The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-04
cHAVaEs N soHooI Law
soms assdsd Rsf0rH' pointed Out b an
EdurataE

Eomo Needed Elfforula Pointed unA ~ m
EducateE
To tho Editor or the lnteillEencer-
sIR:-we notice IN your Issue Of De-
cember 81, the article Of N. F. Smith,
OF cameron. ia which he m5u;.5ae
some improvements which might be
made in our school law We heartily
concur with the gentleman in most Of
the particulars enumerated by him.
We cannot expect the school law to be
thoroughly raised during one session Of
the legislature. That the educational
interests Of the state demand changes
in the present law, is conceded by all
that have given the subject any con-
sideration, However, a compulsory
school law viii not remedy all the de-
fects, and secures to the public school
It's proper function OF providing the
commonwealth with better citizens A
compulsory school law with certain
provisions, would be beneficial in It's
results, Along with this law give US
free text books, and provide a fund
whereby the very needy may, in ex-
IRENE cases, and upon approval by the
proper authorities, obtain aid in props
erly clothing their children Tor school
II the remaining ont Of school IS a lux
ury IN which rich parents wish 10 In
dulge their children, provide q penalty
and let them pay for II. and let the pro-
ceeds so towards enabling the poor,
who really desire an education. TO en-
ter the public schools. The caprice or
the child of rich or poor parents, IN
wishing to remain out OF school should
be obviated by law that Will compel
the parent to exercise his duty and
authority as parent, and compel the
child to do that which Will result in the
greatest benefit TO the child. The in-
crease IN taxation that may at FIRST
prevail VIII be more than onset after
few years, for the reason that q bet
ter class of citizens VIII be the result.
A child that Is not brought under the
restraining influence Of the discipline
of the public school and made to
know his duty, and to recognize the
rights and privileges Of others, Is very
apt TO grow up vicious and later come
IN contact with authority which, in his
youth he was never taught to respect.
and thereby be the means OF creating
great expense, either In being made the
object OF executive Justice, or increas-
ing the expenses of penal or INDECENT
institutions.
why leave the selection OF text
books entirely to members OF the leg
stature, which body has but few
school teachers or school officials in Its
composition. The average member of
the legislature has not the opportunity
OF knowing and should not have all
the say In declding what school books
are to be used In the state. Would not
the state superintendent, together with
the county superintendents, be able to
give more intelligent consideration
and more satisfactory decision in this
matter? IT Is the custom In many OF
the counties OF the state, for members
of the board OF education for the dis
tricts to purchase high-prlced charts
which are neither time-savers nor a
source OF information and are laid
aside as useless. after q vain attempt
to use them, In which the teacher feels
that he has not the time to devote to
their use, even K It were desirable. Be
sides, an indlscrlmihate purchasing OF
charts Is an useless expense, for IN
many of the schools but q few pages
can possibly be used. Would It not be
better to let the state superintendent
recommend a few special charts and
state? A chart on primary numbers. for
example, could be used In any school,
and Is tirne-saver, and furnishes
abundant material for number work,
extending over period OF several
terms II part OF the funds geAfly
expended for charts, were used IN sup
plying each school with small library
containing interesting and Instructive
books, would not the school room be a
more inviting place. and would not
a taste for reading good literature be
established, which would lay the
foundation for a more intelligent citl-
zenship.
Give US uniform examinations for
teachers certificates. and vest the
teacher with authority to compel pu-
pills to take eli the studies that belong
to their respective grades, II the state
wishes to make a success of the graded
course OF study. W. ]. MOORE.
wyatt, W. Va, January /, 1897