Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-05-27

pared. conferences WIN D0afdS OF
education held aud national associa-
tions and conference attended.
Besides the state superintendent OF
free schools is a member ot the
board Of public works, which has ar
duous duties and the state board of
regents. which couples consider
able portion Of his time. The six state
normal schools and the West Virgin
ia university must be kept in touch
with. The two colored Institutes and
152 high schools must be supervised
also.
Visitors are always welcome at this
department This, as every business
man knows takes time to entertain,
but no one is turned away by "Odico
Boys" or Busy Day" signs.
This department has grown by
leaps and bounds during the past five
years. To illustrates: In 1910 there
were II high schools throughout the
state; in 1915. 1852 Pupils enrolled
in public high schools, 1910. 1900,
in 1915, 1926. Enrolment in the
Normal schools. 1910, 2,327: in 1915,
2,464. Enrolled in the West Virginia
university. 1910. 52s; in 1915, 796.
Enrolment of all schools of the
state, 1910, 276,35S: in 1915. 3G4S71.
Total value of school property. 1910,
$t2,9St,649; in 1915, $1S,09t. 235. SO
il takes some work to keep this
army in motion,
Mr.. Shawkey keeps his fingers on
the educational pulse of the state.
He knows every thing going on from
the university down to the humblest
one room district school lie, with his
efficient force. and corps OF educators
keep the situation we'll in hand, and
the most remarkable thing about all
this enormous amount of work Is that
the force In charge Of our education
gets its work out on time and with
far less expense than any department
of like nature in any of the surround
ing states; West Virginia should
feel proud of this department as Is
is patterned and followed by many
other states of the Union, in its eX-
animation, normal and superintend-
ency work.
A few suggestions to applicants for
teachers certificates might not be
amiss in this article. In grading
manuscripts it is noticed that many
of the applicants misoonstrue the
questions. The grader Is often at
loss to determine what the applicant
is writing about the answer being
Of an entirely different subject from
the printed question. Some appli.
| cants, from the appearance OF their
manuscripts must apparently glance
at the list of questions and begin to
write about the first word or name
they happen to see. instead Of reading
the entire list OF printed questions
over carefully. A few don't seem to
know anything about the questions
in hand but will write a long "haran-
gue' on some word in the question
which seems to catch their fancy hop.
ing to get something probably for
effort" Others do not answer but
part of the questions. Others make
their answers too brief. All these
mistakes could be avaoided If the APP
plicant would remember that the
grader has no way OF knowing just
how much the applicant really knows
but by what he reads in his manu-
scripts. He may be a college grad
uate but II he does not tell what he
knows in his manuscript how is the
grader to know what grade he merits
but by his manuscript?
Some applicants are such poor pen
men that it Is almost impossible to
read their manuscripts. Some never
separate or paragraph the answers,
on never indicate the question refer
red to in their answers, but the en-
tire manuscript Is a continued jun
Bile OF words from beginning to end.
Some never capitalize or punctuate.
Some have ink blots over their man
uscripts to such an extent that they
have the appearance OF two ink wells
fighting and splitting ink instead of
blood.
BE sure to punctuate the work. To
illustrate-One applicant intended TO
cav 'Hrba Grand Tauan tho Colorado