Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-08-10
etter From supt. shawkey.

tendent OF Schools OF west 'hS'i'a' '''',
issued the following letter to members Vi
school boards in the State:
During the school year just beglrnins
YOU will deal with many important mat
tiers in handling which wish outhe great
est possible success. If our public schools
are a success the welfare OF the state VIII
be enchanced. These schools cannon oe
4 great success without you make them
so But the work of the public schools
is not single handed job. Its coop
erative business and demands the pest
that teachers, parents, officials, all OF us
can give TO It. 1t may be that the otale
Superintendent or his assistants can heip
YOU in some of your problems, II you
want our services at any time, let us
know. We will respond cheerfully ana
do what we can to serve you.
May offer few reminders! Inc HIST
one is this: Let all business be done IN
regular meeting OF the Board and lei all
business at such meetings be done ana
recorded in a regular way. Each CUES
tion should be open for discussion ana
then put TO vote and the result recorded
by the secretary, whose minutes should
always be read to the Board for approval
before making the final record. ms
plan viii avoid misunderstanding SO
likely to arise and then in case OF trouble
later YOU will have reliable record by
which to settle it.
| should like to put in aplea Tor teach
ers' salaries. do not believe there IS
state in the Union where the general
character of the teachers will average
higher than in West Virginia. We nave
a number of teachers OF many years OF
successful experience and we have host
of younger ones most OF whom are work
ing hard to prepare themselves Tor the
best possible service. Let us encourage
and help them by paying the best salaries
we are able. That will help get us bet
fer schools and there is no wiser invest
ment than an investment for better
schools.
Some of you will think of district su-
peryision. II is worth thinking about.
But in such matters we should not at
tempt to 60 faster than conditions VIII
Justify. Don't employ district superln-
tendent until you can get good one.
Good ones are scarce because this is
new field and to be really good for this
work man should have special training
for it. Good district supervision will in
crease the efficiency OF the average dis
trict thirty to forty per cent and lit is there
fore good business. Within the past year
representatives OF nearly a dozen other
states have been in West Virginia study
ing rural supervision and they say our
plan of district supervision is good. II
such able critics pronounce it good, we
must be wise enough to give it thorough
consideration.
If you are building new houses, build
good ones on good large lots with school
gardens and Fairgrounds where possible.
Among our new school laws is very
excellent one providing for medical in
spectors for our schools. This law says
all independent districts shall appoint
such officials and magiSterial districts
may do so. Many districts do not have
the means to pay any considerable sum
for this purpose but perhaps you can find
public spirited doctor in your district
who will visit the schools in his usual
rounds for mere nominal sum. II so,
you should not fail to avail yourselves OF
his services. The spread OF contagious
diseases should be checked and detective
eyes, teeth, Threats and lungs in children
should be treated for the sake OF the add
ed health and progress in their studies
that will result.
October 18th is to be Cleanup and
Beautify Day." If we all join with the
schools in this crusade against unsightli-
ness, filth and disease, it will tell for the
health and happiness of West Virginia.
The law makes it your duty TO appoint
truant officer. If you get good, hon
est, discreet man, he will be strong fac
tor in the better schools for which we are
all working.
There are many other things of interest
but they must be discussed at other times.
The work is worthy of your best efforts,
You will earn ten times the pay you get
but believe you will render the service
periodically and faithfully.
Very cordially yours,
M. p. SHAWKEY.