Cabell County, West Virginia - Cabell County Public Schools ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** The records for this work have been submitted by Valerie F. Crook, E-mail address: , May, 1999. ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** History of Education in West Virginia Prepared under the direction of the State Superintendent of Free Schools 1904, Charleston: The Tribune Printing Company, 1904 pgs. 195-196 Cabell County BY IRA F. HATFIELD, SUPERINTENDENT Education in Cabell county, prior to the adoption of the free school sys- tem in 1863, and for several years after, did not meet with any special en- couragement from the more wealthy citizens or a very liberal patronage of the public in general. Up to the time of the establishment of the free school system, the facili- ties of the masses of the people for elementary education consisted of schools supported by private subscriptions. These schools did not vary much in their character and their quality of instruction. The few school houses, scattered about over the county, were rude structures, the walls built of unhewn logs thatched with sticks and clay; the floor laid with slabs or puncheon; the chimneys built of sticks and mud, occupying a greater part of one end of the house. For windows, a part of one or more logs were cut out, allowing the light to enter through a row of glass one or two panes deep, or by fastenieg over the opening strips of greased paper. The furniture consisted of benches without backs made of split slabs of wood, brought from the adjacent woods. To say the least, these houses were very uncomfortable and inconven- ient, and being situated so far apart, attendance at school was very light and irregular. These schools were presided over by teachers imported princi- pally from Ohio and Kentucky, who, at best, possessed only the rudiments of an education. In contracting for schools they would obligate them- selves to teach spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic, to the rule of three threes, etc. Notwithstanding this fact they accomplished a good work in preparing the people for the reception of the free school system which was to come during the unsettled period of the civil war, a time when it most needed staunch friends and supporters. Among those who were most actively engaged in the pioneer educational work of the county, may be named, Robert Coburn, John Coburn, E. E. Morrison, Robert Barbour and Chas. Simpson. Those older teachers since engaged in the upbuilding and development of the school system, Wm. Algeo, C. W. Paine, T. B. Summers, Wm. Bramlette, John J. Rousey, George Kaiser, C. K. Thornburg, Frank Herndon, L. W. Wilson, Henderson Davis, A. H. Melrose, Henry Lambert and R. F. Brammer. For the purpose of government and to meet the requirements of the act of December 10, 1863, the county was divided into five supervisory districts, which number— changed in name to magisterial districts—remains the same to-day, with the exception of the independent districts of Barboursville, Huntington, Guyandotte and Central City, which have since been created. In 1865 the supervisors of the several supervisory districts met and elected Rev. J. M. King the first county superintendent of free schools of Cabell county. Since there have been elected to that office the following: Wm. Algeo, Dr. D. L. Duncan, George Blume, Rev. J. D. Carter, T. B. Sum- mers, Henderson Davis, C. W. Paine, J. J. Rousey and Ira F. Hatfleld. The school system, thus established in its crude state of existence in 1865 in Cabell county, has developed into its fine proportions of to-day, un- der the care and wise supervision of its several school officers and teachers. The Boards of Education of the county that have existed prior to and in- cluding those of the present, are to be commended tor their zeal and energy displayed in providing comfortable structures for the housing of the youth of the county. These buildings at present are, principally, the mod- ern one room frame buildings well lighted and ventilated, furnished with patent seats and desks; but many of them, as yet, are deficient in school apparatus, charts, maps, globes, etc. These splendid school houses, together with the one hundred and eighteen live, energetic teachers in charge, is a tribute to the advanced educational sentiment of the county. Teachers are becoming alive to the more important use and ultimate aim of education. The old system of routine, mechanical reciting, and devi- talized memorizing of text-books has given place to the modern method of teaching, in which the pupil is placed more upon his own responsibility, learning to put emphasis on thought, on observation, and on objects, thus realizing that in learning we find the ability for construction and com- bination, rather than repetition and imitation, as of the old system. The teachers' institute work is gradually improving as the desire of teachers of a higher professional standing increases. Our county insti- tutes are the central point of interest for the teachers in the school year, socially and educationally. The great interest displayed in these insti- tutes both by teachers and the public prove them to be in high favor with the people. The district institute and teachers' reading circle are gaining ground as indispensable factors in supplying the needs of the district and for the betterment of the teaching profession in general. The independent district of Barboursville was established February 12, 1867. The Board of Education has the same powers conferred upon It as belong to Boards of Education of magisterial districts, thus giving It power to establish a high or graded school, as provided in sections 24 and 26 of the school law, and prescribe the branches to be taught, and a course of study for the same. This school has filled its place only as a graded school. The school has lost considerable of its importance since the estab- lishment of the Barboursville seminary in 1888, but of recent years the interest in the graded school has revived. The educational facilities were insufficient to meet the demands of the district. Under the care of the Board a splendid four room brick building has just been completed, in all respects suitable to present needs, showing a commendable spirit of in- terprise for the present Board of Education and of the advanced educa- tional interest of the tax payers of the district. The Milton graded school has, in most respects, met the approval of the people of Milton and of the people of the district in general, admirably serving its purpose in the regular school term as a graded school and taking its place later as a spring and summer normal. The teachers en- gaged for the present are, Prof. T. B. Summers, principal, and L. W. Wil- son. Miss Lillie Summers, Miss Annie Conner and Miss Wilson, assistants.