The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-01-11

was in South Carolina, where only
$500 was expended per pupil. These
facts are very significant, and should
like to discuss them at length, but my
time is limited, and l must present
other matters OF real interest.
Days in School-Thc boys and girls
who attended school last year in West
Virginia averaged Y days attendance.
If 200 days be taken as the standard
school year, and eight years is the
number Of years required to complete
properly the first eight years work OF
school, 1t would take the average West
Virginia boy and girl II years, If he
only attended u days year, to COM
Meta the work below the High School.
The highest average of attendance
was in Massachusetts,, which was III
DAYS. or practically twice the number
Of days attended by the boys and girls
of this State. On the basis of time
alone, you will see that the boys and
girls of Massachusetts get twice as
much instruction as do the boys and
girls of this State. II we want the
children CT this State to have an equaS
chance with the boys and girls IN 9th,
err Stateg, we must increase the length
of the school year increase the quail
ity of the teaching, and increase the
equipment OF the school. West Vir-
ginia should increase its school year,
Her rank in attendance is 30. While
the average time attended by the chill,
drcn of school age in this State was
u days, The average school year in
the State is 1874, giving West Virginia
rank of IS out Of the as States.
Cost per ChiId---It costs Nevada S9c
per day for each chill attending
school: Arizona SOC; Washington soc;
South Carolina &c; West Virginia 19c.
These figures represent the highest
and the lowest cost per day OF each
child, and also that of West Virginia.
West Virginia's rank in this item OF
school economy is "a.
Educational Leaks-There were en-
rolled in the elementary schools in
West Virginia in 1910, 273,14S pupils;
in the high schools 6.064; in the col
leges 1878. Tho great falling off from
the elementary schools to the high
schools is astonishing, and places
West Virginia with "a rank Of 4S, orl
lowest in the Union, which is another
way of saying that fewer hoys and
girls in proportion to the school pop
llation are in our high schools than in
any other State. This is a very signi-
ficant fact, and one which should bel
discussed in great detail everywhere
in the Estate. In spite o fthis fact,
communities are voting down propo.
sitons for bonds for high school build
ings in various parts OF the State. The
boys and girls Of This city are to be
congratulated that they arc not among
the unfortunate ones that are depriv'
ed Of the privileges Of high sch.o!
Salaries Of Teachers-The average
salary of carpenters is 1902; OF coal
miners $500; factory workers $3.50;
laborers s51S; and teachers
S4S5. The average salaries of teach
ers in West Virginia for the year 1870
was 1923, giving her a rank Of &c
among the IS States. am sure that
this statement doey notr4lll any one
present with feelings Of pride. The
lowest salary for teachers in any
State Is In North Carolina wher the
average annual salary was 5000.
Illiterates An ilhterate person Isl
regarded iasaone who Isl aboye,s tent;
gesrsb 81 rage and lulbl toFfeBd mn
write III Ibis tate' HI ON tllsfs
issI 500 IlliteFate sons q