West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1901-12-26

Generally Speaking Our Present Pnb-
Ic system OF Education II Not Al
ways Realised.
We do not always realize the en-.
tire scope of our public system OF
education, and generally In speak
ing of il, reference Is made to the
country district schools, the graded
and high schools, never thinking
that 1t includes the normal schools
and the State university, with It's
two preparatory schools.
A West Virginia boy or girl can
pass from the lowest district school
In the state, In case there be any
distinction, and finish at the uni
versity with the highest honors, for
that matter, and not have one cent
to pay for tuition. If text books
were furnished free, as many
are of the opinion they should
be, then would Our public
schools be free, indeed. If this was
the case the State could, with much
better grace, compel attendance at
the publice schools, or make the
parents furnish an education equal
to what they give, either at home
or in private school. Ignorance
Is a crime In Our land today to a
degree, and it shoald be Looked up
on as such, when every opportunity
Is too poor and rich alike 10 secure
a fair school education.
The charge Is often made that
many of our best educators are good
for nothing else as far as the busi-
ness relations of life are concered,
This may and 1t may not be true.
II 1t Is true and successful teachers
are kept in the profession thereby,
1t will be a good thing for our
schools. One thing Is certain 1t takes
man or woman of the very
best of ability to be good teacher;
then why that person could not
succeed In any other. buslr ess, 1t
does not appear at first glance. A
celebrated writer on the subject
says that the same energy and the
same education required to make
good teacher ought to succeed In
any other calling and would com
mand very often ten times the
wages they get for teaching. To
succeed In any profession or busi-
ness, that Is 10 make it perfect
success. the heart must be In 1t, and
If the most successful teacher was
to quit the school room and put
the same heart force into any other
employment, providing 1t were pos.
sible for him to do so. he would
certainly be as successful In it. 1t
Is sad commentary though on any
people TO say the very profession or
employment. which ever it may be
ed,requiring the very best talent
and the hardest work demands less
wages than does any other employ.
ment requiring trained skill either
Ia mind or muscle. This Is true.
Skilled workmen In all our manu-
featuring establishments demand
and get more money for their labor
than do the teachers. The day
laborers get more money than do
the teachers In Our country schools,
aud In comparing salaries of the
skilled workmen with those oil
teachers In the higher grades, the
same will be found to be true. II
Is no wonder then that many of our
most successful teachers leave the
profession just because they are
forced to do so to make money
enough on which to live In ease
and comfort and to lay up some
thing for the time when they must
cease to labor. It would be the
part of wisdom for all our boards of
education to employ none but the
most competent teachers, and pay
them salaries that would cause
them TO make 1t life work.