Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-16

cerD-Other Business transacted
The most interesting matter under
consideration at the monthly meeting
of the Board of Education last night
was the proposed examination OF teach
ers. The matter was brought UP by
the report of the committee on teachers
n schools. with an adverse recon-
mendation upon the resolution of DR..
Birney to require an examination dur
ing the April vacation. The committee
disapproved any examination during
the present year.
The discussion was very interesting.
DR.. Birney gave his reasons for offer
ing the resolution. He directed atten-
ton to the fact that no general exam
ination has been held in recent years.
There was talk. of No. 1 certificates.
He did not know what a No. / certifi-
cate is. He did not know what Quaiifi-
cations are required for teachers in
the Wheeling public schools. He
thought the Board owed it to itself,
as well as to the community 1t repre-
sents, to take this step toward in
creasing the efficiency of the schools.
He referred to the fact that members
Of the Board pride themselves upon
the fact that politics do not enter into
Its deliberations, as in other bodies,
but he declared the board to be no
better in this respect. The other bod
les appoint ward .heelers," and the
Board appoints relatives or favorites
to positions in the schools. without
any particular regard to merit.
Judge Cranmer favored anything
looking to the betterment of the
schools, and asked oupt. Anderson If
he thought all the teachers in the
schools are competent.
The Superintendent reply was very
opposite. to the subject. He
said the question was rather
difficult, to answer, but he made
the excellent point that text book
knowledge is not always the best
equipment for a teacher. Some of the
brightest teachers in this sense were
less successful in the school room
than others who failed to attain as
comparatively high grades in examina-
lions.
The argument against the proposed
examination is the alleged unnecessary
hardship imposed upon the teachers,
and the lack of time for brushing up"
on studies.
Mr.. Maxwell amended the report to
require examinations in April, and ar
gued that a teacher should be pre-
pared at any time to stand an exam
ination upon the work in which she
is daily engaged; otherwise, she is in
competent. Mr.. Hubbard replied that
the proposed examination would en-
brace all the studies taught in the
public Schools, would entail hardships,
and would consume time which would
otherwise be devoted to school work.
A motion to postpone was defeated.
Col. Miller took the, floor to speak up
on Mr.. Maxwell's amendment, and
scored the commissioners for their in
disposition to turn down teachers. He
referred to the fact that n teacher
got a grade of 2 per cent. in arithmetic,
but the matter was never reported to
the Board, and the teacher was reap
pointed. Pan amendment providing for
an examination during the first week
in July. 1890, was adopted by a vote
of II to 8, MeSsrs. HuUuard, Miller and
-Waterhouse voting mo-
The regular monthly report of Supt.
w. H. Anderson showed a total en-
rollment of Ait; average daily attend
| ance, 4,047; percentage of attendance,
"a, High School; 81, Washington SO,
Madison 95, Clay 92, Union "a, Centre
go, Webster SO, Richie SO, Lincoln SO;
cases of hardness, $40.
:. Bills were approved and ordered paid
as follows: For fuel. s412.S7; ac-
counts, $91S.57; public library, s212.26.
The public library committee was au-
thorized to purchase books in accord
ancer with a list, submitted.
The report of the librarian for the
month showed q. total circulation of
1882; in reading room, 1927; average
daily circulation, .270; received from
fines, 81.
Miss Jean Best was confirmed as sub
| stitute teacher in the High School.
An invitation to participate in the
Dewey Day demonstration wac &C
ceDted:
The resignation of C. E. Noble as
Commissioner from Washington dis
trict was read and accepted, and Mr..
Walter L. Williams was chosen to fill
the vacancy.
MI. Wlllldluo was PoSOo oPOA NhS
| committees of which Mr.. Noble was a
member.
The physicians asked permission to
| use a key to the rooms of the Board,
| on account of a misunderstanding with
the ianitor. Col. Miller said the grant
ing of the request would make the doc
| tors co-partners with the Board in the
| occupancy of the room. No action
was taken.
Miss jeanette Baird was appointed
to succeed Miss Brady in Clay school,
| the latter being granted a leave of alb
| sence until next. September; also Miss
Annie McKelvey andsNIiss Fanny Linn
as substitutes.
Attention was called to the fact that
the Board has neglected TO appoint an
| examining committee for a number of
| years, and it was the sense of the
Board that the tenure of office of a
| committee is one or two years. Prof.
| Anderson is a member of the commit
tee. the other two being chosen by
| the Board. The old members, Messrs.
Birch land Jepson, were replaced by
| Col. Miller and Mr.. Maxwell.
The High School continuous session
| matter was taken off the table. and
| provoked a very entertaining debate,
but before a vote was taken the Board
| adjourned.
THE MINOR COURTS.