The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-04
SCHOOL MELANGE.

II IS certainly a source OF gratihca-
ton to all friends of our State uniyer-
sity, and to the friends OF education
generally, to know that It is succeeding
SO grandly under the administration of
its new president. There are already
more students enrolled than were en-
rolled during the last scholastic year,
and during that time the enrolment
was much greater than ever before.
This shows that under the present
management our highest school has a
bright future before 1t, and it also
shows that the young men and women
Of our state are taking greater inter
est In higher education than they have
done in former years, II also shows
that they are coming to the conclusion
that our own university Is as good as
those OF other states. Twenty-Five
years ago, when the writer came 10
West Virginia, he was very much sur
prised TO find that 1t was thought that
young man could not receive liberal
education unless he attended college in
some other state, and perhaps there was
some excuse for so thinking at that
time; but now our own university ranks
among the very best, and in the near
future viii take leading position
among the schools OF our land. So
there Is no excuse for young man or
young woman either to go away from
home to get an education.
One thing especially in the last bulle-
tin of Information issued from the uni
versity should be a source of gratItica-
ton to all its friends, I, e. the great
Improvement made in the mechanical
department. Those who were present
at the last meeting Of the West
Virginia Educational Association at
Morgantown viii remember the dis
cussion on the subject Of MAN
ual Training" and the Importance of
Its Introduction into our higher schools.
especially the university. They will re-
Introduction into any OF our schools,
considering 1t an innovation, the teach
ing of trades, etc. II this discussion
led to the establishment Of the mechan-
zeal department of our university, 1t
was surely half day well spent, and
the talk was not all thrown TO the
winds.
At the meeting of the principals, held
in the office of the superintendent on
Thursday last, several important sub
jects were discussed.
The Talking Teacher" received a
share of the discussion, The talking
teacher was described as one who did
the work that the pupil ought to do,
|. G., she both asks and answers the
questions. She does too much for the
pupil. This represses thought. The
pupil is led to depend entirely on the
teacher and does not think for himself.
Are there any talking teachers" in the
Wheeling schools?
Another matter for discussion was the
habit OF pupils returning home when
they find they Will be too late for
school. preferring TO miss the entire ses-
sion OF school rather than to be count
ed on the tardy list. The attention OF
parents Is especially called to this.
While all connected with the schools are
very anxious to have as little hardness
as possible, still absenteeism is much
worse than hardness.
Third class of the Longfelow literary
society, Richie school, gave very
creditable performance on Friday after
noon. consisting of recltations, essays
and music, both vocal and instrument
tai Miss Della Inbody was the pianist,
and In addition to playing the accom-
panlments for the singing, she gave
very fine piano solo, which was greatly
enjoyed A comic recitation by Bessie
Ingram was well received, as was also
Il piano solo by Bernie Freese. DR.. Pes
chau, of Greensburg, Pa, being pres
ent, gave a talk that pleased the pupils
greatly. He was once pupil Of the
Eighth ward school. when Messrs. Cook
and Lorraine were principals, and he
contrasted the building as 1t was then
and as It Is now. He gave the pupils
much good advice. The doctor always
gives our school a visit when he comes
TO the old home place just across the
street, and he Is always welcome.
THE PEDAGOGUE.