The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-06
SCHOOL MELANGE.

It was the Pedagogue's privilege and
pleasure to attend the Round Table"
which was organized at Morgantown,
october 81 and Is. and 1t did him
whole lots" of good to meet old
friends again whom he has known as
associates in the work of teaching these
many years-well, 1t need not be told
how many years. as one lady teacher
express 1T; but they are NIL as young as
ever so far as the active work of the
school room is concerned, and may
they never grow old, /. e., cranky" and
"old fOgglsh" in their teaching. Ex-
perIence ought to count in teaching as
well as In other professions, and 1t
does. How long ought this to count?
Well. at least until "dotage" sets In.
But when does dotage set in? With
some, as far as teaching is concerned,
very early in life; but with the true
teacher who keeps abreast of the times
in everything that pertains to the ele-
walton of humanity. 1t cannot be said
he is in his dotage until on account Of
old age and hard labor the physical
man must succumb to the inevitable.
But how we wander from our subject.
The Monongahela Valley Round Table
has the well wishes OF the "Pedagogue"
for Its success every way, and may the
schools of this rich valley be greatly
benefited by Its meetings, which they
cannot fail to be as long as It sticks to
its legitimate object and not take up
the time in quIbblIng over unimportapt
matters.
There are certain basic principles un-
derlying all education. These prInci-
pies should be instllled into the life Of
every boy and girl, no difference what
they may follow when they become
men and woman, and 1t might be said
in passing, that these are the prIncI-
pies, the outgrowth OF which are men
and women. These principles should be
firmly instIIled into the very nature Of
the boy and girl IL true manhood and
womanhood are to come from the
principles thus laid down. This should
all be done in our public schools-even
In what we call our primary schools
because many OF our boys and girls
never go higher. In our high schools
the instruction necessary TO prepare for
the different occupations, professions
and callIngs in life should be given.
This would necessltate the high school
course to be elective to n certain Gx-
tent, not elective for the pupil to pur.
sue whatever he wishes. but to pursue
those studies. selected by the principal
or superintendent, that would be spe-
cIally adapted to 1T him for whatever
he must follow in after life. Our high
schools are already doing this. Our
hes. high schools have just such
courses. In some Of our principal cit
les there is full business course In
connection with the course OF study
This can be taken by all the pupils
and they can thus leave the high school
prepared for the ordinary business nf-
fairs OF lif,. For those pupils who wish
to so to college. the ideal high school
will we'll prepare them for entering the
freshman class. In nearly all our
large cities there is n manual training
course in connection with the high
school. This does not profess to teach
airy trade. but to give that training to
the hand an eye that everybody should
have and also to assist those pupils
who wish to follow come Industrial oc-
cupatlon TO choose the one In which
they may best succeed. It Is claimed.
and no doubt rightly. that this drIll in
the manual training school will natur-
ally lend the boy or the girl to choose
that occupation or trade best suited TO
their special tnstcR Besides this these
schools nre teaching the true dignity or
lAbor--somethlng very badly needed in
our country to-day, especially among
the weli-to-do classes, We need to
teach our boys and girls that "honor
and fame from no condition rise: net
well your pnrt-therc all the virtue
lies"
A very interesting meeting Of the
principals was held in the city superln-
tcndent's Office on Thursday afternoon,
November ., At the october meeting
the principals were asked to report
the number of requests from parents,
asking that the pupils be permitted to
come home before the regular time for
dismissal. The number varied from 1870
TO 800. Az the matter was not fully
understood and some did not report the
requests sent on parade day, It wua de-
clded that another trial he taken dur
ing the month OF November. or until
the next meeting Of the principals,
Those requesting that the pupil be per-
United 10 como home Immediately after