Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-04-03
Shanghai.

The wheat crop. as general thing. is
looking we'll.
Potato planting has been quite extensive
so far.
Some worthless ours have been raidipg
the sheepfold of Hon. M. S Grantham.
Our farmers are about done sowing oats,
of which there is an unusually large acre.
age.
has not been injured.
| learn that John w. Kettering and w.
d. Slonaker, of Ganotown have gone to
Ohio, in search of better pastimes.
am glad to say that Mr.. Joseph Gano,
who has been sick for some time, is improv-
ing in health.
The schools in the valley are doing as
we'll as is possible for them to do under ex-
listing circumstances. suppose there is no
section in the county in which teachers
have so much to contend against, as in this
valley. Unfortunately for them, the men
who are intelligent and know how schools
should be conducted, know the duty of the
teacher to the children and of the children
to the teacher, do not generally interest
themselves as they should in this matter.
Upon the other hand men who have attend
ed school but little if at all; who know
nothing of school government, have no sys-
tenn OF training for their children at home,
have no books or reading matter of any
kind in their houses, except perhaps copy
or two of Patent Office reports. land | am
sorry to say some of the trustees are in this
class) are the men who want to dictate a
course of action for the teacher, and II their
contracted ideas are not endorsed and fol-
lowed, the teacher lin their estmation) is
worthless and is not in his proper place at
any point on this side Of HADEs. Many
OF the children are sent to school without
books yet they are expected to improve
with those who are well supplied with eve-
ry school room necessity. The farmer can
put out his crop of wheat just as well with
out plows, harrows etc., as the teacher can
advance pupil without books. There are
parents who do not control one or two chill
dren at home, yet they expect a teacher to
control 80 or 40 in the school room by call
ing them pet names, and allowing them to
do as they please. If the children become
unruly and will not study, the teacher is
denounced as worthless. If it becomes
necessary to administer the rod, they
are off to the trustees or board OF ed
ucation, and to suspend OF expet Us an un-
pardonable offense. These are few of the
difficulties under which the teachers are
continually laboring and the only protec-
ton they can have is that which should be
given them by board of intelligent school
officers, men who would defend the right,
and reprove the wrong. / do not approve
of the habitual use of the rod in the school,
it should be used only when other efforts
have failed 1t should then be used as a
means of punishment as teachers are not
paid to be continually busting the clothes
of their pupils. mean by this that when
nothing but the rod will do, use it so as to
make a feeling impression, and if the par
ents do not like it, let them take the pu.
pill from school, and perhaps they will
thereby save the trouble of suspension or
expulsion.
it would be wise if all who are interest
ed in schools would reflect upon the trials
ard perplexi ties that have to be undergone
by the school teacher. G.