Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-08-04
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.

which began last week and will con
tinue i'll various parts Of the State
until early in September, are being
held this year for the purpose Of
"drivinS home" three important top
les, representing what seems to State
Superintendent Ford to be "some of
the larger immediate needs in our
schools"
The three points are "Thorough-
ness in the common branches, more
standard schools, and teacher train
ing"
! Discussing these subjects, Super
intcndent Ford outlined the fol-
| lowing:
eff the common public schools
fail to give all Of our young people
clear understanding of the main
process and content of the SO-call-
ed common branches, they fail to
render the service for which they
arc supported. 1t is enough merely
to so through the routine of assign
ing lessons and hearing rccitations
on these subjects for the purpose of
getting some pupils promoted or
graduated. Are the pupils, on leav-
ing the elementary schools, able to
read with facility and appreciation,
to make ordinary calculations with
accuracy and fair speed, to under
stand and use the correct forms of
speech, Do they know world loca-
tions and conditions we'll enough TO
interpret intelligcntly cultivated con
NersationS and the best newspapers? ?
DO they know and revere the best
characters and ideals in our history
and government? Do they practice
practical patriotism? Do they know
the plain laws of health and con-
: duct and keep themselves physically
fit and morally sound?"
Addressing the teachers in the
recent institute bulletin, Superin-
tcndcnt Ford advises them to
check up your teaching of the
common branches by such tests. As
teachers. study the common branch
es, seek new light on them. find the
weak spots in your teaching and
your students. Determine that YOUR
pupils shall learn we'll the chief
things of the great subjects. Quiz,
drill. review. encourage, test and
work hard that you may have the
10y that comes from putting into
the heads of your pupils the tools
of knowledge, and into their living
the fundamentals of true American
living Through masterful instruction
IN the common branches"
Continuing, the superintendent
discussed the other two points as
follows:
"That our efforts are largely de-
termincd by our ideals is generally
accepted as true principle of hui
man conduct. If school officials
and teachers are to be urged to work
ZealouSly and harmoniously for
higher school standards in our State
they should have these standards Or
goals clearly set up before them. The
County Superintendent and instruc
tors in charge of our institutes will
be expected to point out and explain
the main elements of standard
school. -.
I'm our program reference is
made to aslaw recently passed our
Legislature providing State aid for
standard schools and the require
mentS fixed by the State Board OF
Education in pursuance of that law
1t is hoped that many schools not
included in the plan will reach and
exceed the standards, and that all
schools will be improved by having
before them the essential qualities
iof standard school.
! Never before in the history of
educational progress in West Vir-
ginia were there so many teachers
interested in training and prepara-
tion for their work. No other thing
;promiseS more for the making of
better schools than this fact. The
Fact that we have 1000 teachers in
the State that do not lave the train
ing of four year high school
course is proof Of the need for work
That is being done in training teach
crS this year. Teachers who taught
last year enrolled in high schools
and normal schools for the spring
tennis. There are 81 accredited
schools for teachers in session this
summer. There are more than five
thousand teachers doing residence
work. We trust that good results
from this activity on the part Of the
teachers will be seen in the school
rooms Of West Virginia next year.
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| More than q million TONS of coal