Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-25
UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.
Newspapers the Best Agencies by
Which
To Secure Its General Adyancement-What
Use Should be Made of Them in
the Public Schools Of
the Country
To n. Eitipr Of me RenisLcr,

never reach universal education, until
We reach universal appreciation of edu-
cation Only u limited experience in
public school work is required to con-
vince one of the real truth of this asser-
tiCn. The annual school tax, good
school houses, appr wed aud improved
apT aratuS and text books, and teachers
Of superior skill and tact ure undispen-
sable requisites to the continued success
and progress of the public school sys-
tenn yet all Of these and nothing more
will never make popular education uni
versal, yet no compulsory law will ac-
COmplish it. There must exist pOpu-
lar sentiment in favor of education,
which is so strong that no grade or class
of society con resist it. 1t was a pub
lie sentiment of this character, which,
greater and higher than the mere law,
made popular education universal in
Germany, and if the day ever comes
when the public schools of our country
reach and mould every grade and class
of society and especially the lowest and
poorest classes which not TO reach aud
influence is a fearful failure, it will be
when there Is q public sentiment, OF
the necessity of education pervading
the masses that is universal and ire.
sistible. Granting, then, the value and
force Of such public sentiment in pro-
noting the advancement of popu' ar
education, it will be proper to inquire,
what are the most powerful factors
that may be relied on to produce
and promulgate it? What is the most
potent factor IN the formation and 1T
rectiOn of public sentiment? Evident
~ in everything that pertains to the
masses tor certainly of result, the daily
and weekly press takes precedence. Tue
friends of popular education can never
rely on tie monthly school journal
which is not read by the people to in
suUCt them in educational matters nor
"a Oh the weekly school journal land
there are Ouly few good ones which
is read by only small per cent of the
teaching profession, and no. by more
than one patruu in ten thousand. The
daily and weekly press which has ever
b,en on the SIDE OF popular educatiOn
and progress, and whose general tone
virtue, must continue to be the
teacher OF the people in all
that pertains to popular reform
and advancement. Weekly and
monthly school journals are necessary
for the teaching profession, but it is
worse than folly to expect this class Of
publications to reach the masses and
instruct them concerning the advanc-
ing steps of the new education. The
people need more light on many mat
tiers closely connected with the success
at our public schools. They need more
enthusiasm especially, and how can
they more quickly and certainly be in
struCted and enthused than by the
weekly paper, which is at once the
principal teacher and all the library III
many households? We therefore claim
that the weekly press should contain
more educational news and instruction
FIR the people than the brief synopsis
rrportsOf teachers annual institute and
educational conventions. If as educa-
tiODal workers, We are TO expect the
highest success, We must have the
sympathy and cooperation Of the peo-
pie, and in order that the people CO.
operate with us it is absolutely essential
that they understand us aud our work,
and appropriate our plans and methods.
Long standing educational abuses will
disappear 0uiy in proportion to the
enlightenment ofthe people. Old and
efIete methods of teaching, will not be
wholly supplanted by newer and better
ones until the people appreciate the
superiority Ofthe new over the old. In
promoting the cause Of popular educa-
tion, in helping the teacher in his aIdu.
Gus labors Ia maintaining a healthy
public opinion and in arOuSing and ill.,
strUcting the people. l believe the
daily and weekly press can and should
be made a much more powerful and
useful auxiliary than it already is. As
lust how this can best he accomplished
Is a question of much interest, and
merits the attention of educators and
school officers generally, | will give my
experience i'm MOnOngalia county, hop
ing to encourage those who have faith
i'm the local press as an educational aid.
Two years ago We began column in
our county papers, to be devoted ex-
chrsively to tbs Observation-Disclosures OF
the county and state, which has been
kept up during the school term Of each
year. The teachers of the county
especially aided in supporting it, and
patrons also made frequent contribu-
tons. In order to make this depart
ment still more useful, | conceived the
idea of having the county papers placed
in the schools, to be used in teaching
local and current history and also fur
nish the school with supplementary
reading. The plan chosen for carry
: h,v hn
voluntary subscription OF each
school, While | do not claim
that this Is the best plan, or that is the
most feasible; still think IL has many
points in its favor. There is 8 princr-
pie Of human nature which values
things in proportion to what they cost.
When the school Subscribes for a paper
each child feels an interest in it, aud
would naturally appreciate it more than.
if il had been donated to the school. l
believe that one or two good weekly
newspapers should be placed in every
county school, even if it must be done
by the Board of Education. The use Of
newspapers in the public schools for the
purposes have mentioned was very
generally endorsed by teachers, school
Cffic rs and patrons, and our success
has been 50 encouraging that We eX.
ect to try to extend our work and not
only place in our schools the local
papers, but also State paper during
the present school term. The discus
sion Of this subject in our institutes aud
educational meetings has been product.
i've of much good. A number Of pub
lie school libraries have already been
started, and the people are becoming
awakened concerning the importance
of supplying the public school children
with suitable literature.
The school law of our State contem-
plates that the youth of the State shall