The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-18

Last oVoninE inc city board OF educa.
ton mot in regular session, tho first, by
tho way. OF tho newly elected board.
DR.. G, F. Ulrish, tho new presiding OIL.
Ger, occupied tho chair aud opened the
meeting by tho following address:
"GENTLEMEN OF THE. BOARD OF EpucA.
TIoS:-l 1csiro again 10 thank you for
. tho very high honor you have conferred
upon mo in olectinc mo to tho prosi.
dsncy OF this august body. Education
Is tho chief factor in the civilization Of
modern times, and boards OF education
constitute tho principal power to ad.
vance the intellectual and, l will say,
the physical culture Of our people.
This, therefore, is tho most important
body in our community and its men,
bers should all DO alive to their duty,
aud should exert their utmos, powers
to give Us a school system that will
elevate our people TO tho highest stand.
ard OF physical, intellectual aud moral
excellence. As tho duty OF presiding
over this noble body for tho next two
years has been laid upon my weak
shoulders. l will do the utmost to dis.
tua.SO thid " NllC JUST Oh my
ability. and to act in such way tina. no
member OF this board may DO ashamed
OF the vote which assisted in placing
me in this position.
I've have nu eScellont system
OF public schools in our country
which gives everyone an opportunity to
fit himself or herself for any occupa.
ton, calling or position In life. Our
youn: state has done nobly In that di-
rection. Shoolhouse, with competent.
teachers are found in every nook and
corner OF the state.' Our towns and cit
lea are supplied with noble buildings,
well furnished, not only with all the
comforts, but also with the necessary
appliances for training the children and
youth in al that is required to make
useful and accomplished men and wo.
men. Our teachers have attained a
high standard OF excellence, and will
compare with those OF other and older
states. Blu. nothing in this world ia SO
perfect that it will not admit OF sone
improvement The world moves, aud
we must try to keep up with 1t. will
therefore ask permission to offer few
suggestions for your consideration, the
carrying out OF which would, it aeems
TO me, contribute somewhat to our sue
cess in making the public school system
OF Wheeling equal to any in our country.
1t has been suggested by members OF
this board and by one OF our principals
that we ought to have law compelling
all children to attend school up 70
certain age, at least in the independent.
school district OF Wheeling. In my
capacity OF prac.icinE physician it has
been my fortune to observe the woeful
neglect OF parents in regard to the edu-
cation OF their children. l found a
young man OF twen.y-ihree in the First
ward who was unable to write his name,
and had to make cross mark in sign
/ ing document. His mother, by wav OF
apology, said she never could make him
go TO school. Some parents make the
flimsy excuse lhat their children have
nothing fit to wear. Others nut them
10 work to assist them in earning live
lihood. In many cases TIE father spends
all his earnings for drink, while his
children, instead OF going to school and
fitting themselves for some useful call
ing. are put to early toll to support the
family. This should not be, and il a
suitable law could be framed and
passed by our Legislature much evil
would be avoided, and many young
men who now are q bio. OH our
civilization, might become useful citi-
zens and even ornaments TO society. OF
course we could not forbid citizens from
patronizing private schools, no law be-
ing possible that would deprive people
OF the liberty Of choice. II the board
should decide to petitiou our legislature
to do something in this direction, their
action would meet with my hearty sup
port,
II will also suggest the pcopriety OF
introducing physical education into the
schools, for which ] have always been
hearty advocate. Ibelieve tina. phys-
ical DEVELOPMENT should 90 hand in
hand with the growth OF tho intellect.
All who have given much attention to
that subject must know that sound
and healthy mind cannot long remain
30 in weak and unhealthy body. See
the genius, whose mind rushcs head
long without restraint, utterly neglect
ing his physical welfare. Does he nc.
conplish anything? No! His physical
powers fail and for wan. OF sup
port his mind becomes erratic,
and he either dies or goes to n
lunntic asylum. It is generally tho
men oil medium intellectual powers
with healthy and strong bodies. who
attend to their physical wants as well
as to the mind. who mako success OF
their life. hope tho board will :ako
this matter into consideration and do
something to advance the physical vel
fare OF tho pupils. Intending merely to
make suggestions refrain from propos-
ing any plan for tho carrying out this
idea.
another thought has occurred to mo
frequently: that in some OF tho hiShor
grades our pupils arc crowded with too
many studies. Tho mind is distracted
by attempting 10 keep itself fixed on
such 4 variety OF topics, and accom-
plishcs nothing vc.y thoroughly. Be-
sides, tho time that can be devoted by
tho clnsa TO each branch is so email that
it amounts to little, and tho pupil nc.
duiros tho merost smattering oil many
aubjccts that should only be taught in
high schooi. while timo that ahould
be devoted TO the ordinary branches, Is
frit,erod away, and tho average pupil
!cavou school with only superficial
. knowledge oil what ia necessary to con.
Etitute common school education.
This brings mo to tho subject OF tho
high school, which has been 20 much
discuased. 80 MUCH lauded aud 80 much
condemned. Many OF our beat citizens,
mon Of wealth aud petition, have op.
posed tho ostablishmcnt OF high
e + urhnni in Whnniinu 7 h,I;,,o . l. 4, vounr