Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-04-20

fessional criminals, to work on the
public roads of the state, instead OF
combining them in the penitentiary,
where they will become contaminated
by association with criminals who are
beyond reformation.
Education.
The most important subject of all
those to be considered by the people
of the state is the education of the
children. What West Virginia shall
be in a few years from now depends
entirely upon the manner in which
that part of our population now of
tender years is made ready to dis
charge the duties devolving upon them
when they have arrived at maturity.
The advancement of public educa.
ton in this state in the past few
years, under Republican rule, has been
remarkable. 1t has seldom been
equalled and never surpassed, but
much remains yet to be done. | wish
to lay down as a fundamental PROPOSE
ton, that money honestly and judici-
ously expended on our public free
schools is money well spent. Along
no other lines can such tremendous
returns from an investment be de-
rived.
The citizenship of state is its most
precious possession, infinitely more so
than mines of gold or precious stones,
extensive forests or large areas of
coal, for VAIL these things there must
some time come an end. But that
state which has built up for itself a
body of highly intelligent and honor.
able citizens will be able to endure
with happy homes and increasing
prosperity, finding new resources and
new ways of caring for them when
our present resources have been ex-
hausted and the industries incident
thereto have vanished.
Therefore, in the day of prosperity
it is well to take thought for the
future, and the best way to do so is
to see to it that every child who is
growing up in West Virginia is not
only provided with the opportunity to
secure as high degree of education
as he is capable of receiving, but also
that he takes advantage of the oppor-
tunities thus afforded and that in the
best possible way.
To this end the element of highest
importance is the common schools,
both in the city and country. We need
better school houses, more comfort
able furniture, more and better appa'
ratus, and more sanitary and more
pleasant surroundings. And, since the
school teacher is the most vital ele'
ment of a good school, we must not
for a moment forget the necessity OF
constantly improving the character OF
| our teaching force, both in general
| education and professional ability
| Teachers should be paid salary com
] mensurate with the Importance oi
/ their work and the position they hold
/ in the community.
For the benefit of all children who
have completed the course of study
prescribed for the common schools, q
sufficient number of high schools
i should be established. In times past
! the common school has been called
the peoples college" because so few
children ever advanced beyond it
But in this age of greater opportuni
ties and rapid development to %
| tain even moderate success in life
! demands more than a common schoo
education. No parent having the in
terest of his children at heart car
or will be satisfied with less than {
four years. high school course fol
them. And there should be in Yves
Virginia a sufficient number of these
schools, and these so conveniently 10
Gated as to enable the children of the
poor to have as ready access to then
as the children of the rich. The coun
try boys and girls should have al
good an opportunity as those of the
towns and cities.
Our normal and teachers training
schools should be made such in the
fullest and truest sense of the word
yet with the understanding that We
need a great many more high school:
than we now have before these schools
Ican abandon the class of subjects usu
ally taught in the high school Mucl