The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-31
SCHOOL MELANGE.

II reports be true from all parts OF
the state, the schools OF West virginia
are all IN a very Furnishing condition.
The university has already more pu-
pills than ever before; our normal
schools are full OF pupils. while our
high and graded schools are doing the
work which is TO keep those higher
schools filed with pupils in the years to
come. What work is being done even
In our own state of West virginia.
More than 1--WE thousand earnest teach
ers. daily meeting with and training an
army of boys and girls who are to be
our future men and women. How these
teachers (men and Women) ought to be
consecrated to the work, for there Is
none higher. We often think Of the
Christian minister's work as being the
most responsible work In the world, but
little thought will show at once that
the public school teacher holds a posi-.
ton far above his rs to the forming Of
character. He meets the child whose
mind is not formed and he is permitted
to mold that mind at will, while the
minister has to do with minds already
nurtured to a very great degree. Re-
Der, then, teacher, that YOU are permits
ted to sow the seed in soil in which It
viii sprout and grow, no matter what
kind OF seed is sown. II you SOW good
seed, then rich will the harvest be. but
II bad seed, then, remember the old and
true stanza:
EVERY sower must some day reap
From the seed that he has sown.
How carefully then 1t becomes US TO
keep
To SOW what is good, that we not weep
One day to receive our own"
Is the course of study in our city
schools lust what II should be? Parents
complain Of having 50 many books to
buy and that their children cannot learn
so many lessons. When the time comes
that there will be no complaints what
ever, we may be sure the educational
mIllenial has come, but Is there not
some good grounds for these complaints
and would II not be well for those hav-
ing the matter In charge 10 g0~slow In
the Introduction of any new studies?
Would It not be the part of wisdom to
see whether we might not do away with
some studies instead OF adding to the
curriculum? There are but three dis
tlnct studies, viz: Language, sclence
and mathematics, and no child should
be burdened with more than four stu
dies at time. This seems to be the
the idea in arranging the course In our
high school, but in some of the grades
of our ward school children are forced
to pursue nearly double that number In
order to finish the course OF the diiter-
ent years before their admission to the
high school. The writer does not sug-
gest any change nor is the writer In
complaining spirit, but when an eiIort
is being made to introduce new studies,
1t is we'll to consider the matter as to
whether NC do not already have enough
work for our pupils to do.
The football season has opened In
earnest, and now our universities, SEMI
narles, colleges and high schools are
yleina with each other as TO which
shall excel in this sport. Indeed, the
success OF some schools Is now measur-
ed by the SUCCESS or failure of 1t Rugby
team. Someone will say. "Why should
Il not be so? All the elements OF true
manhood are brought out By indulging
In this snort" What are our schools
coming 10 anyhow, when they are thus
Judged? The writer has heen permitted
to see but one game OF this sport, and
he never wishes to see another. 1t Is
brutal, to say the least OF 1t. It is well
that our newspapers in reporting it,glVe
It a place alongside the prize hght.
They are surely on a par with each
other. In speaking thus. refer to what
tho game Is, not what II formerly was,
or what It might be now, II properly
conducted. .a,,r