The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-11
LINCOLN DISTRICT
/ TEACHERS MEET
Cbunty supt. Michael Makes
An Address On Rural
Schools.

District teachers institute for Lin
coin district was held last evening at
Monongah. 1t was attended by 80 out
Of 33 teachers. The meeting was held
in the Monongah school house and was
one Of the most interesting sessions
ever held in that place. Superintend-
ent David A. Ward, of Lincoln district,
addressed the meeting and County Su.
perintendent w. E. Michael gave an
especially noteworthy address on bet
ter Rural Schools" The main points
of this last address aer as follows:
'Tn this section of the state there
is vastly more illiteracy than the aver
age person is aware Of, caused by for.
eigners and negroes who work in the
mines and factories who have come
from many sections Of our own great
country. In many countries Of the
world there are no public schools at all
and only the rich are given opportun-
ity to secure an education. Most of
the illiteracy In this state is among
the older people though many q young
man or woman cannot read or write.
The older people lived at "a time when
they did not have opportunity to at.
tend school but the younger people
now have not that excuse. Think OF
the young people that you know who
cannot read or write. What is the
cause? OF course we always have
had and may continue to have the men
tally deficient persons of all ages
Perhaps West Virginia some time may
become as progressive as some other
states OF this great country and pass
such q law as will forbid the marriage
Of the physically unfit. Wisconsin has
the best law of this kind in the United
States at the present time.
The census report Of 1910 shows
that for the whole state Of West Viz.
ginia the percentage Of illiteracy for
all ages Is S.3 per cent. The rate Of
illiteracy for persons between 10 and
20 years Of age is Al per cent. Thus
you see that approximately eight per-
sons out Of every hundred cannot read
or write We may say that these are
nearly all old people who had no OPP
pprtunity to secure an education.
What about the four people between
the ages OF ten and twenty who can
not read or write? Is 1t the fault OF
the school or Of the teachers Of this
state? believe not. In nine cases
out Of ten it is caused by deficient
mental ability inherited from parents
who should never have been permitted
to bring children into the world. The
school has to stand for great many
things but object to standing for this
particular one"
Another interesting address was
that given by Rev. Dye. Of Monongah.
L. ]. Rinehast spoke also to the teach.
ers and visitors present regarding the
progress made in school affairs. Miss
Betty Rinehart sang an unusually good
solo. A. B. Fortner, principal of the
Thoburn High school, talked helpful-
lys to the teachers regarding daily prep
aration for recitations. Superintend.
ient David A. Ward talked on the sub.
ject, Trying to do Normal School
Work Under Abnormal Conditions
After the prog was finished, Q
social hour was spent delightfully."-,
with delicious refreshments served by
the teachers of the Monongah school.
A new piano has been purchased by
these teachers to be paid for out OF
funds raised by them. An oyster sup
per viii be held Wednesday evening
this coming week for the purpose OF
making additional money to; be paid