The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-02
.OuR pnRLIn sOHOOIsn
a Live Topic which Formed hssubisot q
Rev, 4, W, BRTrAB6Fmon Last Night,

Of the very interesting discourse he
delivered TO a large congregation last
evening, His text was taken from
Proverbs Il l4-"Wise men lay up
knowledge
The month Of September 10 a great
epoch in the history Of many young
people. To some It is the beginning OF
their last year in school life, while 9th.
era will be introduced for the frat time
10 the wonders and tasks OF the school,
room, IEisa time which not only in
terests teacher and taught, but should
interest every parent whose child enters
the school room and who longs for It's
welfare; and those who have the well
fare Of our, country At heart must look
forward to the school results with deep
anxiety,
Parent, how will the training OF the
school room compare with that OF the
home Circle2 What lessons, intellectual
and moral, will your children learn
while out from under your personal sp.
peryision2 / ask these questions not
that / doubt, or would have you doubt,
the wisdom ofthe Public School system,
but II possible, that ] may awaken within
your soul q deeper interest in one Of our
greatest American institutions, Down
deep in the heart OF our national lie Ia
found imbedded this principle Of eduCa-
tion; its cultivation has been co-equal
with our country growth, Ayerylarge
percentage OF American youth receive
none other than the advantages afforded
by these public schools; therefore the
character OF the work done In these
schools, will tell upon the men and
women turned out by them,
Realizing that / am addressing those
who have much concern for the welfare
OF our schools-for you are all interest,
ed, some as teachers, some as pupils and
some as patrons and suppoFters-what
do you expect these schools to do2 |
answer, you should expect, first, that
the schools shall help the child to cult.
yate the powers Of observation; second,
that they assist the child in training his
mind to think. These two factors in
school work are the most important,
and shouldbe insisted upon, rather than
q third, which has been mostly insisted
upon, namely, the attainment Of inior-
nation, A man Is better equipped To
fight LIES battles, Is a better man and a
better citizen, II he is trained 10 observe
and to think rather, than be possessed Of
dry facts, and poorly instructed in the
use OF his minds powers. To cultivate
the mind rather than strain the memory,
should be the purpose Of every teacher.
The positions Of trust and honor, and
intricate questions which enter into our
body polite demand and call forth the
Judgment OF observing and thinking
minds, and in so much as our schools
neglect, or fail In developing these pow.
ers OF mind, to that extent they deny
their pupils their best assistance and
take from them asource OF the ,purest
enjoyment for unoccupied hours, and
the wisest judgment In the work OF life.
Again the public school should 30 lead
the mind Of the children as to create a
love for learning. Many child leaves
the Hchool.room with only hate for 1t.
Why2 Principally because he has found
nothing In II TO attract him. Every.
thing was drudgery-mechanical art In
writing; hard spelling, difficult prob
lens in arithmetic, senseless sentences
In grammar, and a cold.faced teacher.
All these often face the child. He sees
no relation between the results obtained
and his present wants, and he finally
masters the lesson assigned only that he
may get away from 1t and forget 1t.
What Il a child know a little more or
a little less, provided he has a thirst for
knowledge3 With the love for mental
food, and the knowledge Of the way
to attain It pupils will educate them.
selves. They will drink in the facts OF
the different books placed before them
because Of its relationship with other
facts which build up character.
Another factor In the work OIL the pub.
lie schools which should not be forgot
ten, Is the training Of the heart-llfe.
God has given to each child an under.
standing, and that power Of mind should
be taught to distinguish between right
and wrong.
Most watchful then should the public
schools be over the morals OF those who
come under instruction. Wholesome
influences, noble examples should reign,
inspiring the thoughts and directing the
purposes Of the child TO choose VISIONS
ways.
The welfare OF tie citizen demand, Of
our schools proper heart culture as well
as right intellectual training. Looking
at these as some Of the most important
factors in the work Of the publicschools,
there remains one point that as patrons
we ought not 10 overlook. Every citi.
gen should see to It that the greatest pos.
sihle good should be returned 10 the
community from the existence Of these
schools In our midst. Here at our doors
In every ward we have schools. You
are taxed to support them; teachers are
employed To impart instruction; every
effort Is put forth to make them ioun.
tains Of wholesome knowledge and CEN
tres Of h~elplulness to all. II they are
not all that they should be to the people,
where Is the fault II must be In the
people themselyesl II the schools do
not train and strengthen the minds Of
the pupils, the neglect Ia 10 q large *.
tent the peoples for the people have the
power TO make the schools what they
ought to be.
In conclusion l wish to say con.
cerniug Wheeling schools, that the city
does not get the greatest good possible
from them. Ny knowledge OF her
schools leads me 10 believe that while in
many respects her methods are not I've.
feet, yet on the whole, there Is o good
degree OF proficiency In the work accom-.
plished, But many parents do not avail
themselves Of the advantages to them
and their children. Many children do
not enter school for the year who ought
TO be In "; many others attend very
irregular, and a third class either QUIT
school Of their own accord, or are taken
away by their parents, before their
minds are framed 10 think. On one pre-.
text or another the child stays out Of
school soon he finds his way into'the
the factory or mill engaging often times
In employment for which he Is not
physically able, and before he ID, q
years Of aye he is q physical wreck and
q mental dwarf; In fact q man without
any ability for any honorable calling In
life. II parents who are In SO great d
hurry 10 get their boys into the mills OF
business, and their girls into the fac.
tories would only look over their child.
Fens' llte they would find that q few
years In thelE. teens properly spent In