Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-07-18
TWO NOTABLE TALKS
State Superintendent Miller and
DR.. Reeder Heard on Impor-
tant Questions.

ochOol iaAes -"ferManency Q
Teachers Consolidation UniYers
! TVS Enlarged Function vita
i Question.
| Two very interesting talks wer
given at Commencement Hall las
| night. The speakers we're Superin
tendent of Schools Thomas G. Mile
and Dr. Rudolph Rex Reeder o
New York. The educators had beer
invited to attend Prof. and Mrs
Barbes's reception, and the addresses
were both short on this account
The exercises began at eight O'CLOCK
and were finished before nine.
Prof Miller said the State had q
perplexing problem in outlining Thu
course of study for the distric
schools. Supt. Virgil A. Lewis haC
issued manual for the course O
study and the amount of work that
should be accomplished in eacl
term. This was a step in the right
direction.
Maryland had the ideal system ot
classification and grading A boy
on the eastern shore could enter q
school in Carrot county, and take
up his work just where he quit
There was a minimum term of "A
Records OF classification complete
were kept. The use Of the grade
sheet in this State had been ineffec-
tive and the problem was now how
to introduce a successful grading
system.
West Virginia had minimum
term of five months. Some districts
had only three months school. The
whole amount of the States general
distributable school fund was $780,
600, this year-$1.62 for each boy
and girl of school age-20 cents
greater than ever before. Kentucky's
general school fund,was over 2,000,-
600. In West Virginia only 90 per
cent. of the school expenses was Sc
cured by general taxation-in Ken
lucky, so per cent. BY the latter
method, the rich cities helped to
support schools in rural districts.
This was the proper method.
This year, 20 per cent of the
teachers of the State were entirely
new to the work, and 60 per cent
were new to the places in which
they taught. Better salaries were
necessary to secure permaneney.
The consolidation of distaict
schools into graded schools, and
provision for the transportation of
children were important matters to
be accomplished.
In closing, Prof. Miller said the
problem which confronted the edu-
Gators OF the state and which called
for their best powers was to keep
education within hailing distance Of
the great material progress of the
State.
DIR. r. r. Reeder followed He said
the keynote Of the conference seem
ed to him to be cooperation" The
functions OF the University must en-
large. 1t must cast its mantle over
the educational interests OF the stated
and foster high schools. When it
was proposed to vote bonds for high
schools, the University should be
there with its infuenc tc see that
the proposition carried He gave
some interesting facts in regard to
the University of Illinois in this
sort of work.
The real poinJ in the relation of
the University to the normal schools
he thought had been lost eight of.
The principals had failed to make
any inquiry as to the opportunities
the University offered in the prspa-
ration of teachera.
Their work was primarily to train
teachers. They had shown interest
only in preparing students for the
University. The normal schools
should send their graduates here to
learn art science of teaching. a pre-
paratory school was no part OF
University. 1t should be Topped Oft,
gradually beginning at the bottom.
The University should be an en-
ployment agency. 1t should see that
its graduates get positions.
Normal graduates should not come
here clamoring for credits. They
should be taught to recognize the
the high standards of the University
and the maturity of mind necessary
to grasp the subjects taught. Text
books were no part of University
teaching and claims for credit could
not be based on these
The problem of the dull boy was
a great one Education was trying
to adjust itself to all He believed
in educating the rank and file. The
man at the bench and lathe should
be educated as well as the superin-
tendent and foreman. Ruskin had
said "The wealth of nation CON
sists in the number of people en-
ployed in making beautiful things"
He had admired the spirit OF
frankness which had been prevalent
during The the meeting and the al
fable manner In which some very
straight talk" had been received.
-ss-o-s---
Instantly Killed.
James Higgins stepped out of the
way or freight train at Grafton last
pfuht op1u IN cfap in front ~ a M,