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SCHOOLS CLOSING

The public Schools will close on Friday next. The ensuing week, we understand, will be mainly devoted to examinations. We presume that any citizens who desire to be present, will be welcome; but we have no authority to invite them. The vacation, we are told, will be three months.

The Parkersburg Orthopolitan

May 24,1873

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A SUGGESTION

There is one thing that we desire to call the attention of our Board of Education to, which, it seems to us, should merit their considerations, and that is the salaries of the female teachers of our city. There is a great discrepancy between their salaries and those of the male teacher, and we do not believe that the latter is any too large. We believe in doing exact justice to the female laborer. If she does a man’s work then pay her a man’s wages. Out with such sordid sentiments that a woman must be paid smaller wages because she is a woman. Such ideas are mean, contracted and selfish. If our female teachers are performing men’s duties and are doing it equally as well then they are entitled to the same wages and it is little less than robbery to deprive them of them. The vocation of teachers is one of the noblest and most responsible of all duties. To him or her we commit the disposition and, in measure, the formation of character of our little ones. To the teacher more than any other class is government indebted for its advancement, for the progress of science and arts, for the development of morality and religion and for the propagation of those ideas and principles that make us great and powerful. Then, we say, be liberal in our dealings with them; sustain and encourage them and pay them – not the beggarly pittances that are even below the wages of the hod carrier and the mule driver – but liberal generous wages; wages commensurate with their laborious and responsible calling. We believe that the female teachers of Parkersburg will compare favorably, in point of ability and moral worth, with those of any other city, of equal size, in the country, while wages are far below those of towns of much smaller size. We trust that our Board of Education will meet this subject in a liberal spirit and with the honest purpose to do exact justice.

The Parkersburg Weekly State Journal

June 5, 1873

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VACCINATION REQUIRED

The School Board on Monday issued an order that school children in the city should be vaccinated before Tuesday evening. As the vaccine matter was unable to be had, all the scholars who had not been vaccinated were not allowed to go to school.

Excerpt from The Parkersburg Daily State Journal

Jan. 28, 1882

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WOOD COUNTY TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE

The Wood County Teachers Institute was held in the Washington school building in this city, work beginning on Tuesday.

The Institute was opened with prayer and a scriptural reading by Supt. Stapleton, after which Prof. Purinton explained the purpose of the Institute and the advantages to be derived from its teachings.

The teachers present were enrolled and showed 84 gentlemen and 43 ladies present.

The programme as furnished by the Superintendent was taken up and discussed, and such questions asked as would bring out a more full discussion of the subject.

Rev. W. M. Powell spoke on the subject of “ventilation,” and discoursed at some length on the evils of a neglect of this important matter, exhibiting a thorough knowledge of the subject.

Ex. Gov. Stevenson, who was introduced as the teacher’s friend, was present and responded in a general talk; wholesome and entertaining, declaring that all good governments are founded upon the early and honest education of the children.

Dr. Warner spoke of the necessity of the co-operation of the public with the school system to make it reach that degree of excellence expected.

Rev. Snodgrass spoke on literary training and devoted some time to showing the superior attainment possible through a high degree of literary training.

Excerpt from The Parkersburg Daily Sentinel

June 10, 1882

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.