The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-24
WHEEIINe DAILY INTEIIIeENcER MONDAY SEPTEMBER

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purpose had In writing thes notes.
These will suffice. There Is enough in
them to cause parents and school off,
GERS to think, and TO try In every way
10 make our public schools meet every
demand OF the hour.
1t Is we'll, perhaps. nlong with opin-
Ions Of others. TO give our own opinion,
OF questions US they ore met for solu-
tlon. The writer believes firmly that
one OF the greatest causes Of the multi
plication Of private schools, or rather
the dissatisfaction that elsts with re-,
gard to our public schools. which,. as n
matter of course makes II possible for
private schools to flourish, Is the crowd
ing OF our public schools with so many
studies. and making 1t obligatory that
all the pupils must pursue all these
studies. There are parents who wish
their children to pursue only certain
studies after the seventh or eighth year
Of the ,child's school life. but In many
schools they. cannot do this unless they
take the entire course OF study along
with them. Some may say that 1t Is
better for them to pursue ALL Grant It:
but this does not meet the case. The
parent will either have the child pursue
Just the studies he wishes It to pursue.
or he will take the child from school,
and hence the private school to meet
such cases. To make palmer still. there
are parents who cannot afford TO spare
their children long enough to go
through the high school, but would
gladly let them go one or two years to
study certain branches, but they cannot
do this unless the entire course Is ia
ken. and hence they get no school edu-
cation except what Is received In the,
ward schools Would It not be better
TO have 1t 80 arranged In the high
school that pupils might attend one or
more years and pursue the studies the
parent wishes them to pursue2 This
would be better for the pupil. at least,
II not for the general good Of the school.
There Is enough In all this to cause
thought, so that out Of It all may be
evolved o plan that will make our pub
lie schools met the wants of all for the
writer believes that private schools
ought not to exist ut all except as spe-
cinl schools.
After all Is said concerning our public
and private schools and education in
general. the teacher Is the great factor 4
In 1t all, and upon him more than on
any or all others depends the success or
failure OF the school. be It a public or q
private one. and nowhere does he show I.
his power as in the recitation. Here he
comes In contact with the pupil. II the
work Of the teacher be well done here. 4
happy is the pupil who is under his
charge, hut II It Is done In careless,
slipshod manner far better would 1t be
for that pupil TO go forth and listen to \
natures teaching. Exact teaching
cultivates clear thinking. and exact ex-
preston" on the part Of the pupil.
while careless teaching does just the
opposite. Right methods in teaching,
put the burden Of the work on the pu-
Pill. The talking teaehar recItcs The
lesson for the pupil, but the true teach
er talks but .!t:!e. He leads the pupils |
to do the talking. Much help on the
part of the teacher weakens instead Of !
strengthens the pupil. Direct help on
the part OF the teacher should not be
given until every effort has been made |
to lend the pupil to do the work. The
teacher is really but q guide TO keep
the pupil Straight" in tke path of |
In the middle of the
road" so to speak.