Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-02-28

BERKELEY County FOR Isoo.-D. H. 4
DoDD, SUPT.-In this. my third annual
report, am glad to say that notwith-
standing the great barrier of kosC soages
to teachers, we are steadily advancing,
yet we are not where we should be in
educational matters. We have raised
the standard Of requirements and by
this means, compelled the Indifferent
class of teachers to step down and out
of the way of better; but instead Of the
Board of Education cooperating with
us in this effort to secure none but the
best teachers, in some of the districts
they have reduced the wages, and in
others, the length of term, thus driv-
ing away some of our best talent to
more lucrative fields of labor. This is
much TO our detriment but while we
are still laboring under these unfavora-
able circumstances. we are still labor
ing in earnest. Many OF our teachers
make great sacrifices for the good of
the rising generation, by personal out
lay to supply better apparatus.
A wonderful interest has been Gre
ated in this county among the more
advanced pupils-and not these only,
for believe nearly every child of school
age in this county, has felt the influ-
ence,- by the successful adoption of the
" graduating system 1t is really
amazing to see what interest is mani
tested both by teachers and pupils since
the system has been put in successful
operation. In my last report, stated
that thirty-four pupils passed the ex-
animation and received diplomas last
year ffty-seven graduated with good
per cents, every district in the county
being we'll represented Parents take
more interest than formerly and anx-
iously look forward to the time when
their own children areexpected to grad
uate as set forth in the catalogue that
was published last year. This cata-
logue represented every school in the
county, and gave much useful informa-
ton concerning our whole system of
schools in the county. A course of
study was laid down, to be completed
in given number ofyears, and all
seemed to realize that the end was pos
sible, and set to work to reach the de-
sired goal.
l visited nearly all of the schools
second time last winter, and believe
that such supervision pays; but there
is not sufficient money paid the super
intendent to give the schools that at
tention they should have from that
officer From two to three hours at
time, was as much time as could be al
lotted to each school / believe that
the State legislature could enact no
wiser law than to enlarge the duties of
county superintendent, and increase
the salary of some, so as to Justify his
giving his entire time to the work OF
school supervision.
Three new houses were built last
year, and as many more will be erected
before the schools are opened again
these generally take the place Of old
ones, but few are on other sites.
Worcester's Universal and Critical
Dictionary has been placed in all the
schools of the county by the Board of
Education, except those of Falling
Waters district. 1t is not the book for
our schools, and am sorry that it has
a place there AS Webster's Primary
is used in all the schools, and Webster
IS taken as authority for both spelling
and pronunciation, especially the lat
ter, it would have been far better to
supply our schools with a book by the
same author, even if the cost would have
been far greater. The diacritical mark
ing being entirely different from that
of the readers, biographies, dictionaries
andspellersnow in use, and Iconsider the
of new author a positive
injury to pupils, and can be of no ser
vice to any one except to the teacher
as reference book.
But little interest so far has been
taken in Arbor Day. A few teachers
have observed it, but the great MAORI
ty pass it by unobserved, probably be-
cause the grounds are not fenced. l
want to make a special effort for its
next year.
A great many of our houses have
been supplied with patent desks, and
many others will be provided for be-
fore the schools open again, still there
10 AOObA AOA man AAAOlN IMAM W III IN
purchased this summer.
Five of the six rural districts in the
county are now right well provided
with comfortable houses and substan-
tial desks, but there is not a frst-class
blackboard in the county, and some Of
the schools would be as we'll of with
out any board, as to attempt the use
of the ones now provided still nearly
all of our schools are supplied with
boards that can be used under unfavor-
able circumstances.
Our wants to elevate the schools to
their proper standard are, better school
houses and furniture in some Of the
better black boards and
uniformity Of textbooks
more efficient teachers better salaries;
of attendance higher esti-
mate of the importance of education
more interest on the part of parents
and trustees and better supervision