The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-25
Superintendent and Principals OF
the Tri.statc Radius
OPEN A TWO DAYS. SESSION
In Wheeling With a GoodIy Attend
nncc from n Number Of Ncighboring
Towns Several Interesting CUES.
tons Discussed by the PcdagoSucs
Yesterday, and Still Others WIN be
Considered To-day.

Slon III wheeling yesterday afternoon,
at the High School hall, with n large at
tendance Of visitors from points in this
state, eastern Ohio and western Penn
sylvanIa.
Among those present were Messrs.
Williams, Plummer and Chamberlin, Of
Marietta; Afcrrick, OF Cudiz: Atertz. Of
Steubenvllle; Thompson, OF Salesvllle;
Williams, of Moundsvllle; Carrigan and
German, OF Benwood :Glthens, Of Wells
burg: Jacobs and Shaw. Of West Lib
erty; Stewart, OF Martins Ferry; Hall,
of New Martinsville; Scamahorn, Of
Brilliant. and Miss Callie Curtis, Of
West Liberty.
At o'clock the Round Table was call
ed to order by Superintendent W. II.
Anderson. Two choruses, "The Stars
and Stripes Forever" and "The Red
Scarf" were sung by the pupils OF the
High School.
On motion Of Professor J. NJ. Ham
mond. Principal C. S. Brilles, of Wash
ington school, was elected chairman.
The first subject on the programme.
State your method OF teaching history:
what 1t is special value" was taken up
and the discussion opened by Prof. It.
Fl. Crago, principal Of Richie school.
He favored the topical method. He
urged that the great object In the study
of history Is character building. II. b.
Work, principal OF the High School.
spoke at length on the Importance Of the
study. Professor Turner spoke Of
methods; he favored map-building,
showing the growth Of our country. its
wars and their causes. After Mr.. Tur-
ner's talk the chairman called on the
ladies' for their methods Of teaching.
urging them to make themselves useful
as well as ornamental. Miss Reeves
spoke at some length, urging the intro
duction OF outside matter to make the
dry pages Of the text book more inter-
esting. D. 7. Williams, superintendent
OF Moundsville schools. spoke instruc-
lively, urging the teaching by biogra-
ply. Quite Il number Of others spoke
on the subject.
The second topic, How do you de-
velop the power of Independent think
ing?" was called up by Superintendent
Anderson. Prof. J. Z. Lewis said that
one way was to ask question not
found In the text book, something that
will require ut least Some thought.
Principal GwyRH. of Madison school.
said that 4 thing should be made very
plain to the child before 1t can think at
all. Superintendent Williams. of Mari
eta, made some remarks. urging that 1t
Is the teachers highest duty to develop
the power Of independent thinking. He
doubts whether any superintendent or
principal can tell how 1t is lonesome
fao ntar ,pitrht ir1ta AnInr-
son spoke on the subject in an Interest,"
ing and instructive manner. j. NJ.
Hammond, principal of Union school.
spoke on the subject of Independent
thinking. He thinks but few young
pupils think independently; 1t comes to
them In due time.
a recess of ten minutes was taken.
after which Superintendent Citizens. of
Wcllsburg, opened the subject of How
arithmetic should be taught in the
grammar SCHOOL," He took the ground
that we teach too much arithmetic. Mr..
Hammond took the same ground. Su-
perintendent Williams favored teaching
as much arithmetic rs possible: we do
not accomplish as much as We should In
the time we devote to It: teach the
fundamental rules in the lower grades
and the pupils can so galleplng through
arithmetic In the grammar grades.
The evening session opened with vio-
lin solo by Miss Edith Cartwright. and
by request she played another. much
10 the delight Of the audience. The sub
ject "How can We keep the boys In
school until they finish the coursc?"
was opened by Superintendent II. y.
Merit, of Steubenville. who said that
some suggested more male teachers,
others that more high school studies be
made elective. Superintendent Ander-
son said he did not approve of allowing
pupils to elect what they are to study.
Superintendent Stewart, of Martins
Ferry, agreed with Mr.. Anderson: he
also wished his child taught by both
ladies and gentlemen. Professor Cham
berlin. OF Marietta college. spoke
against elective studies. Superinten-
dent MerrIck. OF Cadiz, spoke next: he
said that there was both an internal
and an external cause for boys and also
girls leaving school One Internal
cause Is that all are expected TO do the
same amount OF work. The slow ones
are expected TO accomplish just as
much as the bright ones, and they be-
come discouraged and leave the school.
An external cause Is found in the
homes; the parents do not see the nee
essity of u high school education.
Superintendent Work. of the Wheel
Ing High School, said that the high
school Is trying to do too much work.
Our best high schools are equivalent to
what Harvard and Yale were 100 years
ago. Our high school courses are not
near enough TO the people. Sunerintcn-
dent Williams, of Marietta, spoke OF
I, ., ha hA,.u tkrnnuh ha ", I'M
mar school. He says that five times as
many drop out OF the grammar schools
ms drop ont OF the high schools. The
Round Table adjourned to meet at $50
o'clock this morning.
The following questions will be dis
cussed to-day:
Close supervision IS the only hope Of
the schools In districts of all sorts
county. village and city.
II 4 good teacher falls to pass the eX-
animation for renewal OF her certiii-
cate. the board should keep her position
for her until she does obtain Il ccrtih-
cate.
Teachers examinations. by the qucs-
ton method. will never throw out un-
worthy teachers.
II the so-called "Old teachers are not
the best teachers In the corps IL Is he
cause the superintendent with whom
they have worked have been incompe-
tent.
A teacher should be required to write
out the reasons for any method which
she uses. or likes.
What Importance should be attached
to the grades upon 4 teachers ccrtiii-
cate?
The Importance of habit in education.
Too much is now attempted In most
primary schools.
In what grade or grades should the in
experienced teacher he placed?
What constitutes good oral teaching
in primary grades?
"rhe Murder OF the Method fnno-
ceutg" Mrs. Lew Wallace in LadIcs'