The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-22
SCHOOL MELANGE.

ASA~A -
SCHOOL MELANGE.
A general meeting OF the teachers OF
Richie school was held in the grammar
room on Thursday OF this week. The
seventh and the eighth year pupils were
also present. Superintendent Anderson
gave a very interesting and instructive
talk. After speaking in general to both
teachers and pupils Of how pleasant
would be the work of teaching IL all pu-
pills were anxious to learn. he called the
teachers attention to the fact that 1t
should be one Of the great efforts OF the
teacher, Il not the very greatest effort.
to cause the pupils to be anxious to
learn-hungry after knowledge. When
this Is done the pupil Is on the highway
TO success. and the teachers work is
but TO guide the pupil who must him
self do the work. 1t Is pleasure to eat
when we are hungry and to drink when
we are thirsty, and so will Il be a pleas
ure to learn, after the hungering and
thirsting for knowledge are created In
the mind OF the pupil by the wise. judi
cious and earnest teacher. He also
urged on the pupils the necessity Of
their having this anxiety to learn: to
get for themselves without expecting
the teacher or any one else to get II, or
create IT. for them. This was followed
by an explanation OF the subject of
longitude and time. The subject was
made very plain to the pupils, and US
the majority OF the pupils had lately
passed through that part Of arithmetic
1t is hoped that this interesting pert
OF the study Is now completely under
stood and firmly fixed on their minds.
And now We are to have continuous
sessions in the high school. The writer
has always favored this during the
warm days of spring and the early days
of autumn, but he has always thought
that the object was - get as much OF
the session as possible during the cool
hours OF the morning. Had the hours
been from $50 a. m. to 12:45 p. m, 1t
would certainly have been much better
for the health, at least. AS 1t now Is,
all the warmest and most depressing
part Of the day Is spent In the school
room. The Snost successful term of
school In many respects. ever taught by
the writer, was during the months OF
July and August. the sessions begin
ming at I a. IN. and closing at IL m. The
remainder of the day was for recreation
and study.
And now come the days SO balmy. so
lovely. so full Of sunshine. that the nv-
erage boy feels Us though he would
rather be as Dickens says in his old
curiosity shop, while speaking Of the
boy In school, wishing him
self whale. little bat or fly. or any
thing but a boy in school, on these
pleasant days when oil nature smiles
md calls TO plaS. These days are made
for laziness, for still too soon to lay them
aside. the boy Is burdened with his win
ter clothes. while the temperature of the
atmosphere Is almost equal to summer
heat. But school must goon in spite o.
the weather, and the boy and the girl
who wish to pass well on the final
test must pour over the books yet lit
tie while longer. and II they do so hon
eStly they will reap the reward for
which they strive, and will the better
enjoy the vacation which follows in its
own good time.
The writer received letter from |
Prof. Thomas c. Miller o few days ago,
In which he. states that enrolment at
the university for this year has already |
reached 1856 and more than 500 are now
present. We are glad to note that |
Prof. Miller is back to his work. after
an absence Of five months. though he |
states that he is not yet In as vigorous
health as he was wont to be In In the |
days gone BY. He will not work during !
the summer term, and he hopes to fully |
be able for duty at the opening OF next |
years work. Our university regents
we're in session when the professor |
wrote and this ia why Dr. Raymond |
failed to be present last night TO give
his last lecture Of the course He will be
presen: tonight. though, and a large |
audience will no doubt greet him to
hear the best lecture OF the whole course
~ the ubtect. Arthur Toynbee and Hu-
ma nitarianism." The lectures have been
much enjoyed by oil who have heard
them. and they have no doubt been
productive of great good TO all who have
been permitted to hear them.
Parents. do you know what
your children are reading? This
question ought to be forced
home to every parent in the city
Of Wheeling. II IS one OF the greatest
works OF the teachers to create a taste
for good reading in the minds of her
pupils. but how discourasing it Is for
her TO find that these very pupils are
not only reading trashy literature. but
hat they are actually bringing books TO
school and secretly reading them, that
are not fit to be seen in any house. In
many Instances parents do not forbid
the reading OF such books. and the
childs mind Is filed with that which
will not only do no good. but do much
harm. No child can read such books
l1d do any good at school. The parent
should consider this and be sure that
his or her children's minds are not FILL
ed with such trash as will unfit them
'or receiving that which Is good.
The thanks OF everybody is due to
Schrebe, OF Richie
school, for the introduction OF the reso-
ution making acknowledgements an
IpiipHhl siuu! III thc HiSH scnooi. anu
o the board OF education for passing il.
Our boys and girls will now have
,hange TO learn to write In an unknown
ongue (?) and they ought 10 improve ii.
Perhaps our commercial schools will
lot like this. but 1t will not injure them
q the least. Many of our high schools
already have fuN commercial courses.
md why should not oil? It Is nee
.sSary that our boys and girls know how
70 do business. This would be great
feaf better than 10 spend SO many OF
heir SCHOOL years In studies that might
be furnished In half the time now pu.
IN them. THE PEDAGOGUE.
A Graceful Act.