The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-03-16
TEACHERS. |.
OF Sardis District Hold Last
3 Meeting of Year and Petit
ton Education Board.

u SdIQIS UlSulGl2 I1Ulu Ldotl
d Meeting of Year and Petit
ton Education Board.
The sardis district teachers met at
Wallace Saturday in the last Of a SER
les Of six meetings held one each
month during the six months OF the.
school term Several teachers were
In attendance from all parts OF rne
district and several school officers:
members Of the board OF education
and trustees were also present.
Several proposed improvements in
the school system OF the district were.
discussed and the following resolu-
tons. addressed to the board Of edu-
cation, were passed by the unanimous
vote OF the teachers and citizens pres
ent:
To the Board of Education OF sardis
District:
We, the teachers OF sardis district,
assembled in the final meeting OF the
year of our association, believing that
many needs and problems OF our
present themselves with particular
force TO US who do the daily work of
the schools and with the single pur-
pose Of promoting the welfare Of the
communities in and for which we
Z have labored for the last six months,
lido sincerely advocate the proposals
which follow and. with a desire to be
helpful to you who have the respon-
sibility for the wise direction OF the
schools, do present the same to you
and ask for their careful conside era
ton.
| Perhaps the most serious need OF
our schools is that OF longer term.
| The present six months term is too
short for the average child In our
/ schools. The state common school
icourse OF study. which we try to fol-
low, outlines course of eight years
!! duration. each year to consist OF nine
months Of twenty days each OF $50
teaching days, less few holidays.
Now our six months term allows US
only l20 teaching days, less a few
holidays in which to do $50 days
work. This we cannot do with the
average child. The result Is that each
year a sad percentage of boys and
i.girls fail of promotion To fail OF
promotion means that the next year
must be spent in vain repeti tions. OF
some matter we'll known while other
matter less well known is being ac-
1 CURED. To fail Of promotion means
! that two years of life must be spent in
/ achiefing one years educational prog
] gress
How serious conditions are in this
! respect is shown by the records OF
4 the Wallace school for 1884. In
/ the grades OF this school 165 children.
Il OF this number seyenty-one or forty
4 three per cent Of the whole enroll
Il ment were not promoted The relation
\ of the number of days of school at.
Il TENDED to promoted or non-promotior
4 IS shown by the following:
OF the pupils who were not pro
NOTED attendance figures are avail
j able on only fftyefght OF thes,
n sixteen attended an average Of only
Il forty-six days each, sixteen ATTENDED
an average of only ninety-two day:
4 each, fourteen attended an average o
lsEonly 105 days each, and twelve at
$ tended an average Of only 1l2 day.
each. School was taught MS days.
The averafie number OF days at
/ tended by those who were not pro
NOTED was ninety-four.
On the other hand, of the ninety
four pupils who were promoted
4 TWENTY-FIVE attended an average o
J 1f13 days each, twenty-five attended al
4 average of 100 days each, twenty-thre.
: Eattended an average OF 1H1 days each
and twenty-one attended an average o
q eighty-seven days each.
. The average number. OF DAYS at
;Itended by those who were promoted
y Twas l04 OF 116 days taught It is be
llieved that Investigation will show
4 similar conditions all over the district
OF course it might be said that il
: tall children would attend all the days
taught in the present six months
tern a larger number might be pro
!, NOTED each year. But many children
4 who by reason of sickness orsaccident
larc able to attend, say only 100 days
iof 19O taught, would be able to at.
Ettend in the longer term OF $50 days a
sufficient number OF days to insure
J; promo ton.
We therefore commend to you,
X thoughtful consideration the proposal
that next year the minimum term FOL
II Beven months. 1t is believed that this
increase Of term can be provided for
without serious financial strain
Another serious need of our schools
lis that of more intensive supervision
AS conditions now are in Harrison
Il county the time Of the count ys super
A intendent, however efficient and hard
working he maybe. is Of necessity
! monopo by administrative detail
1iso Sardis district schools are without
4 any supervision Of the actual work OF
fclassromm instruction We t believe
that the efficiency and morale OF the
lteaching body would be SO improved
that such economics Of operation
would be effected and that such an
Improvement in educational enthus-
liasm and community spirit would be
noticeable as to- quickly justify the
appointment OF a district superinten