Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-31

tiIliAN'N a'aa 90 t'N f'lfnf -iit ~aAA'-
anl ,nrls hu,-ors Of infants anil children. SAFE
soap. sofa everywhere. Prce. g SIS.
certificates. The Superintendent makes
the following suggestions:
The third grade certificate shall be grant
ed 90 applicants who shall pass a sausfac-
[ tory examination. with an average Of 10
I per cent la the branches required 10 be
taught ia the primary free schools, and be
made valid for period OF one year, and be
re-issued only upon examination and then
not 10 the same applicant more than twice.
! The second grade certificate shall be IS
sued 20 all applicants who shall pass an eX-
animation upon all the branches required D
/ % be taught IN the free schools and Civil
Government and bookkeeping and the
theory and art Of teaching and obtain
general average of 70 per cent, which shall
/ be valid for period of two years and be
/ re-iSsued only upon re examination.
The first grade certificate shall be issued
I % all applicants who shall pass an eNami-
nation with an average of i per cent In all
/ branches required for a second grade GER
l tihcate and in addition thereto Algebra,
Elementary Physics and the School Law,
which certificate shall be valid for period
of four years, and shall be re-issued with
out an examination, provided the holder
has taught two years on said certificate.
A strong appeal is made for the man
agement Of the free school system on
sound business principles The educa-
| tiOn of 266. 900 children, requiring the
employment of 5.49l teachers, at an
annual expense OF about one million and
quarter dollars, is 4 simple statement
OF the magnitude OF this State enter
| prise: and yet. this is not all ii involves.
The people have 4 permenent invest
ment in school property amounting to
/ -. 4S3, SIS.
To get the best results no one will
deny that uniform graded course will
90 far in that direction. Referring to
this matter, the Superintendent says:
The necessity Of providing the ungraded
| country schools with uniform course of
study has not been under consideration for
more than twelve or fifteen years in the
/ United States. but on the Continent OF
/ Europe, the country schools Of the mostad-
vanced nations are as carefully graded and
supervised as the schools Of the large
cities However, the Importance Of this
work in now being rapidly recognized in
America and within the past five years a
number of States, among them, Indiana,
I Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and
Michigan have put In operation uniform
course OF study for their ungraded schools.
lie pleads for legislation In this mat
| ter for the reason that the schools would
| do more efficient work than they are to-
day.
In arguing in favor OF compulsory
attendance the Superintendent says,
"that if popular education becomes uni
verSal compulsory attendance must be
made the fixed policy OF the free school
system. IL is becoming more and more
apparent each year that without COM
pulSOry education, the public schools
most Sigually fail to reach that very class
of children which would not receive an
education, II there were no free school
system.
The Superintendent treadS on very
delicate ground in discussing the alleged
inequality of taxation for the support
OF the free schools. He takes the po-
sition that an additional tax should be
levied, because the richer and
more densely populated sections
of the State have set up
independent districts. Briefly he APP
proves Of that ever recurring ghost, |
which, like Banquo'S apparton, will |
not down, the "Twenty-cent tax bill,
aud which used TO be so earnestly cham |
pioned by the late Judge Stuart, of bod |
bridge county. His logic is not alto |
gether sound on this subject, and the |
idea Of putting any more burdens OF |
taxation on the Independent districts |
for the benefit of others will surely be
combatted by all fair-mnded and JUS
tice-lOying legislators.
The text book question has always |
been 4 great bugaboO, and is just as far
from settlement now as ever. The Su- |
perintendent discusses the question of
free text books to pupils at some length,
aud concludes by saying that he cannot
recommend its adoption for this State.
In regard to the price and the char
actcr OF books used the Superintendent
has this TO say,
The only remaining plan that | shall
notice is that known as State adoption,
notifications of which have been tried in
this State, Virginia, Kentucky, Washing
ton and other States. Under this plan the
state selects the books that shall be used
throughout the State, and regulates by
contract the maximum price al which the
books shall be sold 10 the merchants or
boards Of education, and by these 20 the
people.
This plan has given general satisfaction
in this State The objection that has been
urged against il is that merchants in some
instances, because OF the small proht al
lowed, have refused to handle the books,
and patrons have been obliged 10 order di-
rect from the publisher, or rely on the
boards to supply the schools OF the district
However, there has been but little COM
plant on this account. ! am convinced
that for the State generally, this plan offers
more advantages and possesses fewer OBJ
iections than any other.
In recommending the continuance of this
plan for this State, would suggest that
provisions be made for sufficient number
Vi State repositories of all books adopted
tor use and so located that books can read
lis be obtained uy the retail merchants.
The introduction Of new editions during
the term of the contract should be forbid
den by law.
He also recognizes the Importance OF
an educational exhibit at the Worlds
Fair. and recommends that the Legisla-
ture make sufficient provision for a
creditable display. The usefulness of
Storer College is remarked upon, and an
appropriation is recommended for the
purchase OF apparatus and machinery
for the operation OF the mechanical and
other departments. In this school a
number OF branches OF manual training
Snch as carpenterlng and sewing have
already been introduced and others will
Ia proVided NJ an early day.