The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-07-12
Education State Normal School

We wish to make suggestion to our
people which, if acted upon, We think
will have the effect of economiziDe the
School fund, and in many districts OF
prolonging the schools. We informed
our readers last week that the fund was
not more than sufficient to continue the
public schools longer than three months,
The law provides for, appropriating o
suficiency of tho funds for the erection
of suitable school houses where there ore
none. Now our people in tho rural dis
tricts usually have much leisure time,
and if they will in these districts, each
contribute his proportion Of material
and labor, they can soon build good
houses for school purposes on their own
expense and save the fund to pay teach
ers. This can be done with but very
little outlay Of money and labor to each
individual, and With a very pcrceptible
advantage in the way Of prolonging the
public schools, and NC hope that our
people will try the experiment. Let the
people cooperate with the Law and make
it as efficient as possible, and'not depend
altogether upon tho Legislature to pour
public benefits in their laps, but when
they see the fruit ready to fall, let them
at least arise and catch it, and not per-
nit it to scatter and waste.
In regard ton State Normal School We
have had something to say, and We still
believe that the educational necessities
demand such an institution for the edu.
cation of teachers, for We learn from
those who have an opportunity Of know.
ing, that there is great lack Of .compc'
tent teachers in many portions of oui
State, and We believe that it will be the
duty Of our next Legislature to take this
matter into serious consideration. The
project Of establishing this institution We
believe should be freely cauyasscd before
tho October elections, and its benefit:
placed before the public.
We have space to give merely synop
sis of what VIC deem this school should be
We would have it located at some eli
gible point near the centre of the State
at the expense Of the State. A compe
tent corps of professors, tutors, &c.
should be employed. 1t should affore
facilities for teaching every branch o.
education which are taught in common
schools as we'll as in the best colleges
The course of education should be thor
ough as far as the student desired to go
There should be at least one studen
from each township in the State taugh
free upon the condition that he or sh
should give bond aud security oblisotln
himself or herself to teach in the com
mon public schools certain number 0
years. Additional students might b.
taught BY paying stipulated price,
The bcnefciaries of the school to bt
selected from each county by the Boare
of Supervisors for the county, and t
consist of an equal number Of males anc
females, selected from indigert, but in
lelligcnt young men and women, Sh'
possess the capacity Of receiving learn
ing and the moral integrity to apply il
properly after receiving it. After being
appointed, these bcne6ciarics should be
rigidly examined to ascertain whether
they possessed the moral and intellectual
qualifications to enable them to become
learned and useful. - Clarksbnrg Tel.