The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-27
Prof. Flanagan Gives An In
teresting Review of
School Affairs.
(By Jolln IN. FIanagan.ll

4
an 1875 I taught my first school,
tn Coal district A great many
changes have taken place since then.
There We're eight teachers employed
in the district at that time. The
school term consisted Of four months
at s45 per month for a first-grade
teacher The board of education
consisted of Abel Bartlett, president:
and s. n Bartlett and Hamilton John
Eson, members all men Of good judg-
ment, who spent the peoples money
economically and judiciously. They
knew no snch words as graft ana
Erake-oft 50 years ago. They we're
1.-THE board, and not their secretary.
They gave the teachers of the district
first preference. and not the teachers
1from some other county or state what
they did, they did boldly and openly.
las faithful men for the public. NO
Ischeming, no wlre-worklng, but every
thing done on the square. They fay-
ored home first. The money so far
as possible was all spent at home.
Our county superintendent was j.
fR. Adams. He served as such super
intendent of Harrison county eight
years and as long as he wanted the
office. Once or twice no one ran
against him and he received the en-
tire vote. He was liked by every
one, especially the teachers. He was
true man and tried to do his duty.
In all his appointments and rulings
ne remembered that he was serving
the people OF the county. II there
was vacancy in a board OF educa-
ton he filled 1t at once according to
law, and did not wait several months
to favor some clique or ring, contrary
to the law and dignity of the district,
county and state. He was a Chris
tian and did things in Christ-like
way. He stood by the young teach
ers Hike a father assisted them and
gave them encouragement. He did
not favor laying on the shelf the old
er ones before it was time, after they
had bourne the heat and burden of
the day. He received only $500 a
year for his services.
But, 35 years has passed in Coal
district. The question is, how is It
today in regard TO the public schools?
Instead of only eight teachers we
have 80 some, Instead of paying on
ly $1,000 year to teachers, we are
aging over $4,000. Tntsead Of only
four-nonths term, We have eight
months. INSTEAD of S45 per month
for the first-grade teachers. we nay
them $50 to 800 per month. We
have built some very fine school
houses and think it was money we'll
spent. We should be very proud Of
them. And We have a district sun
erintendent. am not kicking on az
Directing to any of these things, bnt
do think We ought to get men on
our boards. and men at the head ~
our schools, who are native-horn citi-
zens of the district, the county ana
state, who will favor home first, and
not employ the majority of their
teachers from other counties and
states, and thus take the money away
that should be spent with our own
merchants. farmers and butchers and
for the building of homes and i'm
proving our district and county. Fair
play is what We want and also an
equal chance. Taxpayers, look TO
your interests and vote accordingly.
think that Coal district is ten
years ahead Of some districts in the
county that I have taught in, but
there is still room for Improvement
In 1875 | taught the first school that
was ever taught in Adamston. n
have lived there nearly ever since).
There was no school house. / taught
for five years in any house l could
get. furnished the house part OF
the time free, and on a meager sal.
airy with but a four-months term.
There was no church. no postoffice,
and but one small store. There was
no house south of the Northwestern