The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-11
Rivesville Notes

since the writer slightly blew a lit
tie hot air, or Whatever anybody Wish
egt to call II. in regard to what has or
had become OF the free school system.
AS for what kind Of air atmosphere.
wind or weather some may cali II;
matters not to the undersigned as he
Is not speaking at random as few
on the other side of the question may
term It; but Is speaking the sentiments
Of hundreds Of taxpayers and patrons
of schools whose vacations in life and
daily duties bar them from publicly
speaking their. sentiments as they
would SO like to do.
The undersigned Is not acting as
spokesman for the individuals refer.
red to in particular, but knowing their
sensible sentiments or at least great
many Of them. and not being so heav-
| lily burdened with this worlds goods
and chattles as to take all OF his time
in counting the interest on his money,
he once in a while turns on a little
breeze and there's hardly any right
handy way to help It.
Another idea, or rather a problem
to solve is being talked Of among u
class of men who are recognized by
the sheriff of the county when 1t comes
tax time and the school demands are
flashed in their faces they have right
to speak above whisper and there'if
be a time when things along the line
of the peoples money being spent SO
lneyenly by the gilt-edged little mana.
gers OF such affairs who have been
slipping In as mouse would under
door or window, will almost call for
rocks and mountains to hide them
from the face of conservative, patient
old farmers and taxpayers who have
stood back for years hoping and try.
my to think everything was working
right and honest among as it were
the smart set, in regard to the hard
earned, honest money that Is and has
been collected off of them for years
with pretense of being used strictly
for reasonable and Just purposes.
Another matter has been talked
about to no little extent, and is as
follows and in regard to the grading
of teachers.
What does grade really amount to,
anyhow? Some may know, while 9th.
ers do not, and surely ought not to
be blamed for kindly asking. While
teacher with number two certifi.
cate can act as principal Of graded
school of three or more departments
and teacher with number one Ger.
tificate teaching school where a
number two or three teacher, plainly
speaking. could easily handle 1t, the
question springs up, Is there really
very much reality In the grading Of
teachers, and II there is where is it?
The old man that has been paying for
the goods for so long would like to
see some OF them occasionally, and
who or what kind OF brass lined
brain hardened nonentity as far us
right was concerned would blame the
old man or old men and taxpayers?
How about principal of a school
holding a five year certificate and con.
Quoting the principalship OF a school
for various terms, or until his five
year pull expired, and then on passing
the examination getting a number
three? Isn't that enough to make the
old taxpayers and hackers Of the
whole school system squirm? Who
has the gall to say no? oh, of course,
somebody would, but there'n be a
time when they won't. Now as to the
old system or new system Or new
moon system, 1t would be a damper
on the whole affair, IL by close and
careful, honest and fair investigation
could be no system at all found in
the bailiwick that would be presenta.
BILE without a new suit OF wearing an.
paret out and out. It is not SO bad
when individuals water the stock for
their own special benefit, so long as
1t don't interfere direct or Indirect
with other people. but there's too
much water being used, as we'll ~.
wind, unauthorized food and unadul.
terated education, let it be little Or
much, wouldn't so bad together and
anything that will not bear close in.
specuoa and rigid examination is
not fit to be pushed on the people,
and that's no Joke. This is the truth
oozing out on It's own accord, not tnu
nome STAR.
P. S.-Thanks for the six months
time given to county schools and now
for good wages to good teachers and
plenty of them, and what country
this will soon be, II the children can
only manage to get new book every
moon and be lucky enough to have
sufficient amount OF brain to compre.
bend their contents. What a great
| land nf knowIad0a 1,yo ,,,fu ~. ,.n,.,,.t -