Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-12-19
SCHOOL TOPICS.
City Schools We're Never in a
More FIourishins Condition.
The Attendance Has Been Unusually
Good From The Opening Of The
Term and The Scholars Have Made
Rapid Progress.

The public schools of our city
never were In a more flourish.
ing condition than at the present
time. In fact, thus far the term
has been the banner one In the
city's history. Tie daily attend
ance has been far above the aver
age and the interest manifested by
both scholars and parents have
been much better, we are pleased
to note, than at any previous term.
The schools have not been Inter
rupted by deaths or contagious
disease, and the scholars, as gen
eral rule, have enjoyed unusual
good health since the opening on
Sept. 1st. Each room Is taxed to
Its utmost capacity, and the COM
bined number of scholars enrolled
at the present time Is $50.
Much praise Is due Supt. NJ. E.
Hess, Principal Geo. E. Daniels
and assistants. for the good work
they have accomplished and for
the rapid progress the schools as a
whole. have made. There mas been
no contention or dissatisfaction on
the part of either the scholars or
parents, and which fact Is certainly
most commendable one to all,
especially to the instructors. We
sincerely hope matters may ever be
thus, and that the latter part of the
term will make as rapid strides as
the first has made
AS Christmas draws nigh the
average school boy and school girl
are thinking more of this coming
holiday than OF the lessons 10 be
learned. Visions of sugar plums
dance through their heads while
the many presents they hope TO
receive are in imagination led up
alongside the lessons that must be
studied, and the daily reiteration
shows which occupy the mind the
more fully. But these times must
come and teachers can remember
how they longed to have Christ
mas come" and make many al
lowances that could not otherwise
be made. The wise teacher will use
these occasions fer the impariins
iof useful lessons and for leading
the pupils to fud out many things,
no. contained in the textbook les
sons. The up 10 date teachers have
their eyes open to every oppor-
turity that comes in every day life,
while the one who still lives IN the
past and Is ploddipg along in the
way ou. fathers trod, misses all
these helps strewn along the way.
In saying this it IS not the Intention
TO intimate that there was nothing
good In what our fathers did, or
that eood methods of teaching
should be departed from, because
they are old, but there are teachers,
and their name Is legion, who will
not keep up with the times In the
methods of teaching. The teacher
ought to be student as long as he
follows the profession. Test all
methods and hold fast to those that
prove themselves to be good. In
regard to new methods, 1t might be
we'll for young teachers. at least, to
ooserve Campbsll's rule In regard
to the use Of words, the latter part
of which is as follows: "Be not the
first by whom the new are tried nor
vet the last to lay the old aside"
In conversation with a we'll
known citizen recently In regard to
School Topics" he expressed
himself that most any one with the
proper amount of education and
with a determination to succeed,
could become a good teacher, and
that all this talk about special
training beforehand and consecra-
tion TO the work was merely sentt-
ment. What Is there In teaching
school, anyhow, said he, but In be-
Ing able to make the pupils behave
themselves and hear recltadons!
Continuing, he said that one OF the
best teachers he ever had was one
who by his physical presence alone
made the boys mind and In the