West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-08-13
PRESrON,S SCHOOLS.
Report OF County Superintendent
a.. VI. Suuircs

i hs W.
The Hon. b. S. AIOrgdr, State Su-
peyisterdent Of Schools
Dear Sir,-I have the pleasure to
'-Nnsmit to you my first annual re.
| lorL E the condition of free schools
ofPres," County, for the school year
ending June so, 1886. While it is
true that the free school system has
not yet accomplished all for which it
is intended, am proud to report
that the past years work is not with.
out at least some good results in the
County of Preston. We have many
earnest, Jealous, and able educational
workers in this county who are spend.
ing both time and money in aiding
the betterment of the condition of
our schools.
My last two predecessors, Messrs.
JOS, III. Hawthorne, a granuate of the
West Virginia University and A. w.
Frederick,a graduate of Mount Union
College, Ohio, each supplied long
felt want: the former Course of
Study" for the common schools,
and the latter General Outline of
Free School Management" to which
was appended. Mr.. Howthorne's
Course of Study" Knowing that a
good course of study and general
outline had each been provided, l di-
rected more especial attention to the
condition Of school property, etc,
closely observing the sanitary condi-
ton of the school premises, the kind
of seats, the facilities for ventilating
houses, and the arrangement for light.
To aid me in summing up these
wants, l prepared blank on which l
took memoranda of each house, and
reported the same to the respective
district boards, recommending such
changes and improvements as deem
ed proper and necessary. | found
that there had been many mistakes
made in the selection Of colors used
in painting the inside of school.
houses. Where l found such mis-
takes had been made, urged that it
be rectifed during the present Snm.
mer. In one house the walls were
painted deep blue and the ceiling n
lead color, the reverse of what it
should be. The sanitary condition
of the grounds / found bad in a few
localities, but / trust that these
places will be in proper condition for
next winters work.
That veteran school worker, Prof.
A. l., Wade, has done good work
for our schools, by inducing the
boards Of six of our eight districts to
purchase dictionaries for the use of
the schools.
In visiting the schools, travelled
over six hundred miles on horseback,
and with determination to learn all
could of the schools, school houses,
etc., and TO ascertain the actual
wants of our schools, the feelings of
the people on the progress already
attained, cold weather, snow drifts,
ETC., were passed through with no
seeming hardship. visited, with
seven exceptions, all the schools of
the county. found in most places,
that the people were willing to &C
cept all the improved methods of in
struction. and the teacher who con.
Quoted his recitations on the old
"stereotyped" plan, was usually a
subject of severe criticism.
The most prevalent fault with
teachers was the large number of
Rotations heard daily. The maxi
mum number reached 60, and the
minimum IL recitations daily. The
average was %.
Our institute, held at Kingwood,
in September last, conducted by Prof.
f. V. n. Painter, was an instructive
and profitable one. Good methods
were advanced, many of which were
put into practice by our active, pro.
gressive teachers, during the past
winter.
l issued a call for the org anization
of District Institutes, in November,
and the teachers, responding to the
call, organized in six of the eight
districts. | am sorry to report that
some Of the organizations we're not
permanent. Sickness in my family
prevented me from participating in
the exercises for a time and indiffer.
ence on the part Of teachers, acct
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