The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-08-04
Che 9tltltelIiq
FRIDAYsMORNING, AUGUST 4.

Our PUBLIC SCHooLS.-The city OF
Wheeling and parts of townships con-
nected herewith, constitute the school
district Of Wheeling, for which special
school law was enacted at the last ses-
sion ofth Legislature, it having been
ascertained that the provisions of the
general school law of the State, were
not adapted to the wants of city pop
ulation. The parts of townships not
embraced In the corporate limits of the
city, but attached to the city school dis
trict, are portions of Webster and WASH
tngton, the remaining portions being
embraced within the city limits. This
special act SO far as practicable, was
made TO conform to the general school
law of the State, and at the same time
disturb as little as possible the then ex-
isting school system of the city. Some
new provisions were adopted, which it
was believed would operate to advan-
tage, and promote the efficiency of the
schools. On this point there was an
honest difference of opinion among the
friends of the free school system, which
can only be settled by the tests of time
and experience.
The most important of these changes,
was, First; The substitution instead of
the ward trustees for each school, a board
of school commissioners who should
have control of all the schools within
the district. This board to consist of
three commissioners from each town
ship, to be elected by the voters thereof;
Second: The election by the
board of superintendent for the
school district, who is required
to perform the same duties as are i'm
posed by law on county superintend-
ents, or such other appropriate duties
as may be devolved upon him by the
Board.
Third. The graduation of the schools
into three classes, viz: Primary, Gram
mar, and High Schools. This provi-
sion looks to the establishment of n
sufficient number of primary schools
to properly accommodate all the youth
who need instruction in that depart
ment, and the division of the district
into three sub-districts, and the loca-
ton of a grammar school in each sub
division, and the establishment of one
high school for the accommodation of
the whole district. Erg
1t was this provision of the act which
was most strongly objected to on the
grounds that it involved too great an
outlay in the way of buildings. The
friends of the measure contending that
it required no more than itwould under
tho old law. The provision, however,
is permissive in its character, and
leaves it with the Board of Commits
sioners to determine to what extent
theywill carry out the proposed system.
Those who advocate the plan contend
TINT when fairly inaugurated, the new
system will be the most efficient, and.
can be carried on at less cost than the
old, but as we have already stated, time
and experience must determine the
question. @
The Board of Commissioners have
but recently organized, and have been
laboring faithfully to get the system in
operation. Like all newly organized
bodies, they have many difficulties to
overcome, requiring considerable time
and patience. The question of build
ing Is one which meets them ut the
threshold. They find that nearly every
school building in the city is made
quate to tho wants of the different
wards or townships, the population
having outgrown the capacity of those
which were erected several years since
In some cases the old trustees have had
new buildings in contemplation for
two or three years, but were awaiting
reduction in the cost of building ma
terial. From the discussion in the
Boardwe judge this question of build
ings, in connection with the condition
of the school fund, is the greatest diff
Guilty they have to contend with. This
once settled, and they will have an
open sea and plain sailing The Dues
ton of the superintendent has beer
settled, and the policy of the Board IL
that particular is already, determined
by fixing IA reasonably good salary an6
selecting man with proper qualified
tions. We think, however, TINT thC
BoRrd might have, without detriinen
to tho interests of the schools, permitted
this officer to have added to his incom,
by availing himself of any other oceu
patton that would not have interfere6
with his official duties.
THEATRE.-Mr. Hamilton presents
his name for n benefit this evening, and
ifhe receives n reward commensurate