Marshall County Schools, West Virginia

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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. 216 - 217


Marshall County

BY JAMES D. PARRIOTT, SUPERINTENDENT

Marshall county has an area of 240 square miles, with nine magisterial
districts and one independent school district; one hundred and twenty
one schools, employing one hundred and seventy-five teachers. Of these
schools, six are graded—having more than two rooms—and fur [sic] give addi-
tional high school courses.

Onr marvelous material development of the past few years has so in-
creased salaries and the demand for men in various other vocations
that a deficiency in our teaching force seemed probable. To meet this
emergency and prevent a general exodus from our profession, salaries
were increased in several districts, but not sufficiently to retain all of
our experienced teachers and many of these have entered other pursuits.
We have, however, had little trouble in supplying the schools, though a
majority of our teachers are young and a surprisingly large number are be-
ginners.

The same conditions which led teachers into other vocations have in-
duced many advanced pupils to leave their studies in quest of financial
gain; for this reason some schools have no pupils above the intermediate
grade.

Our school property and apparatus will compare favorably with that
of other leading counties. Some districts are sadly deficient In both,
while others are supplied with all necessary conveniences and helps.

School architecture has been much discussed recently and in one dis-
trict a wide departure from the "trodden path" was taken in the con-
struction of a new building. This house—now completed—represents a
number of compromises between old ideas and the new. The arrangement
of the windows is perhaps its most noticable feature. Six of these are in
the north side--to the pupils' left—and extend from the usual distance
above the floor, to within six inches of the ceiling. In the opposite
side seven feet above the floor, are four windows twenty-eight by thirty-
two inches in size. The light from these is not strong. They bang as
transoms do and insure good ventilation during the warm days of fall
and spring. A vestibule cloak room adds to the comfort and convenience
of this house, which, while not our ideal, makes a long stride toward
it.

The growing interest of our people in school affairs is gratifying. Good
citizens are beginning to realize the importance of educational work and
the benefits of their co-operation, so they gladly second every motion of
teachers and pupils to Improve the schools. This is notably true regard-
ing libraries; many have been established recently and I have not heard
of a failure where an effort in this direction was made.

The district pay institute has done a great work in associating with
other teachers, those who had not attended district institutes before. To
teachers of this class the district institute was a revelation and one dis-
trict which had not held a meeting in several years has had two suc-
cessful sessions since the pay institute was held.

The Free Text Book and Compulsory Attendance Laws have proved
beneficial where advantage has been taken of their provisions. The
uniform examination system is inspiring much professional study, and in
some school rooms fruit of this study may already be seen.

We have our ills but to name them and suggest possible remedies would
not be entertaining or helpful. Salaries, though increased in some dis-
tricts, are yet too low. They vary for first grade certificates, $32 to $40;
for second, $28 to $35; for third, $18 to $30.   Terms of school vary
also; five, six, seven, eight and ten months.

These are among our perplexing problems, but a general view of the
situation lends strength to our hopes for great things in the near future.
Successful debating and literary societies, evening socials and entertain-
ments, lecture courses in town and country districts, libraries starting
and growing with liberal contributions to the same, Increased numbers of
students in our high schools, the normals and colleges, a growing interest
in, and desire for broader education and higher culture are hopeful and
not misleading signs.