The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-22
TOPlcSOF THE SCHOOLS.

FL = e Y
TOPICS OF THE SCHOOLS.
Our public schools are Just now pass
Ing through the severest ordeal they
have ever undergone. The enemy Is
abroad and his severest shafts are
being hurled at them. From oil Of It
our schools will no doubt be greatly
benefited. Some say our public schools
give nothing at all in the way Of an cd,
ucation; others that they give too
much. Some say that the only rule OF
our schools is to teach our boys ana
girls how "to read, write and cipher"
while Others would make colleges Of
them. And so 1t goes from one extreme
to the other. Just how much should be
taught In them Is a problem Just now
.bothering the minds of our educators.
All acknowledge that they should give
a fair knowledge OF the branches, but
many claim that when this is done their
mission. is accomplished. All this VIII
be regulated in time.
A very interesting meeting OF the A
and B and grammar teachers Of Richie
school was held on Friday afternoon of
last week in the office of the main
building. The subjects, Application Of
Language Teaching" and Manners
and Morals" were discussed. It was
the opinion that II proper habits are
formed at all. they must be formed
early in life and hence arises the.great
Importance Of the proper teaching OF
morals.
Friday, November Is has been deslg-
mated by the state superintendent OF
free schools as arbor day. asking that
appropriate exercises be held in all the
schools Of the state on that day. A
very fine arbor day programme is given
in the last number OF the West Virginia
School Journal. The schools OF Wheel
ing will, no doubt. celebrate the day.
Earl P. Carman, of East Liverpool.
Ohio, who has finished course In
shorthand, typewriting and bookkeep-
ing at the West Virginia University,
has been visiting friends in Wheeling
and Mcaiechen for the past few; days.
He spears very highly Of the outlook
of the university. He spent a month or
more in the Office of Hon. George C..
Sturgiss. after finishing his work at
school. He will work for q time at least
in the department store at McMechen.
The first class of the Longfellow Lit
erary Society Of Richie school. gave
their performance on last. Friday AZ
ternoon and 1t was interesting from
first to last. The four classes seem to
be vieing with one another US to which
can give the best performance. and in
doing so they succeed in giving a per-
Torrance worth listening to, and the
poSo ohu bhio oic 6elthiS d liailiiiS
that will DO them good all their lives.
In this age 5of headlong push and en-
ergy. nearly everybody Is called upon
to take part in what is going on. moro
or less prominently. and 1t is necessary
In order to succeed we'll. to know how
to express ones self in good English
and in manner to be understood by
the hearer. Many who have the knowl-
edge fail from the very fact that they
have never had any training for speak
Ing in public. So, boys and girls, be
sure that you do your best in writing
your little essays and SAY your pieces"
just the best you can and you Will never
regret 1t.
Many parents object to their children
Saying speeches" as they call these ex-
ercises, and some even ask that they
be excused from literary performances
altogether. These parents do not know
what an injury they are doing their
children or they would not ask this,
but would do all in their power to en-,
courage them In trying to excel. The
writer believes that the time spent In
literary exercises is of more advantage
to the pupil than the same time spent
in any other school exercise. The pupils
are allowed. under the supervision of
the teachers, to conduct the society In a
parliamentary manner and they thus
get drill in parliamentary law that
will do them much more good than the
mere study Of the book can possibly
give. 1t is applied us 1t Is learned, and
thus 1t Is fastened in the mind in way
that It cannot, be forgotten. This in