Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-06-18
Public Schools of Berkeley
County.

Y uOltS 0NttOOiS VI oCi NCiCf
County.
As the school year is nearly out and
believing that a great many would
like to hear from our schools, l will
therefore give a few lines concerning
our school work. l have visited ev-
cry school in the county with the ex-
ception of one and that | calledto Wis
it twice and was not in session on ac-
count of sickness. There are sixty
seven schools in this county Outside
Of the independent district of Martins
burg) there being one col. school not
in session this year. This being my
first visit l am unable to compare the
work and attendance of the schools
this year with the past. The attend
ance of most of the schools was small
at the time of my visits, but on lnquir-
ing | found that sickness in the way of
measles and the grippe was the cause.
| find that the most of our teachers are
doing good, satisfactory work. There
are a few in which there are ON COM
plant. One disadvantage to the pro-
gress of our schools is the coming of
young teachers into the profession
| without sufficient normal training or
experience in school government and
discipline without which the work in
the school will be to a great extent a
failure. Now if there is any class in
which l am in hearty sympathy it is
the young teachers, for | am a compar-
atively young teacher myself. / be-
lieve that we as a board of examiners
do not examine thorough enough on
Theory and Art of Teaching. 1t would
be better for both teachers and schools
for if a young teacher makes a failure
the first year it is a great barrier
wards. To have knowledge is one
thing and to be able to impart
or teach it to others scientifically is
quite enough. But l am inclined to
believe that a teacher does not always
receive the sympathy and cooperation
of the patrons and school officers that
she deserves. l believe it is the par
ents' duty if they find their children
are not learning as they think they
should, to visit the school and make
some inquiry to find out whose fault it
is. OF course this should be dore in
the right spirit in the way of helping
and assisting the teacher. 1t is not a.
ways the teachers fault that a pupil
does not learn what he should. In my
visits have called the teachers atten-
ton to the Professional Course of STU
dy and urged them to adopt the State
Manual course of Primary instruction.
Yet it will be impossible to carry it out
fully and to keep the class together on
account of the necessary books and the
irregular attendance, but in a few years
of energetic work with the co-opera-
ton of parents in providing the neces-
sary books it will be of great advan-
tage to both teacher and scholar. |
have taken the trouble and pains to
have the schools graded this year and
have procured the material for a cata-
logue of the schools of this county and
applied by letter to the Boards Of Educa-
ton for the means to have it printed,
but failed to receive a satisfactory re-
spouse, consequently there will be no
catalogue published this year. have
held examinations for the graduating
class this year and the following are
the names and average per cent of
those who graduated this year. Bun
ker Hill School.-Bessie L. STICKY,
S43s, Ollie l.. Tyson, 84N, Anna Hen
son, 844. Ridge School.-Willie E.
Evans 854. Green Hill School,-C.
S. Miller, 824. Hedgesville School
Katie Butler, 944, Sallie Lemen, 934,
Eta Drenner, 90, Jennie F. Small,
944, Sue Poisal 954, Cora B. Naylor,
96%, Edna Smaltz, 9IH, BERTHE Dren-
ner, 953s, Clara Dillon, 92%, Daisy
Ross, "a, w. L. Ross, 855S. Mt. Zion
School.-Agnes B. Tabler, 81. Dry
Run School, Nettie w. Swimley, oo4,
Vanclevesville School.-Bessie w.
Fellers, o3B, May Mckee, 924, Ar
thur Miller 93%. Mingo School
Harry c. Hall 892S, James H. Keseck-
er, S64. Scrabble School,-Marks
Hollida, 9334, Irene S. Miller, OAK,
Seaton Miller, 94H, Ella NJ. Turner,
94B, Mary f. Kemp, 94%, Bessie c.
Sigler, 93H. Greensburg School
Carrie d. Lemaster, 95H, Edward ST.
Ter, 96E, Chas. H. Lemaster, 81. Ride
nOur School.-Luella Athey, SoH,
Mamie Thrush. So. Oak Grove
School.-Dora Bowers, 92B, Rose ].
Eversole 934, Lulie B. Whitmore, 81
~ Wilson Eversole, 934. BroadL,ane
School.-E. H. Sperow, 50, Emmert
Sperow, S8B. There is another mat
ter | would like to call the teachers at
t%ention to and that is the organization
Of District Teachers Institutes. Ihave
made no effort to organize them this
year for the simple reason that it has
proved a failure heretofore. My
worthy predecessor organized District
Institutes and it failed to be a success
because the teachers did not take
enough of interest in it. And not
wishing to be shipwrecked on the same
rock made no effort more than to talk
the matter up. | am willing to meet
the teachers in every district and help
to organize these institutes if the
teachers are all willing to take hold
of it, but l am not willing to drive IS
or 20 miles to greet an empty house.
l know of no better way Of improving
ourselves as teachers than to meet ev-
cry two or three weeks and take up
some professional course of reading
and discuss educational matters, in
this way the young teachers would get
the experience of the older ones and
we would all be greatly benefited.
Your humble servant,
p. T. K~EESECKER, Co. Supt.
IL GhAnIld Rn u EI-oun H..n