Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-02-27
a BETTER EDUCATION.

When man c0mecS INTO CITY
with the intention of making it his
home, one of the first things he in
quires about is the public schools.
Martinsburs is making an effort to
become a Greater Martinsburg" In
a growing city we must have public
schools which keep pace with the de-
snands for an adequate edbca- ION for
the young people of the city. The
schools must not only have buildings,
with all the necessary modern equip
and a corps Of teachers that will fit
boy or girl to enter at least pre-
paratory school
Young men and young ladies, going
out from our schools. after graduation
should not be compelled to suffer the
humiliation OF going into lower classes
than pupils who enter these higher in
stitutions. after graduating from the
schools in other cities of like size
with Martinsburg. Graduates from our
schools are either compelled to carry
extra work in order to Keep up with
other scholars who have been better
prepared in their home schools, or
they must drop back into lower
class.
Our schools should be brought up
% such standard, that a graduate of
me schools will be able TO enter pre-
paratory school anywhere. he course
OF study should be better graded, and
all kept along certain Standard.
The branches taught, which are be-
low standard should be brought up
and those which are in advance of
the grade should give place to some
thiIS that is more necessary to the
equalization Of the course.
With fifty thousand dollars 10 spend
on buildings and better equipment,
, the school board must not loose sight
IT the fact that buildings and mater
ial equipment will not give child an
education, There must be instructors
who have the ability to impart to
their pupils the knowledge which they
have. and train the children in their
studies so that they will be able to
comprehend and master what is set
before them in the books which are
prescribed for their study, There is
more in training a child how to study,
and having that child thoroughly UNI
derstsnd the subject matter, han
there is in the scholar being able to
give correct answers to the questions
which the teacher is able to PROFOUND.
1t is not always the pupil who can
give the correct answer to the ques-
lions that has best mastered the
study. rsa
:. We do not presume TO say where
Our school system is lacking, but that
there is . deficiency some where we
are convinced by the reports that
come from those scholars who have
entered higher institutions elsewhere.
These scholars have been able to
make a good showing at the acade-
mics or schools which they attended,
not because of the training they re-
ceived al the schools here, but be
cause of their individual ability to
master subjects after they are put un-
der proper training. II is our duty to
so train cur children here. that when
they go TO higher schools they will
not be handicapped by lack of the
knowledge how to study. and be com
PEELED TO plod in order TO keep up with
their fellow students. when II they had
received the proper training here, they
would have been able TO stand higher
in their class, without the hard work
which .aany OF them have experience
because OF our deficiency al home.