The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-09-07
LAsr NIonrs aiEErING
OF the Teacher Institute at the second
Presbyterian Church.

Presbyterian Church.
Last evenings meeting Of the Teach
en- Institute convened IN tho Second
Presbyterian church, and was ealIOd to
order promptly at 5 o'clock by supt.
Anderson. Dr.. Cunningham, Of the
First Presbyterian church, led In q
short but fervent prayer Dr.. Qnarles
Was then introduced, and spoke on tho
importance Of preparatory schools. Ho
began his address by reterring 70 tho
fact that no lived In Old Virginia, $50
miles from hero There they considered
that We lived IN tho west lie himself
was O native Of Missouri and doubtless
we considered that tho tar west; but
Missouri was still In tho eastern bali Of
this great country. Ho paid q glowing
tribute 70 Wcst Virginia-her broad
fields, her lofty mountains allied with
their precious minerals; bat above all
he spoke Of the men Of West Virginia,
Of the high character and tho ability OF
those West Virginians that hayo boon
and arc now students Of the Washing.
ton and Lee university. HO then pro-
ceeded to discuss his subject
According TO the last report Of tho
commissioner OF education there were
100000 of childrou In preparatory
schools, In high schools about 400 900,
while In colleges and sominaries there
were but lS5, 900 pupils. So We SEQ that
tho groat mass OF children are educated
in primary and secondary schools.
These preparatory schools aro the
schools Of our country. From ten to
twelve yonrs OF tho child's school lilo
arc passed 10 preparatory schools,
while but from ono to four years arc
spent In tho college or univorslty. Tho
preparatory schools do the fundn'
mental work OF teaching aud character
building. Tho teacher next 70 the
mother influences the lifO Of the child.
Tho child is In these primary schools
at time when its mind is tender,
whom II is most imprcesible. The teach
ers In our higher schools worry often do
not become personally acquainted with
their pupils; but this Is not so with our
primary and secondary schools. They
can lay their hands, on the hcads Of
their pupils, can throw tbeir arms
around them, as it were, and impress
their own character on them.
Superintendent Anderson, aitor
thanking tho speaker for the compli-
monts passed on our state, introduced
Prof. Irish, who spoke briefly on the
same subject. The great mission Of the
public schools Is to make mon aud
women, Is character building. II ls to
mako mon and women that will be an
honor anywhere He regretted the fact
that thero were no members Of tho
board Of education present. Those who
need these talks most arc generally
absent. He asked tho question, why
those ladies that take such an interest
In education, the mothers, have no
voice in selecting the officers that COM
pose tho school boards. II thoy bad a
voice in aelecting these men, or had tho
privilege OF becoming members oil
these boards, the mon wonid
not como swaggcring in To the
meetings OF tho school board smoking
their cigars, but our best mon and wo-
mon would be members OF theBo boarda.
He spokc OF the advertisements that aro
sent broadcast over tho land calculated
TO poison the minds Of pupils. He urged
on oil those who have the selection OF
teachers to select those who are noble
and pure. Schools should not be filled
by those who are objects OF charity;
better support such outside OF our
schools, itthey have not pure ind noble
characters to impress on tho minds oi
their pupils. lie would plead for puro
manhood aud pure womanhood
Both speeches were greatly enjoyed
by those present.
/, is o shame that there were not
moro Of the citizens outside Of the
teachers present to hear tho two grand
speeches.
DR.. Cunningham being called on
made some pleasant, but very earnest
remarks. He regrets that many moro
were not present, especially the city
officials.