Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-29

IHySlOfOgN ~ s.
Physical Geography 8 "a 80
Botany Il 50 81
Geology 8 10 l9
EcCnomi.s 7
Physics ~ 50
Rhetoric Is 10
English Grammar is g. So
Eng. Literature IS ITO 1853
Mental Arithmetic II 50 At
Latin IS 90
Greek 2
The Creek class being small one, was
not heard dur ng school hours, the Sup.
hearing /: recte during forty minutes Of
the noon intermlsslon. Not all OF the pu-
pills in the studies mentioned continued
during the entire year. Where the num-
bers opposite given study are large,
there were two or three classes in the
same study. Some have supposed that
by dropping some Of the branches taught
we could lessen the amount of work to be
done. For convenience in reckoning let
US take the number of pupils at 40 In
stead of Us. Now every pupil considers
that he must have at least four studies
and some want more than that. Four
times 40 would give $50 different pupils
to hear reel. e every day, if all recited every
day in each study Assuming twenty as
the average number in each class and d.
vding $50 by 20 we have thirty-four class
es to be heard each day. Now for the
past six years or more there have been
seven periods four in the forenoon and
three in the afternoon, Of about 40 min
utes each for each recitation each day.
Dividing 81 by 7 gives US the full work OF
five teachers, lacking one recitation per-
iod, precisely what we have had for the
past year, the Greek being heard at noon.
1t will be observed that this computation
is based on the number of pupils alone,
irrespective of the character of the study
pursued. Leaving altogether out OF the
question the character of the studies pur-
sued, there is SO much work to be done,
or the pupils will be neglected.
The Eiyh School is the capstone OF our
city system. 1t is the place where the
great majority of the youth get the last
and most important Impulse and direction
in fitting them to becohe useful members
of society and the state. They should feel
here that they are being led into that
wider world of thought, feeling and ac-
should be led to reflect upon the deeper
meaning of the facts Of life about them
and to see in some degree that the school
is most important part of the life they
lead. Every boy and girl should feel that
if the High School is as far as he can go
in school life the city community owes
him just as thorough and as complete a
training as it owes the one that goes to
college or to university; nay more, from
| the very fact that he can go no farther, he
could Justly reason that the education and
| discipline should be even better than for
his more favored fellow student.
Let it not be supposed that because |
have mentioned the extremes OF our sys-
tenn that the steps between are less I'M
portant. Harold graduates at Harvard
this year" wrote proud father to prl-
mary teacher, but his college course be-
gan when he entered your room twenty
years ago" writes the editor OF Primary
Education. If the primary teachers work
of starting the children right is so import
ant, the work of all the other teachers that
follow IN keeping them so is no less I'M
portant. How great is the work OF hold
ing them in school until they reach the
Principals rooml What work the Prln
cipals have at that most critical period Of
youthful Fife when the decision as TO
whether the pupils shall go 10 the High
School and so on developing their powers
to the utmost of which they are capable
when this decision is in the balan.e, what
an influence it is that fixes 1t IN the right
direction, the direction of greatest devel-
] opment for life
AS many of the patrons of the school
have not access to the school laws OF the
state | quote the law in regard to in
stitute attendance. 1t is found on page
So, section 80, edition of 1897. 1t reads
as follows; ANY teacher not exempt from
institute attendance who shall fail or re-
fuse to attend at least one institute an
nually, held under the provisions of this
section, unless such teacher, shall have an
excuse therefor, sufficient in the judgment
of the board of examiners TO which such
teacher may apply for examination, shall
not be entitled to examination or be en-
ploped to teach any free school during the
year within which such failure or refusal
may have occurred"
On this paragraph, Attorney-General, AL
fred Caldwell, has an opinion. No. 90 as
follows: The applicant for examination
for teachers certificate must have at
tended one institute during the year or
have an excuse for not so attending suffi-
cient in the judgement of the board of ex-
aminers to entitle such applicant to be
examined. Such attendance within the
year, or such excuse is a condition preced-
ent to the right to be examined.
Il 1t will thus be seen that the action OF