West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-11-18
IRISH RIDGE SCHOOL.
Building In Bad Shape for HOUSING
Little Children.

Iittie Shiidren.
Report of Irish Ridge school for the
month ending November ~:
Number enrolled-Boys, -; girls, II;
total 26. Per cent of daily attendance
Boys, 81; girls, 90.
Those present every day:
hoiand Smaller Mitchell Emerson
Gage Emerson DAYTON Miller
Ray ShafTer Harry pratt
Srace smaller Ethel beavers
naueI beavers Bertha beavers
Lena beavers Grace Groves
Missed one day:
Frank Salisbury Hobart Calvert
Jane beavers Gail Salisbury
This IS pleasant school 10 teach so far
as the children are concerned and as we
have the cooperation of the patrons, but
the schoolhouse is simply awful for inno-
cent children to be compelled TO sit in all
day. The average age Of the enrolment
for the month is years. There is not
seat in the schoolroom so arranged that
the smaller children's feet can reach the
floor. In this land of christian civiliza-
ton and unbounded benevolence and
prosperity we have law for dumb ami
mails, but none for little boys and girls
from to 8 years of age.
Possibly our school officials have never
seen this school building Here is a pen
picture, and if we overdraw on our i'm
agination we are willing to 90 to Jail for
six months for each indictment found by
any one interested. There has been no
paint on the schoolhouse since il was
built, inside or out, blackboard excepted,
and 1t painted with common house paint.
The boards are oak and were never
planed, but nailed up as ceiling as they
came from the sawmill. The door has
shrunk until there is crack the entire
length of the panel that the little children
can run their fingers through and every
time 1t rains the water blows in and runs
down TO the stove in the middle of the
schoolroom.
Had L been a member of the last con-
gress | would have voted for free lumber.
ii for no other purpose than to get lum-
Der for a new door for the Irish Ridge
schoolhouse. There is no tramsom over
the door, only a board nailed over the
hole that the carpenter made, with cracks
large enough for red squirrels TO run in
and out. Rain, hail, snow, and sleet are
likely to rush in like torrents down the
mighty mountain sides. There are no
steps to the front entrance and small chill
dren cannot get in unless some one opens
the door. One small child came to the
school and could not get up to the door.
She being a little timid returned home.
There is no door lock nor key to the house
and last year the teacher had his bell
stolen. The jambs OF the door are so
secured and twisted that when the door
is closed small children cannot get it open
and the teacher has TO keep one of the
larger boys stationed near TO open and
close it. There is no water for drinking
or washing purposes available under a
half mile; much of the school yard has
grown up with underbrush and briers that
scared rabbit couldscarcely get through.
The teacher might and could remedy
some OF these evils, but under the law he
IS afraid of trespass suit. He agreed
with one of the trustees that he would
paint the inside of the schoolroom il the
paint was furnished, but was informed
that it could not be done.
Our children are hardy mountaineers,
enjoying good health and pure air.
Though Environments are unpleasant let
us have the sympathy of all that we may
succeed in some degree at least
w. r. SHAFFER. Teacher