U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Wetzel County, West Virginia by John C. McEldowney, Jr., 1901 Pages 159-162 EDUCATION OF WETZEL COUNTY, OF THE PIONEERS AND THE PRESENT DAY. The children of the pioneers had very few educational advantages. The settlers were so poor that they could scarcely afford the small tuition. As soon as the children were able to travel the long distance usually required they were able to assist the father in clearing the land or the mother in her arduous tasks. Occasionally an itinerant schoolmaster found his way into a neighborhood, and for a few dollars he was engaged to instruct the youths for a period of two or three months. If an unoccupied dwelling house could be secured, it was furnished with a few long benches, made by splitting a small sapling and after smoothing one side slightly, holes were bored in the ends and pins inserted. Boards were placed on pins in the walls for writing desks. A three legged stool or block of wood was prepared for the teacher. The room was heated by a large fireplace, usually occupying the greater part of one end of the house. The boys cut and carried the wood during the noon hour. Quite frequently the boys who attended these schools had to walk a distance of five miles and before starting for school in the morning two or three hours of work had to be done at home and a like number on his return. Those were days when "Jack" found no time for play. Prom such surroundings sprang the founders of our government. The teachers of those days deserve much credit, for they certainly engaged in the work for the love they had for it. The remuneration was very meager. They "boarded around," that is, a week or two with one of their patrons and then with another. It did not take long for the teacher at that time to pack his belongings and change his boarding place. Besides assisting the children with their work at night the "master" was expected to help do the chores in the evening and on Saturdays take the ax or grubbing hoe and make a hand with the farmer. By reason of this method of boarding the pioneer teacher understood his patrons and pupils better than do the teachers of to- day. The school boy of that day was not made "bandy legged" by carrying a load of books. Instruction was given only in the three R's, Reading Ritin', and Rithmetic; that was just about all the "master" could teach; but that served to lay the foundation of the men who conducted the business of the county for many years. In 1864 the Free School System was inaugurated in Wetzel county. At that time no school houses were found, but the majority of the people were alive to their best interest and buildings began to be located. These were built of hewed logs. The fire place gave place to the wood stove and the long-slab-backless benches were replaced by the straight-backed seats. The demand for better equipped teachers was made. Teachers were scarce. The schools were generally supplied from Ohio and Pennsylvania. It was soon found that there was talent at home, and the young men and women of Wetzel county birth began to "wield the birch." The last log school house has disappeared. It was burned down in 1900. Every community is furnished with a comparatively comfortable building, furnished with the patent seats. Not a child in the county is beyond reach of a school house. In 1900 there were 135 buildings, employing 154 teachers. The enumeration of the school youth that year was 6,982; enrollment, 6.010; average attendance, 3,647. The teachers are paid according to the grade of certificate. The average wages for No. 1 in 1900 was $31 1-7; No. 2, $27 2-7; No. 3, $18 4-7. The average school term was 5 1-6 months. Can we look at these figures calmly and considerately without saying that something must be done for the young men and women who are devoting their best energies to the noble work of teaching? Is it any wonder the teacher is using the profession as a stepping stone? The financial condition of the schools is good. In 1900, the teachers' fund had a balance in the hands of the sheriff of 12,968.52; the building fund, $2,731.16. The county superintendents have been among our leading educators; such as U. G. Morgan, Dr. Thos. Haskins, C. A. McAllister, John S. Wade, W. T. Sidell, L. W. Dulaney, and the present incumbent, F. W. Parsons, who is serving his second term. The Magnolia High School is the only high school in the county. It was established under the general law for the establishment of high schools in 1880. The school is a district high school; that is, persons living anywhere in Magnolia District may send children entitled to enter the Intermediate Grammar or High schools. The high school course of study was prepared by E. E. Umstead and adopted by the Board of Education October, 1887. It has been several times revised, and at present is as follows: JUNIOR CLASS. Algebra — Ray's Elementary completed. Arithmetic — Ray's Higher completed. Grammar — Harvey's. Civics — First and second terms. Book-keeping — Last term. Physiology — Cutter's Comprehensive. Spelling — Reed and Kellogg's completed to page 113. MIDDLE CLASS. Spelling — Reed and Kellogg's to page 153. Algebra — Ray's Higher completed to Ratio and Proportion. Rhetoric — Hill's completed. Physical Geography — Houston's first and second terms. Mental Arithmetic — Completed. General History — Myer's completed. Latin — Chase and Stuart. SENIOR CLASS. Spelling — Reed and Kellogg completed. Geometry — Wentworth's Plane completed. Latin — Four books of Caesar's Gallic War. Physics — Avery. English and American Literature. The following persons have been principal of the school: A. F. Wilmoth, S. B. Hall, S. W. Martin, Frank Burley, E. E. Umstead, J. N. Van Camp, W. W. Cline, J. M. Skinner, D. W. Shields, W. E. Maple, B. H. Hall and W. J. Postlethwait. The high school library is composed of 905 well selected volumes. The school is supplied with $250 of laboratory apparatus. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other articles in this book by going to the following URL which contains a linked index for the book. http://www.us-data.org/wv/wetzel/history/mceldowney.html -------------------------------------------------------------------