The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-13
SCHOOL MELANGE.

At the late meeting OF the Round
Table the subject Of free text books was
the subject Incidentally discussed by
quite q number OF the teachers. This
\ grew out OF the discussion OF the topic,
uniformity OF Text Books for the
Schools Of the Upper ohio Valley"
1t was urged that the expense OF buy
ing the text books was teo great for
those parents who were forced to move
from place to place. to follow the work
In which they were engagedI While 1t
seems to be almost nm imposslbllity to
have this uniformity, which would be n
great help to the schools on both sides
Of the river. the consensus or opinion
Is that free text books would meet the
demand fully as well, II not better.
The writer has before him copy OF the
Steubenvllle Herald-Star, in which Is
publishedn paper by Superintendent H.
N. Mcrtz on the subject. This paper
was read before the SteunbenvIlle
board OF education at Its regular meet
Ing. and since the meeting Of the Round
Table, and was referred to the text
book committee. which will doubtless
act favorably on the matter. He recon-
mends that text books be furnished
free as new classes are formed requIr-
Ing new books. and this be continued
until there are free text books In all the
Etchoois As Superintendent Mertz is
so well and favorably known In Wheel
| Ing, and the reasons he gives for free
text books are so pertinent, and will Gp-
| ply so we'll to our own city. Il few OF the
prominent ones are given: |. 1t saves L.
| considerable loss Of time ut the begin
ming OF every term from the failure of
some OF the pupils In nearly every class
| to secure the necessary books with
promptncss. 2 The books would all be
used until they are worn out. thus maxi
Ing the number OF new books required
| less than the number bought under in
| dlvidual ownership. 3. This free text
| book being directly under the charge
OF the teacher. better care will be ia
ken OF them and they will last longer.
4. They will cost the board less when
bought In quantities than they cost the
individual buyer. 6. Some children are
| taken out OF school because their par
| ents are not able to buy the necessary
prove an inestimable blessing. G. 1t
will save the humiliation OF having to
npply to the board for text books. Z.
The experience OF those places having
| free text books Is favorable every time.
1t Is universal In the states Of Massa-
| chusctts and Pennsylvania, and In the
District Of Colubmia, and Is giving
great satisfaction.
Mr.. Mertz gives number OF other
reasons all OF which are good. but these
are the most potent ones, and they will
nll apply'to Wheeling with just as much
force rs to Steubenville. The writer
thinks that were this matter properly
considered by our board OF education
we would have free text books at the
beginning OF the next school term: he
has Just that opinion OF the good sense
OF the men composing the board.
So much space has been given to this
subject, from the fact that 1t Is q live
and burning question. Internationally. 1t
will not down. Free text books will
come; must come-the only question Is
shall Wheeling lead or follow rs far as
our own state is concerned. Just one
OF Mr.. Merits reasons the writer
wishes to emphasize, !. c., It saves the
of education for books. He knows OF
instarces-qulte number of them
where children are kept out OF school
because the parents are too poor to pur-
chase the books, but too proud TO asle
for them. You may say this is false
pride: grant 1t. but sun the children
are growing up In Ignorance. just the
same. II our free schools are good
thing for those who are able to buy
books. they surely IRE for those who
are not able. and hence we should make
them SO that all may partake of their
benefits, and then compel all to do So
In this way all will at least learn to
read and write. contamination de-
voutly to be wished.
But some say that "a little learning
IS dangerous thing" and far better
would 1t be for our boys and girls to
not know how to read and write than
to know how and then use their knowl-
edge in storing their minds with the
trashy literature that floods our land
to-day. To the first objection we would
say that the quotation Is more poetical
than otherwise. and to the last. which
is. so often used by the opponents OF
popular education. or rather the educa-
ton OF oil the masses, we would say
that under the guidance Of the wise
teacher our boys andSgirls can be so
educated, or rather so guided, that they
will have no taste for such reading.
The greatest object OF all our teaching
Is the formation Of character. We may
not expect to make good men and wo-
men out o. all boys and girls. but this
should be our aim. Remember the old
adage: III we aim our arrow at the sun
we may not hit It. but we will so
higher than II we aim 1t at the house
top" Let our aim be high In all our
work OF teaching and then let us labor
on until the Master calls from labor to
reward.
Prof. ]. n. Patrick OF st. Louis. says
Success In the school room depends
upon three things: /. A clear idea OF
what Is to be done. 2. 4 clear idea OF
the best way of doing It. 3. a strong
motive for doing 1t. Quality measures
the value Of instruction. Quality Is the
great thing. In the successful teacher
It Is a constant thing. a teacher may
know the subjects he teaches and not
A Few WILL CONVINCE.
Can be Sure You Arc on the Right