Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-01

To the Justices Of the County Cont 81
Berkeley, individually and collectively
| Gentlemes--You are no doubt aware Of the
fact, that on the 5th day Of March. 1916, "an
Aet amending the present Primary School
System" was passed by the General Assem-
bly, of this State. That Act goes into opera
ton on the LIST day Of October next, and re-
quires the performance Of important duties by
the County Court OF Berkeley atits Octoberterul.
| The law to which refer, consists of NINE
Sections, but it is only necessary. at this time,
TO invite YOUR attention TO portion OF one OF
them 1t is the FIRST and in these words -
"Be il enacted By the General Assembly,
That il shall be the duty OF the several Coun-
ty and Corporation Courts, at their October
terms respectively, to lay OF, according TO ac-
curate and well known boundaries, the terrific
nv of their Counties, and the corporate hmrs
Of their Towns, Cities and Boroughs, into any
number of Districts, having regard to the terri
torial extent and population oil the same; and
shall appoint for each District one School
Commissioner"
The prominent amendment of the System,
90 far as yo,r action will be required at the
next Court, will be the sub division of the
County into small and convenient Districts
The New Law contemplates a large increase
IN the number of School Districts, and coase-
guerltly IN The number of School Commissioners;
the number Of Commissioners. under this .4ct,
conforming to the number Of Districts, instead
OF the number Of Districts being regulated by
the number of School Commissioners as here
tofore."
There are at present in the County of Berke-
lev, SEVEN School Districts, II being the same
arrangement of Districts which was adopted
by the Board Of School Commissioners on the
18th of December, 1921 , and continued in VIC
lation Of existing laws TO the present time
There are al present In the County, fifteen
School Commissioners. In one District only,
No. 6, are the duties con6ded TO single Com
missioner. To most ofthe Districts, there have
been assigned two, and to tro Of the Districts,
three Commissioners.
Experience has sufficiently demonstrated
that these Districts are too large for the purpo-
ses contemplated by our System, and the Lee
gislature, acting upon the lights Of that expe-
renee, have now required them 10 be reduced
to smaller limits.
Ii is very obvious too, that much confusion
and consequent apathy and inattention have
resulted from the assignment Of two or three
Commissioners to one District The present
Law requires that there shall be but one Com
missioner 10 each District.
If nigh, be INDUCED in suggestion to the
Court, it would be. that this County should be
laid off into l8 or 20 Districts, and it is con
templated, that plat of the County, with a
designation Of those Districts shall be submit
ted to the Court at ITS next term for their exam
nation and approval. In the mean time, it is
desirable, that every member of the Court shall
give to this subject his careful and mature con
s,deration and bring TO the aid OF any plan or
project that may be submitted, the benefit Of
his local knowledge of the County, and Of his
general acquaintance with the statistics of its
population and Educational wants.
Nav also, in behalf of the great cause Of
PoPULAR EDUcATIoN, and in behalf of those
poor and INDECENT children OF the Republic, for
whose benefit these benevolent provisions Of
law are made, urge upon the Court, the ut
most care and circumspectlon in the selection
and appointment OF the School Commissioners.
The whole value Of our System depends up
on the right choice OF the Agents solicited to
carry ii into operation. as has been happily and
truly remarked by the experienced Supernten-
dant of the Literary Fund: mo system, how.
ever perfect and practicable and simple it may
be, will ever arrive al the great ends sought TO
be- attained by il, unless the agents 10 whose
hands j, is committed, deeply feel tina, the res
possibility rests upon them, which demands
and will secure their hearty and -ealOtas co-ope-
ration and ercrtians IN rendering 1t efiectual, re-
gardiess oil pecun.ary considerations, or other
selfish motives. The objec, Of our School
laws is TOO holy one TO admit of an auson,
even to such motives. tits prompted by that
feeling of universal charity aud benevolence
which seeks to promote the good ofthe human
species by personal sdcrJices.' +.
Sept. 22, 1876.