The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-14
SCHOOL ME /:

Exercises appropriate 70 the celebra-
tlon of Llncoln's birthday were held In
all the schools OF the city on Friday
afternoon. Those OF Lincoln school
were perhaps the most elaborate, but
the others were just as hearty, and as
earnest. In this way the purest patri-
otism can be taught, for Lives OF great
men all remind us, we can make our
lives sublime."SI have often thought
that the poet, Lonsfelow. had In view
Just such teachings when he penned the
immortal lines quoted. 1t is wonderful
the effect these exercises have upon the
boys. and girls OF our schools. Those
who seem to take no interest whatever
In the regular school work will take
the very deepest interest in the ami
versary day exercises. How they will
hunt 70: sayings of the great men,
whose lives are being considered. On
Friday last in the lowest primary rooms
even. the doings and sayings OF the
greatest American ever born were
brought out in manner hardly to be
expected from those so young. These
Impressions will be lasting-far more
than those made In the regular routine
OF school work. Next Friday WASH
ington's birthday will be observed.
Some one has asked. lis there not TOO
much time taken In these celebrations
by our schools?"aWe answer, no. All
this can be done and the pupil make
better progress In all other work than
he would did we not have these exer-
clses. Many boy and girl has been
reached by the teacher. by finding out
in these exercises what interests him or
her. when all other plans had failed.
1t is during such exercises as those
referred to that the child nature is de-
veloped and appears to the eye OF the
active and earnes. teacher, and here
comes in the necessity for child study,
The readers Of these jostings that APP
pear from time to time, may think this
matter Of child study is harped on too
much; but 1t is not SO. It Will not be the
true teacher, the one who Is trying to
study the child, that will file the objec-
ton. but the ones. and we are sorry to
say there are many Of them, who take
no stock in child study. Those who
think the summum bonum OF the teach
er's work Is, to teach the branches.
Those who see In the work the great
possibilities in. the child OF properly de-
veloped are not the ones to take Of
Tense at an honest presentation OF this
subject. While we will not attempt 10
discuss II further, we urge on all teach
ers Its great necessity. and for them to
keep In mind that the greatest end
and aim OF all our teaching is char
acter building.
Our public school system is intended
to be q unit from the lowest primary
school to the highest class In our state
university. The way Is open for every
boy and girl in the state to start Mt the
lowest and to reach the highest rung In
the educational ladder Our school law
Is all right, properly carried out Some
OF the brightest graduates OF our uni
versity started In the log school house
with Its slab benches. and ended with
the honors OF the university. What has
been done can be done and Is being
done year after year, not only In our
own, but In other states. The lessons
impaired on Friday, in the review OF
the life of the Great Commoner,"
pointed In this direction nnG ought to
be an inspiration to the poorest boy 10
strive for the highest honors. We are
glad to see that the present administra-
ton OF our university is taking advant-
age OF all these facts and Is giving an
opportunity for all to get Its benefits
The summer term will give many an
opportunity to attend who could not
possibly go at any other time. while
hundreds OF young men and women
may be greatly btncfted in taking the
correspondence course. We have hun
dreds OF our young men and women in
the schools Of other states who should
be In our own university. They should
attend our own school before they 20 to
others or they should attend 1t after
they have finished the course OF other
schools. II a young man. after getting
an education. expects to live in West
Virginia, he ought 10 have a diploma
from our university. II for no other
reason he ought to have 1t fer the sell
fish motive OF being among those who
In twenty-five years from now Will
manage the affairs OF our state. The
time has been when n man with az d.
ploma from some other great school
such%ns Harvard. Yale. Virginia Uni
versitT. ETC., was the one who took nd
vanced grounds atoncc, but the time
Is coming and that right soon when
diploma from our own university Will
be worth more 10 n West VirgInan,
than that from any other school.
THE PEDAGoGUE.
FftHEstaF
The Greatest Discovery Yet.