shown to oe unfair in very many in
stances. 1st Because the teacher is not
wholly to blame for the non attendance,
the patrons of the school being often
the offenders, by not sendirg to the
school, in many cases for very trifling
reasons. 2nd. The teacher is present
every day, ready and willing to do his
duty aud is compelled to spend the
whole day and devote all his time aud
attention to the scholars present, the
rest being sbsent through the neglect
or Indifference of parents. He is thus
doing his part and why should his
wages be reduced on account of the
faults of othersi Many other topics OF
interest were discussed. but We have
not space for notice.
About O'Clock Sunday evening, a very
heavy thunderstorm passed over Cham
bersburg, Pa, doing considerable damage
to roperiy, flooding stores, cellars and