Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-02-25

I. |
IiHAIun. |. =. Commissioner of Ed
ut"'ion. sad. Our American pub
lie school system is our greatest
cooperative enterprise. Through il
III theory at least. al! the people paw
according to their ability. regard
less OF their wealth, in order that
the children of all the people may
regardless OF their poverty ana all
pulcr conditions, have, rs nearly as
possible, full and equal opportunity
Tor the education which makes for
inuiridual development and culture
FOR industrial and economic cilici-
rncy, and for good citizenship Its
underlying principle is equality OF
burden and OF opportunity. for the
good Of individual. society, and
State. Its Justification is found. on
the one side, in the doctrine OF
equal rights Of children, inherent
III the doctrine Of the inalicnablc
rights OF man. which is basic in our
democracy. and. on the other hand,
III the right and duty of the State
TO protect itself against ignorance.
incompetence, and failure, and to
insure for itself and its people the
largest possible measure of health.
prosperity, and strength. What
ever may have been true i'm earlier
days when sparse population lived
in widely separated communities.
education is now properly func-
ton of the State"
Throughout the country to-day
pressure is being brought to bear
on Legislatures in the hope that
larger appropriations will be allow
ca Tor education and that Il sancr
SI stem OF taxation may be develop
ed for the support of the schools.
because there is much in ii which
We might well follow here in West
Virginia, | present Il part of the
olncnnlai message OF William l..
Harding, Governor of Iowa, to the
General Assembly. This appeared
recently in School Life" under the
Caption:l
GOVERNOR DEFINES IDEALS OF
EDUCATION.
The best conception OF an cdu-
Gated person to-day, is one whose
mind is trained to enjoy and aD-
prcclatc the best things of life,
whose hands are trained to do some
useful labor well, whose body is
sNmnctrically developed, whose
heAit Is attuncd to the noblcst inn
pulses and whose patriotism is
grounded on the fundamentals OF
our form OF government
The Iowa educational DroSram
should strive to bring this stand
aIu 40 every citizen OF the State.
MOST VITAL FACTOR Is TRAINED
TEACHERS.
The first and most vital factor in
an educational system is Il trained
teacher. Janitors, buildings, equip
mrnt and grounds are necessary,
but without the teacher there can
be no school and no education.
There is. and will be, a shortage OF
trained teachers for the rural
schools, unless you, as Legislators,
make provisions.
lou ought 10 provide for mt least
three normal schools in the State,
and limit them TO the training Of
teachers for the rural schools. One
such school would help. if ii shall
be your judgement that three at
one time is too large an undertake
nIcnt. ought not to adjourn without
launching this program for the
State.
Makcshifts for this prime nccccS-
silly for trained teachers for The
rural schools would be to develop
iunIor colleges in ccntcrS and en-
courage them to offer special teach.
rr-i"dlnln& courses for rural teach
tr>, ana further, to encourage the
Notwithstanding departments in
coiir2cS tina. already have depart
mcn!a Of education. Additional
helps to remedy The teacher short
Har viii be:
1T NioiL> I"E IENCIlIR SHORTAGE.
.id'Iu,"c compensation for the
tca>.rr and county Superintendent.
Make teaching II profession.
Lhr"uraGr and authorize the
hN,"ici wherever possible. TO pro
HIut hOUHIn1 for the teacher.
!IIrr tir teacher for T. months
pc'r"d and pay him accordingly.
rrnn and encourage the hiring
81 Vac teacher for Il period longer
TAN one year.
And. further. il should be the law
OF tlc State, that whoever teaches
III school or college. Of whatever
bHd Or character, be ccrlilicatcd.
and mat before any person can
ntEsrh within the confines of the
Alulr, hat he be IN American
-Ci.izrn.
llArrc is room for economy in
school construction in the State.
Las! year there was built one CON