West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-02-09
THE FAIRFAX SCHOOL
lis Pupils, Patrons. Trustees, Teacher
Notes and Comments on Location
and Suggestions Made.
AETmUaDALE. W. VI. -. 4. Iooi

1870 ~ fiitN W the pt'BiNea Oh tue SCHOOL,
the interes, that is being taken by The teach
CT, pupils, patrons and the officials Of the
school. And, while the teacher is fully
aware that il is not the most laudable way
Tor him to eulogize where he is interested,
bu, as we have been solicited, and are not
entirely free from The smiles Of ambitions
g'ories, we will con6ne ourselves to facts,
and ~e refer your many readers TO the
trustees. any Of the patrons Of the school,
aud to the President of the Board Of Educa-
ton OF Valley district, Thomas Forlney. who
has been renowned teacher Of the past
and who still retains an active interes, in
school work, as to whether we are drawing
upon the Imagination.
The school began on the last Monday in
October, 1904, hence to date three and one
half months Of the school have been taught.
The enrolment consists Of g girls and y
boys, total 80 pupils. a moderate sized
school for efficient rural school work The
general average per cent of daily attend.
ance for The three aud one-half months
taught is 07H per cent.
We are having good school. not a
model, an interesting school. pleasant and
agreeable in the schoolroom. and with
outside associations aud corporations
The weather has not been too hot, wet.
cold. snowy or muddy during the winter
but what the children have been found in
their places with but very few exceptions,
and they only six or seven years Of age
Four-htihs OF all the children have one
mile to come to school
All the children in the district with one
exception. are in attendance, that come
under the school Jaw. We have one boy.
70 years OF age, deaf and dumb. All his
learning is done by copying and he is a
good pupil Also there are two families.
Mr. Sap Fortney and Mr.. Claude Keel.
over that do not belong to the school at
all, and we will say here that Mr.. Keel.
overs youngest child. for the time and
opportunity tina, she has had to attend
school, cannot be excelled i'm improvement
by any other child in the county
All the children are industrious aud are
making rapid advancement in most OF the
branches taught. But this is not an. the
patrons seem to have caught a new inspir-
ation-the intellectual welfare OF their
children is not forgotten. They have
caught the New England ideals OF school.
they bring their children to school, aud
they also bring other children. too.
Mr.. Thomas Turner, in connection with
one OF the trustees, runs daily two.horse
sled Trustee Leroy Shackelford Of
Browns Mills, runs daily two-horse sled
Mr. George linn brings his own and other
children in a two-horse sled: Thomas
Fortney the same; Sap For,ucy and Claude
Keeiovcr have brought their children an
winter in sleds when there was snow. and
when there was no snow some have brought
their children m buggies and on horse
back.
Fellow teachers don't YOU think il is
pleasure TO teach where there is so much
Interest among children aud cooperation
OF the patrons and right here comes the
pretty side for the teacher. lie has al.
ready been solicited to teach the school
next winter, and one OF the patrons. who
has the ability to do what he saws he will,
has offered the teacher his board free IL ne
viii teach tho school next winter, that al
the present rate Of wages. fifty dollars per
month, hence we feel that we owe the
patrons some expression OF appreciation
and we do not think that IL is necessary for
us to search the runs OF Egypt or to ex.
haust the archieves OF Babylon, Greece or
Rome. to find WORDS or language to express
our appreciation, but the columns Of THE
ARGUS are sufficient for us, and il we con.
tinue to have the same CO operation for the
remainder OF the school we all will be
happy over the results Of our winters
work
Many OF the patrons Of this community
believe in the Capitalization Of the schools
OF the county This will be necessity i'm
this community or else il will be necessary.
and il is the duty Of the Board of Educa.
ton Of Valley district, to build two new
school houses, one at Browns Mills and
the other at or near Bethel Church The
Fairfax school is now situated on one side
OF the district and the location is very IN
convenient to a majority of the children.
There are plenty oil children convenient TO
Browns Mill FOR large school At the
Bethel Church community the school at
this time would be small but we think that
the twelve or fifteen children at that place
are entitled TO as much schooling and the
same opportunities that communities OF 90.
80 go or more have in other sections OF the
county.
Il may be that the Legislature will take
some action Goo reg "a TO the Capitalization
Of certain schools through the state and
county. Il is to be hoped, at least. that
the Legislature will create a better com.
pulscry school law so as 90 read tbat all
children Of each county RI the state. De-.
tween the age Of nine and sixteen. shall Az.
tend the public school Of the county every
day That che sceool is in session. EXCEPT ON
account OF sickness Of the pupil or death
Of a near relative. and that the children OF
poor parents who arc not able Co. propcrIy
clothe them aud TO- furnish them with rre
proper books that such shall be supplied
by the Stale or county boo which tbey rs.
side We believe 'blt 30 is cheaper Co.
build churches and school houses and
educate the children than Co build state
prisons and 600 tue pcntcuu5rcs With the
ignorant classes
During oHr experience iu teacliuF for
over quarter Of century the two great
est drawbacks or hindrauces 60 tne sHe
cess Of some children was on account of
being too th'nIy clad and many Htur
girl bias ruined her future Hfr by taking
cold and has.y consumption setting iu the
result being a premature grave And there
Is another class Of children who Tor ihe
want Of proper books become a dr5e. au
back add finally leave school altogether
long before they wo1id 10 thcy bad bad .h.
proper books Co hsveera5Ied them 90 Keep
pace With their classes.
We are in favor oi SIX and seven
months term of school believe hat tbr
State Superintendent OF Free Schools BIAS
b.H pending before tHo Legislature TO-
make thc term not less .Ian six months