Mineral County Schools, West Virginia This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm 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. 219 - 222 Mineral County BY GEO. S. ARNOLD, SUPERINTENDENT This history in its earliest period can best be given in the language of Thomas P. Adams, of Keyser, the first county superintendent: "Soon after Mineral county was organized in the year 1870, I became county superintendent of free schools in said county. At that time there were no school houses in the county and but few school books among the people. A few persons who were generally known as 'schoolmasters' were found here waiting for a job. Much prejudice existed among the older inhabi- tants against the system. The labor that confronted me then was Herculean, but there was no Hercules to perform it. Boards of education were to be appointed, the county divided into school districts and trustees chosen for each district. School houses were to be built and furnished, and teachers selected, examined and employed. Money had to be raised by taxation to pay the teachers and build with. These levies of tax some- times led to law suits to prevent the collection thereof. In organizing the county I obtained substantial assistance from some friends of the system, viz: James Carskadon, Sr., John Arnold, of Cabin Run, Jacob Marker, James Dixon, Edwin Burgess and others. The boards of education at first rented houses and levied taxes to build with. Then trouble came in finding teachers. First came the so-called 'old schoolmasters,' in many instances with written requests from trustees to grant-them certificates as they knew enough to teach their children. It would not do to refuse unless I wanted to damn the system forever with greater prejudice. Not over half the schools were supplied with home talent teachers. Then we advertised for help, and Mr. Stutsman, of Bedford county. Pa., sent us some young lady teachers, who were well qualified. The result was that many of our business men, merchants, bankers, doctors and county officers got their start on the hill of science and prosperity with these young lady teachers, and free schools in this county henceforth has been a success: May God bless the young lady teachers in every community. Since that time through the aid of normal schools and teachers' Institutes teaching has advanced much, and yet there is room for advancement." The period of which Mr. Adams wrote was followed by an epoch in our educational advancement. Our schools took on new life when the home teachers began attending the normal schools. Among these teachers were Ludwicks, Taylors, Boseleys, Dixons, Brants, Wagoners, Arnolds, etc. SCHOOL DISTRICTS The county has been divided into seven districts. Five of these are rural, one is Piedmont District and one Keyser Independent District. SCHOOL HOUSES At an early date good substantial houses, though too small, were sparsely built over the county. But later, in the progress of education, still better and larger houses were built, well finished and furnished with modern appliances. In 1877 there were thirty-eight school houses, to which belonged 2,404 youths, occupied by forty-six teachers, while at present there are seventy-five houses, occupied by ninety-three teachers, to whom belong 4,424 youths. From many of these schools may be seen floating the stars and stripes. SCHOOL APPARATUS About twenty-two years ago small apparatus were placed in many of the schools. Since then there have been furnished in most of the schools all, or some part of the following: charts, manikins, mensuration blocks, globes, dictionaries, national and State maps, and tellurians. But last year (1903) the largest purchase of apparatus was made, consisting of Webster's International Dictionaries, large globes, large State maps and world maps. All these apparatus (the last purchase) were placed in the schools in some districts while in the other districts only a part of the apparatus were supplied. This purchase for the county aggregated nearly $2,000.00. INSTITUTES Back in the seventies teachers' institutes were held at Keyser on Saturdays for the improvement of the teachers. Among the active workers were Miss Lizzie Russell, now principal of a female school in Japan, James Buchanan, Mr. Heskett, Mr. Brown, etc. In 1882-3 the institute work took the form of District Institutes, and they were held over the county with much success. In them teachers, patrons and pupils took a lively part. So that any detects in the program or lack of interest were supplemented with a full meal for dinner, common tor all, for whole families went and took full baskets. This institute work was kept up tor nine years. Then for the next seven years but few in- stitutes were held. But in 1899 the work was revived and each year since several institutes have been held with much interest. And in order to produce substantial growth along this line, to give better instructions, to arouse more enthusiasm, and to awaken new interest. I have success- fully arranged for two years past with the faculties of the Preparatory School, the Keyser High School and the Davis High School, of Piedmont, to attend by turns these institutes over the county and render efficient help. TEACHERS' READING CIRCLE In 1887 State Superintendent B. S. Morgan recommended the formation of teachers' reading circles. Accordingly a circle was organized and more than half of the teachers joined and most of them did aggressive work. Two books were adopted the first year, Hewett's Pedagogy and Sulley's Psychology. Some of the teachers passed good examinations on both, while others passed on only one book. Suitable certificates were Issued the teachers who made the required grade on examination. Through this organization many teachers were greatly benefited. It was vigorously continued a few years only then the work was permitted to drop back to individual effort till the year 1901, when the work was en- thusiastically and vigorously resumed through the organization "The Mineral County Teachers' Association." GRADATION AND GRADUATION Almost ever since a graded course for the country and village schools has been prescribed by law, leading up to the graduation of pupils from those schools. The plan has been faithfully carried out as far as practical, and many worthy pupils have been graduated. CERTIFICATES OF HONOR As a further means of stimulating full attendance at school Superin- tendent C. F. Hahn introduced the plan of issuing certificates of honor to the pupils neither absent nor tardy for the term. The results were so satisfactory that the superintendent and boards of education have con- tinued the issuance of these certificates, but in two grades, first and second grades. First grade to the pupils neither absent nor tardy. Second grade to the pupils not tardy at all and absent not longer than ten days, and then absent only on account of sickness. LIBRARIES The work of establishing school libraries has not been pushed as vigorously as it should have been by the superintendent or the teachers. However many small libraries have been collected as a nucleus tor larger ones. The work will probably receive new life next year. SALARIES OF TEACHERS For many years it has been recognized by boards of education and among the public generally that for the better class of teachers their salaries have been inadequate for services rendered. But not until recent years in the rural districts ha9 the salary been increased beyond the mini- mum by law. Now the salary for No. 1 teachers is $30.00 to $35.00 per month, while the salaries for No. 2's and No. 3's are a few dollars less respectively. The salaries in the graded schools vary with grade of the teacher's work from $36.00 to $115.00 per month. SCHOOL TERM The rural districts have only from five to six months of school while Keyser Independent and Piedmont District each has nine months. TEACHERS, STANDARD, ETC. There has been a gradual increase in the number of teachers till at present there are ninety-three engaged in teaching and three more are needed. There has been a corresponding growth in education among the schools so that the increase has been wholly supplied by home talent. Of the number of our teachers now engaged twenty-two are gentlemen and seventy-one are ladies. Of their grades fifty-one hold No. 1 certificates (of these five are State certificates), thirty-four No. 2 certificates and eight No. 3 certificates. Their standard compares favorably with that established by the State for the teachers' State uniform examination. On that examination none fell below their former grades and a few raised their grades. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS These are all living but only four of the number are intimately related to the school work. They served at the time and in the order indicated as follows: T. P. Adams, 1870 to '72; J. W. Vandiver, '73 to '76; J. A. Sharpless, '77 to '80; D. C. Arnold, '81 to '82; G. S. Arnold, '83 to '92; W. M. Foulk, '93 to '94; C. F. Hahn, '95 to -98; G. S. Arnold '99 to the present. CONCLUSION Whatever has been the growth of the free schools and the progress of free education in this county in the past we fondly anticipate still better things for the future. With the facilities offered by the State through its normal schools, augumented by our county facilities, preparatory schools, high schools, summer normals, etc., it would require the wisdom of a seer to be able to foretell the advancement in efficiency of the teachers, the standard of their teaching, an increase of salaries, lengthening of the school term, etc., all growth from an humble beginning somewhere here and there by a few earnest teachers spurred by the noblest incentives.