West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-08-09

sponsiye reading was conducted
by Prof. Laidley. The roll call
followed, showing the presence Of
81 ladies and ro4 gentlemen.
Scatter Sunshine" was then sung.
and Prof Laieley spoke on county
and district supervision. lie quoted
the aphorism that 1.-The key Of our
own ignorance is the doorstep to the
temple Of wisdom" There is little
hope for the teacher who is per-
suaded that he already knows it
ALL"
The true teacher may be doing
we'll yet all the while conscious that
there is room for Improvement in
his work. The teacher may gain by
visiting other schools, although in
some instances the result is actually
discouragipg to the conscientious
worker.
Supervision pays in all lines of
business, but nowhere may it yield
better results than in the school
room. A superintendent cannot
teach and still do effective super
visory work. No one should criti-
else the teacher in the presence of
the class.
Arithmetic is the easiest branch
to teach, while history is the most
difficult. Some teachers need more
supervision than others.
In our State the teacher cannot
live on his salary alone, and teach.
ing is therefore not profession
with us as yet. The State is not
now ready to pay more than it does,
and the average teacher is not ready
to receive much more than his pres
emit salary.
Ladies do the best work in the
lowest grades, but in certain of the
upper grades it is found that bows
should have male teachers and girls
female teachers.
Prof Laidley defended the Gus.
tom of examining teachers at stated
intervals, but maintains that time
comes in the case of the progressive
teacher when the examination should
no longer be required.
Mr.. Shawkey now took the floor
and asked for the singing of "The
Battle Hymn of the Republic, . after
which he called upon Prof. Frank
Trottei to address the Institute.
The professor dwelt on the vital
need of the teacher Keeping his mind
bright and active by reading. 1t
makes his work lighter and when
introduced into the higher grades it
brings new interest into the school.
Unless the teacher grows he will
shrink. He must strive against mar
rowness, and if he would have 9th
ers appreciate him he must appreci.
ate himself. The teacher has some
time to read and cannot afford not
to do so. Educators of eminence
deplore their inability to find more
than trivial fraction Of time TO
give TO general reading.
The customary recess was now
taken and was followed by the sing
ing Of '1Ielp 1t On"
Mr.. Shawkey then took up the
topic Of coal and gave an animated
and interesting talk on the nebular
hypothesis as applied to the geolog-
ical history of our earth and espe.
cially the formation of coal. He
spoke of the proofs of the veeeta.
bic origin of coal by pointing out
the stages that vegetation passes
through in its development from peat
into Ignite, bituminous coal,
and finally anthracite. 1t is
estimated that vertical foot
of coal requires 10, 900 wears
for its development The Professor
deprecated the attempt to find geol.
ogy accurately taught in the Bible.
Revelation is as.accurate as science.
because the same author is the
author of both. The Bible does not
teach science, but tells men how
best to live. Theologians and scien.
fists used TO call one another liars
and there was some truth in both
charges, because both were narrow
in their views
Prof a. H. Wade. of Morgan.
town, was introduced 10 the Insu-
tute, and gave a talk on vertical
writing lie pointed out the absurd.
iy Of the current objections r. this
system OF writing, and showed that
@ was once generally 10 vogue. Hc
ezhoried teachers to base their pu
pills write plainly Prof Wade is a
popular yisitor az Institutes. snd
was warmly greeted
During the latter part Of the
morning session State superinteu
dent Irottcr entered The room
rf.rrr er--f.,r