The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-14
SCHOOL MEILANGE.


requires that a pupil returning to school
,tter al, absence OF q half day or more.
shall present a written excuse from
parcnt or guardian stating that the alb
SERGE was necessary. etc. The same
rule applies to Hardness, II this Is not
done the pupil may be sent home for
the excuse Az sometpuplls live quite
a distance from the school building
teachers have not been enforcing the
rule 10 the letter, allowing the pupil to
hiring the excuse ut the beginning or
the next session. But II IL generally
found 10 be tho case that thoas pupils
who fail to bring the excuse ut first are
almost sure TO fail to bring II unsil al
most forced to do SO by the teachers
either sending n note or going In per-
son 10 tho parent. The attention OF
parents is called to this. They would
Greatly Md the teacher In being prompt
In sending excuses, SO that the pupil
may have clear record ny far as at
tendance is concerned. 5N,t,,i 4
Quite number OF pupils In every
school In the city are excused every af-
,crnoon before tho close OF school to
carry the evening paper All boys en-
gagged In this business hereafter must
get permit from the city supehntend-
prt OF schools instead OF from the prin-
well 10 pay attention to this also, and
save trouble.
The subject OF pensions for teachers
Is being aSitated all over our land at
the present time. Some states have
already passed laws on the subject.
making It legal for teachers to con-
tribute n certain per. cent OF their sal
aries for the purpose OF creating u fund
from which to draw after retiring from
the profession after serving certain
pcriod of years. This Is certainly COM
merdablc, and Il the state will not
make provisions for Its teachers, It Is
mn right for teachers to make such
provision for themselves. It Is not our
purpose to discuss the matter. further
than 10 say that II Is no more than Just
and right that the state should do this.
We boast that our public schools are
better than a standing army. We PEN
sion our soldiers, then why not pension
those who give their lives to a better
cause than that of war? Prof. Seely,
OF the state normal school OF New Jer-
y,
New York. School Journal, gives the
following reasons why the state should
pension It's teachers: " -
!. Because the teacher Is n state Of
ncer. licensed and supported by the
state, and devoted to the interest OF
he state more than any other servant.
g. Because he Is inadequately paid
for the services rendered, and from the
nature OF his work Is shut out from
most OF the opportunities for personal
gain that other meIF have.
3 Because the duties Of his profess
sion unfit him for other callings. He
thus sacrifices himself for the state. for
the work OF education Is thed uty Of the
state and In consecrating himself to
teaching the teacher consecrates him
self to the state.
1. Because its OWE seir-interest de-
mantls It. Such n recognition would
attract more teachers. lead them TO
better prepare themselves, and hold
them longer in the service. These
fruit 10 the state.
6. Because 1t will tend to make
changes fewer and the tenure OF the
teachers office more permanent. The
children directly and the state through
them would receive great good thereby.
6. Because 1t would raise the stand
ard OF fitness for, teachers. for the state
would be more careful whom II admits
10 the profession.
!. Because 1t would remove much OF
care and anxiety from the teacher, and
a,low him to devote his whole soul to
the interests which the state has COM
mltted to him. go
Because Il Is an act OF simple JUS
tee 10 4. class OF devoted men and wo-
men who have consecrated their lives
TO the service Of the state, and have no
adequate compensation therefor. The
state has no more right TO allow these
faithful servants to suffer or be In want
than the general government has
right TO allow its old soldiers to suffer.
The duty OK the one !s as imperative as
the duty OF the other, the teacher II
anything having the superior claim.
Nor is the one O pauper any more than
the other. II Is simple Justice.
The thoughts contained in these eight
teasons why the state should provide
for Its teachers after beco ming too old
10 teach. or from sickness or otherwise
have become disabled, are worthy the
earEcs. consideration OF all. We need
better teachers. When we get them We
will have better schools. Give some
incentive for men and women to spend
thctr lives in the service and then re-
quire Of them the very best service, and
tae weN prepared teachersfwill be forth
coming, and those who teach only as
make-shtfr until something better
turns up will be forced to leave the pro-
IesstoE. Then will teaching be a pro-
ieSS!on In sense in which II never, has
been as yet.
general meeting of the teachers OF
litehie school was held in the Office OF
the principal on Wednesday OF the
present week. at which Supt. Ander-
soh was present. QGite number OK
interesting topics were discussed. How
10 break w q low tone OF voice in recI-
.aHoF was one that created the great
est Interest
The teachers also took slers toward
raising their share of the amount OF
money netded for the entertainment OF
lhe teachers nj the coming meeting OF
,he state Educational Association to be
He!u IN our city June 90 to July inclu-
s!Ve' II Is understood that the mem
Oers OF the association will be given 4
royal reception.
TIE PEDAGoGUE.
Keats the Iiiontilisc.
Mr.. A. c. Thomas, of Marysvi!!e, Tex,
mas found n more valuable discovery
man mas yet been made in the Elon-