The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-18
.rliE couNTRY scnooLs.

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The editor Of this paper spent the
3 INST twenty years Of his life in the
country and from the age Of six to
twenty was In turn pupil and teacher
"a the little country school house and
later had the privilege Of visiting all
" the schools of his county as a su-
perintendent and noting very careful
iii their condition. Therefore, he feels
he can speak with some freedom on
The subject Of country schools and he
desires to impose an objection to the
statement frequently made that very
little Is being done by the State for
this branch Of our school system. In
TACT great deal has been done for
the country schools and the country
school teachers in the past few years.
Every state Superintendent we have
hid has been a great friend OF the
country schools and the country peo-
pie. The Legislature has done much
TO promote their interests and we con-
slider 1t reflection on both the Su-
perintendents and the Legislature to
say that but little has been done for
the country schools.
Let us look at a few VITAL points.
The minimum term has been raised
80 per cent. in the past few years.
Only a short time ago We had but
four months, and that term was the
rule for many many years. A few
years ago the minimum was raised to
i've months and little later to six.
The minimum salary of $500 for
teachers holding first grade certifi-
Gates was raised to $500. an increase
OF 40 per cent. Now, take term Of
four months at $500 per month and
b note that the amount for the term! was
100000 and then calculate the salary
for six months at $500 per month
and quite difference is discovered.
Country teachers, holding first grade
Certificates, only few years ago re-
eeived but $4,000 for the term, now
they get $4,000, an increase of 10
per cent. That was brought about by
law, but Boards of Education in many
places have gone far beyond that' nav
ing provided for longer terms and
much higher salaries.
But, the country schools are not ad-
yancing, says some one. 1t is un-
doubtedly true that after all that has
4 been done for the schools. they d.
lag, but Il is not the fault OF the state
Superintendent, the Legislature, the
( county saperinte the people, nor
the teachers, as whole. 1t Is due in
large measure to conditions beyond
their control. A man the other day
said that when he was teacher IN
the country he had a large school OF
enthusiastic pupils and the neighbor-
y hood was wide awake, but to-day the
teacher had hard work to keep his
little school at the same place going.
Why? The people are not there any
more. Their old teacher is now a
prominent business man in Fairmont
and many of his pupils and their par
sents have followed the teacher to the
city. What has happened in that com
munity has happened in many com
munities in West Virginia. Thou
sands Of the once strong and virile
country people have moved away from
the farm, the farm has been rented
and the neighborhood has suffered in
the exchange. Likewise, the vigorous,
ambitious young men who formerly
taught in the country have been talk
en- into the offices and placed in more
lucrative positions and thus the
schools lost heavily from that cause.
Again, when the school terms were
but four months. many young men and
women spent their small earnings in
attending school fall and spring. thus
better preparing themselves for the
. y MT T.. ~. Il. 80, -. J.,