West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-06-23

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chsnery of our system of tree schools is
the proper education of the child IL is
the simple, SOLEMN and responsible duty
of the whole lire Of factors State Super
intendent, County Superintendent, Board
OF Education, trustee, teacher, tax payer,
patron or parent to do whatever work
may devolve upon cash toward training.
d,sciplining and insiruG,ihg in the proper
manner the little children of our State or
county.
In order that all these factors can e.
fec,ually aid and assist in this undertaking
Without conflicting or otherwise mis,ak-
ing the work Of each ones particular
sphere of duty, IL is certainly preemi-
nenty necessary TO have each know what
portion OF the work is expected oi him so
as To render the work OF the whole com
mrnsurate with toe ends aud objects To- be
obtained by a we'll ordered and efficient
system of public education.
The FIRST thing then TO do is TO give the
the pupil in the school room something
definite To perform in order To attain the
education guaranteed HIM by the law Of
the State, and then To arrange the rect Of
the worT among the other factors of the
system aud let all do what they can TO aid
the pupil in doing what he ia TO under.
take.
Let us examine what sort Of an tduca
ton is provided by the law of our state.
In section II Of the school law we lind
The following provision "In the pri.
mary schools there shall bo taught Orihog-
raphy, Reading, Penmanshp, Arithmetic,
English Grammar History, Geography
and such other branches AS the board of
education may direct"
thorough Instruction In all these
branches is The sort of an education guar
anteed to every boy and gul by the law
Of our State, ond oug free schools will
never do that for which hey were design
ed until this is accomplished.
What the law contemplGtes, as well as
what proper view of a common school
education demands, is that the child Ia
net simply TO be instructed in one, two or
three of the branches prescribed by law
hut that II shall have thorough instruc
ton In al. thesG branches. And until the
children Of our county obtnin this sort Of
free school education, the tax payer and
patron will never get anything like II
proper and adequate return for the money
used for inca school purposes. How is
thus matter in our Dwn county? BY a
careful examination Of the schools Of the
county GuIirg my visiis to them last win
ter, am compelled 10 cay that in this
matter rests great AMI radical defect in
4 our present schools. As rule the pupil
studies one branch To the cxclueian of all
the others In majority Of cases we
hnc arithmetic studied in the country
schools m q tho othrr branches TO gr, at
extent neglected. Sometimes found
some two, maybe tl.rer, Of the brancl &c
prefcribcd by law ia which Interest was
manifested, while IN the other branches
rtchHtions were had as q sort Of matter Of
: course. ! was impressed with this every
dny and was forced TO feel that our
schools, instead OF giving our children a
thorough education I'm all the branches
deemed necessary by the lay and the
leading educators Of our land, it was
merely giving them lopsided education in
one, two OF three branches.
As rule, the branches Of instruction
Of the most vital Importance to the pupil
are the ones neglected oncnlimes care
lcssly, sometimes purposelY.
This defect must be remeded, aud tho
children educated, not according to their
own whim or fancy, but according 10 law
and common sense. We must take tho
direction Of what the child shall study out
Of the nards Of the incompetent parent
and child and place it in the bands of The
competent and learned educator. TO do
! this, regular course Of study cempre
bending all the branches prescribed by
the school authorities, and our schools be
required TO follow the same. This Of
course, should not be iron bound but sus
ceptble Of bending 10 meet exceptional
, circumstances. II should be divided into
b several grades, and should prescribe what
branches or what parts OF branches should
, be studied and taught in each grade.
This Ia the method pursued in the public
schools Of the citieo and larger towns. and
has been adopted by hr. Morgan, County
81 Superintendent Of Monongalia County.
There ore many reasons that could be
o urged In favor Of such course OF study
for our country schools, but our space
, limits us 10 the following
Let. All mental philosophers tell ne that
2 a child's mind is properly developed in
one certain way that g., one faculty OF
the mind is developed before another. and
thus there is regular succession Of devel.
opmcuts, ono leading 90 another. So I'm
order % properly develop the child's mind.
the branches Of study should be gwen az
the proper time in the proper manner.
and This matter should be pregcribed bv
those who are advised and skilled 10 such
thiDgp.
%, BY having This course Of study son
give The pupil something definite 10 ac-
compiler md q plan bv which he may do
20 10 a definite time, II studicua. This
will add an interest, enthusiasm and smbi.
lions spirit Of present unknown 10 our
/ every day fCbOOi-rOome Do ibfs end