South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-02-10
That School for teachers"
sEIrn.s GAP. Feb. s 1882

SMITHS GAP, Feb. ), 1882.
Mr.. HARPER TN your last papsr we
heard from Romney on the subject of
"a Schoo! for Teachers" and your cor.
! respondent chose TO differ from me "a to
the cause of poorly conducted schools.
He ssvs that the ''roor' OF the matter il
IN tie length of the term, and tha. low
salaries has something 10 do with IL and
further. Let the eighty teachers of this
! county work for longer term" and I
think be wautei TO say for better Salaries
TOO; bat il we look 1T our schools, kept
for four months, and fed on husls
and shells. we certainly dare not ask
for longer term.
IL the schools are starved 20 skin and
bone (and many are) in four months,
what would he thar condition IL led on
the same diet fer eigh; months
his text seems TO be longer term"
Teach on. shall we cropping IN isnor-
ance, working for more time TO put in
at the expense OF parents, whose chill
dron we are starving. in hlissful ignor-
ance OF what real teaching is (? | say
lot the 10 cheers prepare for their work,
aud ''all things noediul will he added"
About every Third man You meet will
say be Is teaching, or has taught. Now
many OF these people know nothing "a
bout teaching; they have attempted to
initiate teaching. and have made mise.
rahle failures. Few persons can teach
1t - difficult art. and ye' your CORES
pendent says work on in this mu,i6le
for longer term is the root Of the
matter.
Shall we ask for a longer term Wien
we know that we can not now keep life
in our schools Tor four mouIhs No.
LET US first prepare for the work. and
then ask for better things. One OF
these days the public will fui out that
much Of what is done in the schools is
nothing hut sham, aud a wicked and
senseleSs waste OF cLiidhood's time. and
that II the children get nothing Int
what we are able t. give, the race will
delcricrate.
Shall VIC 60 on calling for more time
"A longer term :" Our teachers teach
because they need occupation. and he
cause tn" ionE'suiIeriug public fins
open the schoolr0oja doors for Cverv-
BODY; they tcaC. because they fail in
every thing else End have no settled
thoughts on any subject. What can
'his acciccnta! supply 10 towarl meet
ine the demands OF Tie children
Their wants a'e founded deep in their
natures, and mani n careful AMI
thoughtful consideration. bot we are
not able 10 meet the wants Of tie chit
d'cn, and ! suppose yodr correspordeut
Vii! say, al because We have not z LON.
GER TIME. II your CHrtcsponIcnt is a
good teacher and has beer educated ia
this Co.. ha has hoen educating a; the
expense Of him 10 pays taxes, and Of
tie children W o turned tho gtiras'one
that ground his Wits The children
trracd the grindstore for lin and they
are doing u today; i. has proved a
good thing for him aud he recommend,
II To ia, by telling Us TO ask parents 60
aavc iheir children tarn this education
al stone for eight months instead OF
four.
We certainly must have . "longcr
tenn" but not until teachers prepare
for thcir work for nadet The pr sent
circumstances, it would be q gross i'm.
position both on parents and children.
!a9t - long rs suoh men as
adyor ate he right OF tax payers to DO
everything oad teachers nothing; lust
that long our schools will suffer.
Expecting TO catch il" from "LoN-
cEi Tz"St' and the Si:.ncsyi.le "KING,"
am, Yours Respectfully,
Once in q While.