Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-10-25

JH6Tel ore, dpplCdllOu Is pI6IeIdUl0 10
anything else. While we admit that
reading is a disciplinary study, it is
plainly to be seen that application of
anything more than its elements, to-
gether with Thorough knowledge of Il
few text questions is much less prolific
of individual or social benefit than any
other branches. Another matter equal
ly important as examinations is the
growing influence which young and in
experienced teachers have upon our
country schools. In no filter language
can we express our sentiments than that
of Prof. George W. Welsh: 81 have been
well acquainted with the schools of this
country for twelve years, and my obSer-
vations have led me to conclude that
our country schools are not aS efficient
now as they were twenty-five years ago.
Then our teachers were men and wo-
men of mature age, many of them pos
sessing large fund of information. if
they were sometimes little deficient in
mere technicalities of textbooks" Now,
l think that many of the teachers of
our country schools are mere boys and
girls, without knowledge, without ex-
perienee, without appreciation of the
Importance of the work, without prepa-
ration other than that required to OBJ
tain the lowest grade of certificate.
Time and again l have known two per-
sons TO apply for the same schOUl-One
applicant, having a certificate for elgh-
teen months or two years, and having
had successful experience as "a teacher,
wanted $50 month for his services; the
other held certificate for six months,
or expected to get such an one, and
would teach for $50 month, or even
less. In almost every instance prefer
encs was given to the cheap teacher.
Experience and qualification stood no
chance in connection with low wages.
The cheap teacher takes charge of the
school. He has no well defined plans; is
young and inexperienced; the board of
education has not prescribed course of
study; he finds different series of text
books in the school; no classification; !;
each pupil studies-or pretends to study
only what he prefers. The matter of
hiring teachers in these neighborhOods
is too frequently d neighborhood matter
B. votes that AS daughter shall have
the school in the spring, witt the under
standiug that BIS son will have AS in
huence to procure it in the fall. Mum
bers Of cases which occur in our own
immediate neighborhood corrobOrated
but too strongly the above views. Spe-
cilic cases are known where two of the
directors hired third members soma
youth wholly without experience, to
teach in place of a skillful, experienced
teacher of the preceding winter, at a
salary of 25 to so per cent. greater. The
matter Of employing good local directors
is equally important as that of good
teachers. The former are placed there
for the purpose of judging the qualiiica-
tionS of the latter; and unless they be
men of integrity and good common
sense-men who like to see the youth
employed in learning, and who have the
sagaciJy to know when a school is pro-
crossing, they certainly are incompetent
judges. They need to be men of public
spirit, who take pride i'll aiding the gen.
eral prosperity of our country as we'll as
their own immediate "hcme circle Too
often is it the case that wealth and rela-
tionship, or the power of cajolery does
more toward the election of profess
Sional candidates than does that of sci
entifc attainments. Too often it is the
case also that two of the local directors
can scarcely read or write. who depend
upon the third member to settle all
points in dispute. 1t is, therefore, very
important that they be men of candOr
and judgment as we'll as possessors of
true and worthy motives. Now, what
is to be done? Why, the people, should
take it in hand, and suppress it by that
power which is the birthright of US al.
Let us not, friends, be waiting for the
stream to exhaust its waters-it flows
on-and must continue flowing forever,
for the springs by which it is supplied
are ineXhaustible.