The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-23
Educators Speak at
Celebration Held at
East Run

East Run, the first standardized
one.room school Ia West Virginia
yesterday received formal recog.
milton by the State Department OF
Free Schools, Melville Stewart Of
Charleston acting as a representa-.
tive OF George N. Ford, state super
intendent Of schools.
The program given at the school
/ yesterday included addresses By
!. A. Barnes, county superintendent
of schools, Prof. Thomas c. Miller
Of Falrmont, Joseph Roster OF the
Fairmont State Normal School.
Miss Eva L. Blair, county home
demonstration agent, Miss Evelyn
Thomas, Red Cross nurse, A. L.
Thomas, superintendent Of schools
In Warrington District, C. F.
Prickett OF Barrackyille.
The program was opened by the
pupils Of the school singing Amer
lea" followed by the American
Creed and a prayer by the Rev. F.
NJ. Malcolm OF Pennington. A
quartet composed OF Ruth Hawkins,
Emory Criss. Mary Kerr and Earl
Efaw sang Hike Along" and the
other musical numbers included
Hail West Virginia." sung by the
school children, and a duet by Ruby
and Ruth Hawkins, twins.
In his address OF recognition.
Mr.. Stewart read a letter designat-
ing the school as the first stand.
ardized one-room school in the
state from the state superintendent
OF schools to Cleon Brand, presi.
dent Of the board Of education Id
Lincoln District. "You have the
first standardized one-room school
in West Virginia." declared Mr..
Stewart, after reading the letter.
Cooperation brought this fine re-
suit. There are now four white aud
one colored standardized schools
in the state. and three OF the four
white schools are taught by teach.
ers who are graduates Of the Fair
mont State Normal. School. It gives
me great pleasure 10 say that your
school has been classed as the first
standardized one.room school in
the state" he concluded.
In her talk, Miss Blair empha.
sized the fact that III you ever
have a better place to live, you will
make 1T better where you are"
while Miss Thomas, In her talk,
praised the East Run School as 4
model. I'm other schools" she
said, u like to talk about condi
tions at East Run. They have a
first-class country school, and East
Run has been an inspiration to nc
in my work."
"Set your mark and then worl;
to it." advised Mr.. Thomas, and Mr..
Prickett declared that there is no
secretary Of success-it is just an
open book. Success knocks only
once, Opportunity never knocks.
It waits all the time. Start from
where you are to get wnere yoa
want to be-"
This Is tho biggest day and the
most significant occasion in the his.
tory Of this community and your
school," said Caunty Super intend.
ent Barnes In his address. at is
a great thing to have tho first
place or the educational map OF
West Virginia. While there are
man. thoasand schools in the state,
no other one can have the first
place. II belongs to your school,
and IL has been brought about by the
eplendid spirit OF cooperation. The
board Of education. the district su.
perintendent, the teacher, the pa.
irons and pupils Of the school. all
working together, have brought
about this very happy result. | con
graduate You most heartily and am
very happy to participate In this
OCCASION" he said IN conclusion.
Professor Miller congratulated
the teacher, board OF education and
the community upon the evidence
OF progress as shown in the new
building and It's equipment. He re-
ferred to former conditions as he
knew them In Marion County, not.
ing the contrast and expressing his
satisfaction that he had lived to
see the realization OF some Of his
dreams. He referred TO the old log
school with the log fire, and on ask.
Ing his audience II any one attend.
ed that kind Of a school, he found
one woman there who had, Mrs. W.
T. Parrish.
AS citizens, this occasion makes
us think Of the things that are
worth WHILE said Professor Roster
in his talk. at is a time TO realize
that the durable satisfactlons OF
life are spiritual and cultural. Ma.
terial wealth may be-. lost, but
spiritual values are precious nos
sessions Of a lifetime. The people
of the community should recognIz.
the richness Of life as SHOWN
through the heart and spirit,
Among the great influences Of
the school is the teacher. The ser.
vice OF a fine teacher cannot be
over magnified. In this period of
depression, there should be no
thought Of a backward step in
teaching standards, salaries and
school terms.
After all, achievement and ser.
vice are the measure Of real sue
cess. The pupils OF this school
should look forward to the compile.
ton OF their education here in high
school, in normal school, college
and university he said.
Following the program, a chick.
en- dinner, including Ice cream and