Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-11-30
NEED Or A HIGH SCHOOL
The Present District School is
not Adequate
FOR THE DEMANDS.
A Matter that Should Have its
Proper Importance.

The necessity for conjoining
high school grades with our pres
ent in sufficient district school grada-
tion, is now generally recognized
by the intelligent auo thinking peo-
pie of the community, and the
president ones believe that such an
enlargement of educational scope
will be consummated within a
short period of time. Since the be-
ginning of our almost magical trans
formation into a live business
center, the public spirit of the peo-
pie has never faltered in keeping
pace with the general prosperity,
except in this one important dlrec-
ton.
The school atmosphere in this
city is not impregnated with the
deep interest that is inseparable
with best results. 1t is patent to
observers that Our facilities for
teaching "the young idea" are in
an inverse ratio with the demands,
and not commensurate with the
Importance of the district from an
Observation-Disclosures. int.'-v's','rT7' $1,000
We have a school population that
merits one of the best graded
schools in the State, but under the
present status our present instltu-
tion of learning is an ordinary dis
trict school, fundamentally, with
subordinate teachers who receive
the small salaries paid the country
district school instructors, whose
expenses are comparatively nominal
and who are not required to meet
the same standard OF proficiency as
obtains with the urban teachers.
1t is true that our buildings I'm
der the present system are OF fine
construction and a credit to the
the district, but more room is i'm
perative 10 relieve the congested
consequent upon the enrolment OF
about $50 pupils. Outside of his
enrolment there are probably 100
children of school age who are per-
mitted by defective school laws to
escape school attendance. And
apropos to this fact compulsory
school law in this state would be
a most co1nmendable addition to
statutory provisions
A high school, however, would
not of necessity, mean additional
building. In nearly all OF the de.
partments a arrangement OF
seating capacity would provide
one-third more room without
crowding. With this gain the ad-
ditional grades that would follow
high school could be nicely accom-
modated, existing grades would es-
cape the present congestion and
the nonresident pupils that would
be attracted by an advanced curri-
culum could have their desire
gratifed without disturbance of the
school equilibrium.
The especial levy needful for the
purpose would not b. an individual
hardship and bagatelle compared
with the benefit derived. The
teachers who are now eking out an
indifferent existence on a pittance
of $40 a month would have that
amount increased to living wage,
and be made to feel that the many
years of arduous training for the
positions had not been wasted. Un-
less devotedly and singly attached
to the profession, a teachers useful
ness is to a measure impaired by the
lack of that incentive that has its
birth in an equitable pecuniary. es.
innate of worth. Living expenses
are high in this city and teacher
has the same love and desire for
fuery and spending money as other
people.
At present there are ten grades
in the school. A high school would
provide two more. It would give
two years or more in Latin, it would
allow the introduction of those ad-
vanced subjects so essential to good