Tyler County, West Virginia Schools - Tyler County ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , March 2000 ************************************************************************** Tyler County BY D. L. TALKINGTON, SUPERINTENDENT The schools of Tyler are progressing in a very satisfactory manner. We do not boast of an ideal common school system. We see the need of many improvements, many which we are making now and many others which, we hope to see made in the near future. As to buildings and apparatus, Tyler may not be up with some of the older and more favored counties, but for thoroughness of the work done in the rooms, we claim to equal the best. Tyler, though rich in oil and gas and many of the other pursuits of wealth, did not make great progress until the recent developments of those two named commodities began in the early nineties. Since then our progress has been rapid not only in the material, but in the intellectual as well. Tyler has now 130 schools, with an attendance of 4116 pupils. The total enumeration being 5166, over 80 per cent. of the enumerated youths of the country are enrolled in the common schools. The average term in Tyler is six months and the average wages throughout the county for first, second and third grade teachers are respectively, $40, $35 and $30 per month. Average number pupils en- rolled in each room of the graded and high schools, 42; in the rural district schools, 30. We are glad to report that there is a growing sentiment in the county for better buildings and more suitable grounds. The boards of education of Lincoln and Ellsworth Districts in response to this sentiment have been building some very beautiful, well-appointed, modern schools. A cut of one of the Lincoln district schools accompanies this sketch. Several of these schools have been built and for the one-room rural district schools we think they are about the thing. Education in Tyler does not date back of the formation of the State. So little was done in educational affairs while this county was a part of Virginia that it need not be mentioned in this sketch. Free schools were established in 1865. The first examination under the free school system in this county was held in Sistersville August, 1865. Miss Emi- line Jones, the first applicant, received a second grade certificate. The schools did not make much progress till about 1880. At that time the county was supplied with buildings sufficient to accommodate the pupils. By that time all of the old log houses had been abandoned and places filled by very comfortable frame buildings. Since then we have made steady progress. The teaching fraternity of Tyler we think second to none in the State. Several of our teachers are trained graduates of the normal schools of this State or of the adjoining states. Many others are graduates of recognized high schools or denominational schools of standing. Many others have attended the normal schools but have not graduated. The Sistersville public schools employ 20 teachers and a superintend- ent, and have enrolled over 900 pupils. This is an ideal school from the primary room to the high school. For completeness and thoroughness of the work done in all the grades and in the high school the Sistersville public schools have few equals south of Mason and Dixon's line. This school has developed during the last ten years from a poorly graded four- room school to its present condition: Much of the progress of this school is due to its worthy and efficient superintendent, Prof. M. E. Hess, who is doubtless one of the ablest school-men in the State. The Middlebourne graded school employs four teachers and has enrolled 130 pupils. Prof. T. P. Hill is principal this year and is doing all that can be expected. The building is not large enough to properly accommodate the pupils. The Friendly graded school employs, at present, three teachers and has enrolled 110 pupils. Prof. V. C. Snodgrass is principal and is doing good work. Through the untiring efforts of some of the progressive citi- zens of the town, Friendly has secured a very suitable modern school building. The Alma graded school employs two teachers and has enrolled sixty pupils. Prof. Wesley Davis is principal and is getting along nicely. Each of these graded schools will have a graduating class this year of from ten to fifteen pupils. There are several other schools I would like to mention but space will not permit. All in all the trend of education is onward and upward. The boards of education have been constantly increasing the teachers' wages. Im- proving the buildings, furnishing more complete apparatus and doing all possible to render the schools efficient. The teachers are very energetic and industrious and avail themselves of all opportunities in the normal schools and academies of the State to better quality themselves for teaching. In view of all these things the future of the boys and girls of our county does. Indeed, look bright to us and we feel like exclaiming as did Webster on the Plymouth shore, "Advance then ye future generations; we welcome you to the immeasurable blessings of rational existence, the immortal hope of Christianity, and the light of everlasting truth."