Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-21
MT. LAKE.
Proceeding of the Joint State Teachers
Association.

oPehca WIS moahioS Win pIsyeT ny IcH
DR.. Blaisdell, of Wheeling. Superinten-
dent Morgan announced the following COM
mittees from among the members Of the
West Virginia Association: Normal Schools
and Uniyersity-C. A. Sipls and 7. Z.
Hodges. Public Schoois-T, @. Miller,
j. ID. Sweeney and A. l. Purenton. ResO-
lutions-A. L. Purenton, s. B. Brown, ].
N. David, ]. n. Lee and II. r. BlsiS-
dell. On Nomination Of Officers-F. II.
Crago, A. S. Fleming, ]. G. GettiDgs,
Miss Mary McGuigen, d. w. Shields.
Place Of meeting, A. L. Wade, H. ].
Dumife, A. j. Wilkinson, Miss Sue Sheets
and Miss Sue Fallen.
An invitation TO the joint association to
make BIT. Lake Park their permanent
place of meeting Was received and referred
to q committee. Superintendent Morgan
explained briefly the purpose Of the COM
mittees on Normal Schools and University
and Public Schools to consider and report
on needed legislation for these institutions.
DR.. Conrad, of Maryland Agricultural
College, continued the discussion of Free
and New Text Books" aud made strong
appeal for more liberal methods and
broader work in the public school system
Prof. Squires, Of Maryland, denounced
the prevailing custom of piling school
books on school books, and argued for
fewer and simpler books and more concise
definitions.
The county NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. can
its efficiency be increased? was the sub
iect of an interesting and well written pa
per by j. n. David, Principal OF Salem
| graded school. Mr.. David said that no
ofsee in the school work was more import
ant than the county superintendency.
All the highest qualities of the teacher
was required of him. The county super
intendents of West Virginia generally
came up to this high standard. But they
labored under great disadvantages. For one
man directly to superintend from $50 to
200 schools, scattered over from 400 to 600
square miles of territory, need only to be
named to see the impcssibility Of it. How
can the efficiency be increased! First: By
increased salary, larger power and longer
term of office. Second, abolish the
Board of Examiners. Third, appoint in
each magisterial district district superin-
tendent, who shall receive the salary OF q
competent teacher, and shall devote his
whole time to experimenting the schools
of that particular district. Other things
required were a proper compensation to
the superintendent for holding Normal
institute each year; the establishment of q
permanent Office for the superintendent at
the county seat, and change OF the time
of election to the presidential year.
| After recess the discussion upon the paper
was opened by J. s. Cornwell, Principal Of
! the Harrisville public schools Dir. Cornwell
did not believe that the work of the coun-
| ty superintendent had reached the stand
ard of excellence that it ought to have
reached. There are two requisites to sue
cessful county supervision. First, thor
oughly qualified superintendent. Itisare-
markable thing that the school law Of We st
! Virginia requires an efficient officer without
taking any steps to secure him. The
| Office has not sufficient compensation
nor sufficient power over the schools Of the
county. Again the position should be
taken ont of partisan politics. This could
be done By placing the power OF appoint.
ment in the hands Of the State superin-
tendent, such appointment subject to the
approval of the county board of education.
The superintendent should be well quail
fed and a diploma from one of the best
educational institutions OF the State
should be required. He must also be ex-
perienced, not less than three years service
as a teacher should be one Of his quail
ties. What else? He should be we'll
versed in the science and art OF education.
1t would be very good plan, if the State
would provide department OF the super
intendents. A State institute should be
established, and an attendance upon this
institute should be required by law. Mr..
Cornwell concluded his address with
strong plea for more thorough and COM
plets school system.
DR.. Newell explained the duties OF Mary
land county superintendent at length.
Superintendent Berkey, of Somerset coun-
| ty, Pa, discussed the school system OF his
State, as regards the county superinten.
dency.
| At the afternoon session the COM
mittee on nomination of officers Of the
Maryland Association reported their Off
GERS as follows: President, II. G. Weemer,
| Cumberland; FIRST Vice President, F. s.
Everest, Cecil county; Second Vice Presi-
dent, Miss Laura Skinner, Baltimore;
Recording Secretary, A. l.. Wilkinson,
Baltimore; Corresponding Secretary, Miss
Maggie Smith, Baltimore; Treasurer,
Alex. Chaplain, Talbot county; Executive
Committee, A. n. Ebsugh, John d. Wor-
Ellington, Mrs. Lena Saulsburg, Mrs l..
l.. Beatty.
Miss Sarah d. Rosmer, of Wheeling, was
encored in her charming rendition of a
vocal solo, "Echert's Swiss Song" The
West Virginia committee on nomination OF
officers made the following report, which
was unanimuusly adopted! President, X.
S. Morgan; Vice Presidents: First Dis
trict W. H. Anderson; Second District,
A. ]. wilkinson; Third District, Geo. S.
I4aidley; Fourth District, Maj. J. NJ. Lee;
Recording Secretary, j. s. Cornwell; Cor
responding Secretary, Mary E. Jones;
Treasurer, Fhos. @. Miller.
Prot. A. L, Purinton, from the Commit
tee on Resolutions, made report, thank
ing the Maryland Association for the
courtesies extended them, and expressing
q desire to meet with them again. The
third resolution read as follows:
That in State Superintendent of Schools,
B. S. Morgan, we recognize an officer of
the most admirable qualities, and rare eff
cheney;
That we believe his work in the
lines Of supervision and of simplifying
and populsrizing our system of public ed
ueation has been of inestimable value to
this commonwealth;
That under his wise direction our insti-
tutes hSve reached degree of excellence
aud usefulness, never before attained;
That "a President Of the State Educa-
tional Association he has uniformly exhib-
tied fine parliamentary ability and the
most delicate courtesy, and that we ask no
better officer to preside over rs;
That as a gentleman Of sterling char
acter and genuine culture, we point TO
him with pride as the head of our State
system of public schools, and that we
wish him personally and professionally
the most brilliant success, and the achieve
msnt of his highest and most honorable
ambition.
Prof Purinton stated that II was under
stood that the present State Superintend-
emit was nearing the close of his first term
of office. He was happy to say that for