The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-25
LETT ERs TO
HE ED IIOR
SCHOOLS ANp epucArloM

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SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
FAIRAIoNT, Sept. 25.-(Editor
The West Virginian)-1n a recent
issue Of your paper ! read an ar
ucle from the pen Of Uncle
Isaac. which was deservedsy
given place in the editorial sec
ton OF your paper. In my opinion
the subject reviewed is always
timely but perhaps we need to
give the subject Of education a
tritle more consideration at the
beginning Of the school period.
Uncle" seems very ambitious
for the success Of his young nieces
and nephews, not only In their
school work but in the future
when they shall be called upon to
take up the duties Of citizenship,
possibly in an official capacity.
He also mentions the undesirable
inn on the road Of the wrong dI.
rection praying that none Of his
charges ever register there. This
seems to me to be the strongest
part Of the entire article when 1
reflect that the cost Of govern
ment would be SO greatly reduced
II our people were properly edu.
Gated.
Personally speaking can think
|; OF no other influence e1ualing the
school after / arrived at the age
Of even childish responsibility aud
the moral lessons taught and the
fine principle, proved by frequent
test, shown by some of my teach
ers are always brightly before nle
even though viewed down the
long lane of the years.
At the present our school sys.
tenn is the center of public
thought and comment and much
OF the latter is untavorajble.
Many charge that through graft
and special privileges We get very
little real value for the amount OF
money expended. l hasten to say
that the school levy has never
been high enough TO suit me, but
am not satisfied with the results
and unless some changes for the
better come | will Join the insur-
gents. Just what is the matter I
am unable to say and ! hope 1t is
not as serious as ! imagine but
why a graduate OF the grammar
school. most OF the graduates of
high school and quite often the
teachers Of the grammar school
areare unable to figure how much
a wagon bed will hold, how many
square yards in room to be
papered and how many square
feet of surface to be painted as
well as to figure the amount due
on a note of some duration with
payments OF interest and principle
made now and then is not clear to
me. II could not have done this
kind Of work five years before
quit the "deestrict" school the
teachers would have started a
racket with me and went to
some trouble to avoid that.
Here is what think is the mat
ter: Our children arc fed In at
one end OF the school machine
and naturally come out at the
other. They are not required 10
know THOROUGHLY tire princip.
les they study. Soon they COM
plete the grades; they enter
high school and after certain
time Of incarceration they "matrI i.
culate" or something and then
some OF them are induced by their
parents to attend the Normal
School. do not believe they
would go any farther OF their own
volltion. However they enter tia
Normal School and after a period
OF incubation they hatch out into
full Pledged teachers Of the youth
with certificates showing grade
that represented a considerable
degree Of attainment when the
teachers who welded the birch In
my day tried the examinations.
Nowadays normal graduates DO
not have to pass teachers ex .
animation for several years and
II they will play their papers
right will never have to pass an
examination. This is very conven.
tent for those who teach but It
does not seem to have such an
excellent effect on the schools.
Since the adoption OF this method
l have noticed no marked improve.
ment in the teachers sent us.
! have been told that those who had
had all this fine training were
superior teachers but 1t seems to
me that If they are so fine they
should be able to prove it to a
board Of examiners.
The pay Of the teacher has al
ways been inadequate but some
OF them do not earn the small sum
they receive and 1t is generally
considered that to be unable to
earn what one gets is a poor way
to get an increase so sec no
bright prospect in that direction.
would like fnr TIurIe Isaac