Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-18

In the House Me-. Bee is attentive 70 bus
iness, always in his seat, is frequently nPoI
the floor, but does not speak lOog az \ time
In Committee he ls a working member, bu
somewhat of drawback ON account of BIZ
fund of auecdote upon which members ar
prone to draw, wheulmore serious bpsines
is in order. aeg gsre
| An TcducatIOnaI Sy6tom for the state
| or West Notwithstanding 6ugGeS.
itiORs from n DistAnsuiShsd Instrue-
lOr.SG1g tE 1astu
IN n ALLEaHENY CoLLRGE, Mead4ille, Pa.
~ July 4th, 1863.
Hon. g. a. DaOsoa, House Of Delegates
Wheeling, West Va. -gHas ~ la-H
DEAR SIR:-Yours Of the 3Oth ult. arriv-
ed last evening. You may very safely as
sumo that feel deep interest in the sue
cess of West .Virginia. I doubt not the
glory of this last born Of "the mother OF
States and Presidents" though brought
forth in troubIous times, will speedily rival
that Of its parent aud it's elder sisters.-
God grant that those oh whom the respOn-
sibility devolVes may have grace and wis
dom to lay d deep aud vide and frfn foun-
dation for tie superstrueture of It's coming
greatness. In regard 70 Education, con-
oerning which you ask me for some hints, I
would respectfully suggest that one Of sew
eral courses may be pursued by the Legis.
lature:
Il. Adopt, with slight amendments, the
School Law of the old State. To this the
sufficient objection is, itsidefects are SO ma
ny and great that nothing short Of entire.
" remodeling Il would answer.
2. Pursue course Of local legislation,
looking ouly to the wishes of such coun-
ties as may be impatient of the delay re-
quil cd to procure q proper Law for the
whole State. The result of this would
very likely be a piece of complicated bOtch
work. All such make-ahifts would soon
have to be done over again. z
3. Attempt, at once, the preparation and
enactment of a general aud final School
Law This course is not likely TO be rec
ommeuded by those most experienced In
such matters. No Other subject needs
more careful consideration, aud with the
highest regard for the many excellent mon
in the Legislature, j may lOt besallg5Fed ~
say thai In regard 70 no otbef. 9aihiest are
they likely to be less prepared for immedi
ate action. 0n this subject an i'll advised,
hastily prepared and defective law is most
earnestly to be deprecated. To anticipate,
provide for and harmoniZe the diverse and
complicated relationships, county and
municipal, OF an efficient, comprehensive
aud yet simple and economical School
Law, in all it necessary adaptations, far
reaching aud miAute, is one of the incest
pieces of legislative mechanism in the
world. In regard to no other subject have
our older States blundereh more, as wit
ness the almost endless enactments, reVis-
ais, supplements, repeals and re-enact-
ments which, on this subject, crowd their
statute books. So much so is this the case
in some of the States most advanced in
respect that to end out and explain TO Cit
izens, teachers aud school directors what
the law, In given cases, really is, is
one of the most labOrious and perplexing
duties assigned to the officer in charge OF
this important interest.
4. But one other course can be suggest
ed which is at all likely to recommend
itself to the wise and thoughtful. OF
course to do nothing is not for moment
to be thought of. This would be gross
derIliction to one of the most immediate
and sacred interests intrusted TO the Rep
rese natives of the people. Every plea in
its favor might be urged even more Plaus.
isbly in favor of doing nothing in all
things else. Years of earnest, patient toll
will be required to bring any law into easy
and Intelligent working order all over the
State 1t seems to me the Legislature
should endeaVor TO secure as soon as II can
well be done, the enactment Of Q law,
sound ia sits principles, simple in its pro.
visions and general in its adaptation, and
which will, as far as possible, not stand IN
need of subsequent tinkering; and, as the
way opens, let it be gradually aud yet as
promptly as possible put into operation =
What / would recommend then Is sub
stantially what had the pleasure of sub
hitting at the close of ga Plan of Eduea-
tion il West YirginiU," furnished by re-
quest of DR.. Battele, Chairman of the
Committee on Education in the Convention
which framed the Consultation of the State
published in the LhtelLigeneer Of Dec. 18Th
| 1851, q copy of which I-enclose, viz: Let
proyision BE made by the Legislature, and
| let the Governor be instructed 70 appoint
a suitable commissioner, with directions q
examine some of the leading systems oi
education in eur own and foreign States
and ia dGe time TO report AZ length on
theory aud pFaetice-aceompanied WITH 9
draft Of such laws as might be wanted eJ
4 and would be likely acceptable 70 tne
people and Legislature OF the state.
This includes 6rsti and ehleny' tne pre-
paratiOn Of q suitable statute eOmPrenend
inc. as far as possible, all the educationa
,ntsrests of the State. ! cay suitable, be-
cause what might be appropriate for othei
states might not in all resPeets be test 70
i West YtrRiuia; aud ! say eomPrehendini
i aU the educational interests OF the Stat
because of nv deep conviction thar in or
der TO a truly simple, efficient aud inex
nensiye N use the term not in miserly bu
= comDaratiye sense) school law, it is ne
cessarT that all the eledueatiOnal interests
rroneSIv 40 called, OF the State should, q
far as possible, form parts Of one 9saerd
, ,v,tem-al mutually dependent on and oe
cupying defisite relations 70 eaen es1el
!, This may be, not only just as wen, ol
! much better than the often .umes loos'
hap-hazard aud unequal leglslAtlOe slll Hnlc
: so largely obtains on snen mat InAl.rs = L..
.R,s, ,,erso1aI visitation aud inspection, Q
: tse theory and practice of the best system
! ~ NJ ;ns,rnstion a home aud abroad. Wha