South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-03-28

MAJ. AARPEE-Dear Sir: As have
noticed tha.there has been no canmu-
nicAxior from these parts for souS tms
and as come Of ms fsiends ~ere ANXIOUS
to know II s,Rock - y as 4 .ad, since nv
return from Texas l will peu you
sketch hcrriedly.
l have noticed that the question has
oisen been asked and is ssill beng ask
e., Why are not our schools what they
sEouid DO X And the poor teacher has
10 bear the blame without investigate
Nov, will endeavol 10 answer this
question without the entire cause being
thrown upon the teacher. In the frs.
place. Is there not more or less ;ssrtiality
shown b. those, whose duty it is, both
to examine these teachers, aud by those
whose duty IL Is 20 employ the same?
Would lot teacher OF good deport.
men. demand a better certificate. If he
DID not understand Algebra & Asirono.
my. 80 he taught practical Arithmetic,
Grammar, &C., than oae who oil UNDER
stand these branches and knew no.ring
oil the moral d practical training Of Tie
youths of our country2 The Law says
that the teacher should train the youths
50 as TO make honorable and business
men and Women, and implies that they
should not be trained only 10 memorize
aud recitc. l recollec. Of once asking
teacher for his Autograph: He says
what do you want with itl' Secondly,
should trustees employ teachers simply
bee :use they arc some relation, or be-
cause they have family that they nsusi
be with every nigh.2 Should they EN-.
ploy teacher who. when they NEE. him
On he street-instead OF politely rais-
ing the hat and bowling will yell out
'Hellow Bill, old brick
DO trustees do their duty after they
have employed the teacher ? Does not
tue faio say that, trust' es ehail visit the
schools within two weeks after the OPEN
ing and make themselves acquainted
with the rales and regu atoms of tie
school! Make suggestions, &c. Aud
within two weeks before the closing, to
revisit, and al such other ii mes as cx-
.pedicnt9 Now do they do this p
Why, SIR, l am teaching q school in
which there has not heeu trustee Tex
cept at noOn) during the entire term,
anu bat two patrons. Copl not l sleep
half of my line ami none of the people.
save the sch )lars, be the wiser and
are patrons to believe the reports OF
scholars, without investigate Now,
suppose you had so: only ten years
OLE, who was going TO purchase sic,
OU0 farm and had the moley in his pos
session, would you stay at homo and
not make yourselves acquainted with
the purchase Aud s not the MENTAL
aud MORAL training Of YOUR children oil
more VALUE, than $4,000 farm? For
on this, depends their future hap zine IS
and usefulness; while on that only their
secular interests.
Do not Boords OF Education take up-
on themselves, often, more power tIiln
belong TO them and thereby discour-
age both trustees and teachers ? and
sometimes make both vow that they will
never again have anything to do with
schools 7 Have Boards of L luc :
tioo the right either To continae, OF
discontinue, q school where there are
trustees? The law says that Boards OF
Edrcotion shall have general supeTvis.
ion over tue schools in their District,
but goes on further and says what that
supervision shall be, by saying, go say
how many schools shall be tausht how
many teachers shall be employed, allow
ing Ut iesst one for every school nouse)
what salary shall be paid. &c, all under
The legislation and they have no right
to legisla,e." The law also makes pro-
vision for disseminating school by say :
ing That If, at the end of any one school
month, school is no. making So n. =. OF
I'm
tie TRUSTEES saay discharge the teacher
and discontinue the school, unless other.
wise. directed by the Board. Do not
teachers often have trouble to get wool
to tue school, in consequence Of the
Boards not granting bills for SANE,
granted By the trustees? Does not The
law say, that Boards shall ex anime bills
granted by tha trustees aud il foun !
CORRECT. (not the amount but the bil)
order the same paid ? Also for max ne
fires, &C.. which 10 net mind doing
myself If tho Boards, trustees, people,
SC, would do their duty.
Nor is the teacher exempt from his
part of the solution OF this great quss.
tio3. How often do we hear it eaid by
scholar, Oh | don't want 10 go to
school, it is such dry place. Now
should OUR schools be dry ? Should WE
not give The pupils constant and uscfu!
employment and should WE Dot make
= Practical? What has child learned
If he can repeat every term n the nrith-
metic il he is unable TO Apply the most
simple And let our WORKS speak for
us. have taught where teachers hold.
ing No. one certificates (snd only tac)
have been teaching, and tho scholars
when l began, could not parse Romnsy
correctly, nor tell what $50 feet OF plank
would amount to at 81 20 per hundred,
ADD It the close, they would be- able 20
make from S5 to 100 p. C. on any reason
able examination in practical Aritbme-
tic and Grammar. This is not boas'ing
but simply showing what We can DO. -
And we have little conception Of The
talents OF some Of our scholars. In
proof Of this, l will relate what occur
red in my school one day. ! noticed q
little boy 10 years OLD very busiey en-.
e-aOQd nf hi1 siafe and uf.ou he hoI a. d.