Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-02-03
A GRADED COURSE OF STUDY.
For the Country and Village Schools
of West Virginia.
A Topic in which Patrons are Deeply
Concerned.
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A Topic ia which Patrons are Deeply
concerned.
PRIMARY GRADE--Two YEARS.
ATTENDANCE.
The greatest drawback upon the
Public Schools and the greatest hin-
derance to their success, is the irregu-
lar attendance of pupils 1t often
happens that not more than .one-half
the pupils of proper age enumerated
in the district, attend school, and OF
those enrolled in the school not more
than one-half are present each cay
1t is impossible to dogood work when
this happens and it is hoped that par
ents will realize their duty in this re-
spect, to themselves, to their children,
and those who pay taxes to support
the schools. It is the in difference of
the patrons to the Public Schools that
makes the children take so little inter
est in attending school and their stud
les. But it is the true teacher who
tfiumphs over all difficulties and rem
ders his school successful beyond
what it has been in the past,
THE ENDS TO BE ATTAINED IN THE
SCHOOL ROOM
AS before stated, the State takes A S
money to educate BIS children, and it
offers in explanation that it does SO
to secure to itself better citizenship,
better home life-in short better
men and women. This better citi-
zenship means more law abiding citi.
zens, men and women possessing an
accumulation of information, know
ledge of self and duty to God, coun-
try, society, and to the individual.
This rounded and complete educa-
ton must come from the teacher
whom the State makes its agent to Sc
cure to it that better citizenship for
which it strives.
THE COUNTRY AND VILLAGE SCHOOL
TEACHERS OF WEST VIRGINIA.
In compliance with law, the Manual
and Course of Study has been prepar-
ed, for it is through you that it must
succeed. 1t is from the schools in
which you teach that the great mass
of MEN and women come, who owr
and control the great enterprises o
of the day. Here are educated the
boys and girls who, because of the ac-
tive life they must lead, possess that
physical development which with prop
er training insures degree of intel
lectual vigor, which needs but proper
training to insure to the State that
better citizenship and home life
which, to obtain, it has expended
millions of dollars.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE COUNTRY
SCHOOLS.
The advantages of Country School!
are many and great, and all of then
should be utilized to the fullest ex
tent. Among these advantages are;
First. Vigorous physical manhood
which is developed TO a marked de
gree. Country life and rural industr,
are far more favorable to the growtl
of bone and muscle than are the habit!
and environments of city life.
Second. The habits of industry rem
dered necessary by the activities oil
country life are largely to the advan
tage of country pupils.
Thru The social and moral influen
ces are also decid dly tothe advantage
of the country pupils.
Fourth. Nature favors the country
schools. Fresh air and animal aut
vegetable life surround the child from
the cradle to an adult age.
SOME DISADVANTAGES OF COUNTRY
SCHOOLS.
These are numerous and need moi
be particularized to be known, suffice
it to say that there is no phase of the
entire school work of West Virginia
that merits more the thoughtful ant
careful attention Of educators, legisla
tors, and friends of our common
schools, than the defective, cumber
some, inequitable, and wastful machin
cry instituted for the support and
management of Country and Village
Schools.
Until recently. there has been nc
Course of Study for these schools, and
more than five thousand teachers
have each been left to do what seemed
right in his own eyes, the new teach
er paying no attention to the work oil
his predecessor, in short, while the
State has expended millions of dollars
in the last quarter of century to rem
der these schools efficient, it was only
two years since, that the Legislature
provided that which is designed to
secure the greatest possible good to
the State from these schools, and that
is a system of uniform work upon the
uniform plan. The introduction Of
the Graded Course Of Study for the
country schools will, if put into COM
plete operation by the teachers, effect
revolution in the management of
these schools, and its introduction will
mark an era in the history Of the edu-
cational work OF the State
CLASSIFICATION OF PUPILS UNDER THE
COURSE OF STUDY.
The work of arranging the pupils in
Country School into classes, and of
assigning to each class the particular
study which it must pursue is invari-
ably the work of the country teacher.
Therefore, upon him depends the
great work of introducing into these
schools this Course of Study; for its
success depends upon the correct and
efficient classification of the children
in the school. That he may best ac-
coinplish this. he should carefully