The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-07

ment Exercises.
Addras delivered By chaSes Buraet Hart, editor Of
Tic Wheeling Ia,euiOcacer, before the Wa. HirgtatG
Educational Association. al Grafton, Jugs, 1892
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND LADIES AND GEN
T1EMES:-It may be assumed that the
public press and the public school are
Joined in this topic because they are
both public educators; because they arc
both supports Of those institutions
which make our country different from
and better than any other country; be-
cause they have large and obvious in.
forests in common; because tho public
school, representing the common peo-
pie, appeals with special and command.
ing force to the public press; because
tho public press is the big brother of
the public school, proud Of the kinshlp
and hopeful OF development along tho
highest and best lines Of common pub
lie usefulness. The relationship is In
innate, the sameness OF interest great
the sympathy must be profound be-
tween these two tremendous forces.
il Icould suggest, or incite your as
ISOLATION to find, means by which the
press OF West Virginia could be more
helpful to the free schools OF
tho state, the time allowed 10 these
remarks would be spent to very great
profit Somewhat with this end In
view, not little for the pleasure and
the profit expect to derive from tho
discussion to follow, few thoughts will
be submitted drawn from the observa.
tons OF citizen intensely interested In
the highest possible efficiency Of our
American free schools as the best pos
sible safeguard Of our American free
institutions. Some OF the suggestions
are tentative, thrown out to see what
YOU school men and women will say to
them. In so short a time it is not pos.
sible, il It were desirable, TO take Oft
the wire-edge by elaboration and the
deit use OF saving clauses. In the
room OF this believe that the repre-
sentative Of the public press who adj
dresses you believes in the public
school; trust him to be its friend; be
assured that up to tho measure OF his
opportunity and abilityhe stands ready
to defend the free school against assault
from any source whatsoever.
STARTLING STATISTICS.
Ihold in my hand some figures kind.
ly supplied at my request by the official
head Of the free schools of West Vir-
GINA, one whom have always found
to invite criticism, whose successor
might do much worse than to follow
his example OF intelligent and jealous
devotion to the cause OF common school
education.
Number schools; 99A
Nsabcr pupils enumerated .,.............. 27l.SS!
Number pupils enrolled ................H.. 1888
Average daily attendance. I2J9si
Expended for teachers fund. 9l5,S52 90
Expended for building fund.".......- 1902 "
Total expended, SGl ,see "
Total expended, lSsl.."...............- 76s,475 2
Total increase in decado......--,.....s 6o20l6 81
Gain for 1891.
Enumeration in lSsl............ 2l3lyl 6s,l4l
Average hRsGlSs Say y at Tendance; sSs ss7si
Hero is a gratifying increase in ex-
penditures for the support of the FREQ
schools. The amount has almost
doubled in ten years. The increased
expenditure per capita OF the enumera-
ton, the enrolment and the attendance
is in greater ratio than the increase in
either OF those particulars. There is
larger provision for the average pupil.
In this respect the state OF West Vir-
GINA is doing well and may challenge
comparison. In another respect VIC
are not doing well-possibly there is
criminal delinquency somewhere. Sew:
enty-three thousand children OF school
age are not on tho school rolls. Some
are properly accounted for. Where are
the others? What are they doing2
Why are they not in school? What Is
to be their future? What is their rela.
tion to the state, the states to themP
Who is responsible? How are they to
be got on the roll and in the schools?
/ am further informed by the supertn-
tendent OF free schools that $4,000 chill.
dren between six and sixteen years OF
ace are known to be unenrolled. This
is bad.
THE ARMY OF ApsENrEEs.
The figures show something worse.
Tho average daily attendance is $4,000
short of tho enrolment. Nearly a
fourth missing from the enrolment; OF
the enrolled three-eighths out Of school
every day. II theschool have 50 pupils
on the roll 80 will be missing every
day. This is q terrible hole to punch
in the public school. II the $4,000 en-
rolled and absent were always the same
children we could readily understand
their pitiable condition and find some
consolation in the regular attendance of
the 123,000. They are not the same.
This one is out to-day, another one to.
morrow, This one runs behind two
DAYS, that one is in arrears week, a
month. Absentees lose interest. Lag.
CARDS clog the wheels. The teachers
must do extra work to pull up the
stragglers. There is hardly fair play
for the regulars.
WHAT IS THE TRouBLE2
/ have not at hand the data to show
whether West Virginia is worse or
better off in this respect than other
states. It would be interesting, but 1t
ia not material, to know. Sufficient to
know how it stands with US. at home,
where we have responsibility and some
chance to control. l leave it to educa-
tors to say how this abundance Of the
raw material Of citizenship is to be
brought within thefree school influence
and kept there during the expected
period. l submit to you teachers that
possibly there is something you can do
10 bring these children in and keep
tI,nr, in Won MIGHT mike vour schools