West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-08-13


gradually. A high standard though
literally denounced by the ignorant,
gives TO the taxpayers a Just equiva
lent for what he pays; incites the
teachers To geather effort and efficicn-
cy which will insure him better com.
pensation, and bettr than all else, it Sc
cures to the children their right to the
best education that the age can afford.
1t keeps unworthy, incompetent, un.
progressive teachers from crowding
the ranks, and forces those who en-.
gage in the work To keep pace with
the times. 1t would, if established
and sustained in all the counties of
this State few years, make teach.
ing in West Virginia, what it is in
some ofthe older States of the Union.
PROFESSION, Despite the deafening
denunciations that were hurled at
my predecessors, Messrs. Hawthorne
and Frederick, the standard has been
kept up during the past four years,
and the result is, now We have live,
energetic class of teachers, who are
daily striving to make themselves
more efficient and useful in the great
and important work of Teaching.
We now have four select and nor.
NAL schools in our county: one at
Kingwood. taught by Messrs. A. j.
Hare and Frank b. Tratter; one at
Masontown, taught by Messrs. N. NJ.
Waters and Willard Pell; one at
Bruceton, taught by Mr.. S. Il. Wiley;
and one at Nebo, taught by Mr..
Cover, of Uniontown, Pa. In these
four schools about 200 students are
enrolled, the most of whom are teach.
ers, or are young men and women who
intend to become teachers. Besides
the 200 referred TO above; Preston.
was we'll represented at the West Vir-
ginia University and the Fairmont
Normal School during the past
Spring term.
The different capacities which await
development in the child are physical,
mental and moral. Properly to de.
velop all these faculties or capacities,
n knowledge of the human system
and the laws of health must be ob.
tanned, and knowing that large,
number of the patrons, and nearly i (
not all our youth arc grossly ignorant
on this subject, l respectfully call
the attention of our Legislature to
this matter. TO have our youth
know that "self protection is the fun
damental law of society,"" is most de-.
sirable, and | earnestly hope that the
necessity of prescribing as a text
book TO be taught in our common
schools, some standard work on
Physiology and Hygiene, will receive
careful consideration. These sciences
cannot be taught when they should
be, un ess it be in our Free Schools.
am well aware that the statistical
report herewith transmitted is incOr-
rect in several instances; but what
am to do {? l have returned secre-
taries reports and re.returned them
until now and 1t is too late to return
them again; however, / think the es.
sential items are approximately cor
rect. Secretaries are unable to make
complete reports without the reports
of trustees. The incompleteness of
this report is due largely to iDaction
Of trustees.
Carelessness of former boards of
education, in this county,in failing to
procure deeds for school property, is
causing trouble and annoyance in q
few places. One board will lose a
house because deed was not pro-
cured at the proper time. / have
urged upon our boards the necessity
of procuring deeds for all school
property, and think ere this school
year closes, that there will be record.
ed proper deeds for all the school
lands in this county.
can not close this report without
expressing my gratitude TO the teach
ers for their many courtesies, and to
the people of Preston County gener-
ally for their very kind treatment
during my tour Of visiting the schools.
Surely the proverbial Virginia hospi-
tally is deeply rooted in this county.
b. M. SQUrREs,
County Superintendent
N