The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-01-06
Common schools

tendedfOr some time TO refer in general
way, as deserving of-the highest con-
alteration because Il involves the high
est interests OF the community. Il Is
the importance OF giving adequate en-
couragement 10 our State system Of
common schools. The growth and
prosperity of every people must rest on
a foundation of popular intelligence.
without this there can be no genuine
greatness, no lasting success, nor secur-
ityfor popularlIbertyor orderly society.
Nothing better illustrates these pro-
found truths than the Southern rebel
lion, Just now successfully put down.
Whatever partother agencies had in In
spring Il, the rebellion never would
hive been possiblsif the masses Of the
Southern people had been as intelligent
as the masses of OhIoor Massachusetts,.
Popular education in the South having
been forbidden, from the earliest settle
ment of that section, the mass Of South
ern people constituted a At material to
be moulded into Just such shapes as
suited the purposes Of an educated and
ambitious class. Let,us not forget that
our own people were so nearly allied
to the people Of the South, that we were
claimed rs part OF The unresisting
and plastic material out OF which the
armies Of the rebellion Were moulded.
We were part Of the 8, coo Yirginians
who could not read or write; but were
saved, happily, partly bycireumstances
beyond our control, and partly by a
preponderance of intelligence and con-
sequent loyalty to free institutions
Considering the origin, tradi-
lions and former institutions OF
our population, the adoption Of the
common school system was q great sur
render OF prejudIees to the dictates of
enlightened Judgment. Probably we
should not have got along so far and
last but for the war which severed MS
sharply from the old Institution. and
consequently from the old prejudices.
But without stopping to inquire how
the wonderful gaines Of the past i've
years were Obtained, let US be quite
sure th4I we hold them fast without a
possibility OF their loss. Some have
felt and others expressed a wish that
the new might be reunited with the old
State. The aspiration IS not confined
to those outside OF West Virginia.
Some have been fainthearted enough to
fear that the reunion will one day be
accomplished through a reaction OF
feeling and opinion among our own
people. Whenever the burned child
ceases to fear fire, or oil and water COM
bIne, or,the lion and the lamb form nm
alliance, we shall begin to think such a
reunion possible. But this generation
will neither propose nor consent TO 1t,
and If We do our duty by the rising
eeteration, Il Will be still further from
acqnIescencei in such scheme. The pres
emit is secure; It viii be our fault If the
future Is not doubly so. The present
generation must live out its days pretty
much as 1t IL; but let us, in the name
of everything that men aspire to and
cherish, give those who will take our
places in a few years an opportunity &c
be and achieve something more and
better than their fathers. Every. child
that receives good common school
education is pledge TO society Of i
worthy and useful citizen few yeHrs
hence. Every one allowed TO grow NJ
in ignorance and neglect Is a promise
that the community, shall soon he in
tested with "a vngabond or criminal
GeneraliHe these simple facts and see
what they mean; see what Inherent re-
suits they promise.
The Legislature OF 1868 certainly de
ytsed we'll in the enactment OF, n school
law; but we cannot say that either they
or their successors devised literally
While ii Is true that aplan OF public
instruction, in itself admirable, hai
been perfected, II IS also true that thu
provision yet made is not sufficient q
~ carry that plan into successful practice
1t may DO said that in tho unsettlet
condition OF our affairs, the operation
OF the school system has not been fair
ly tried. Granted; but It has been suf
ficiently tried already 10 show that i
lacks one essential of complete Success
money. Moro money is wanted, no
only to pay teachers tatto build schoo
houses, Necessarily we labor undei
disadI antagcs ON accol mt OF the sparsi
~ OF population In nj ny counties and
districts; but these exist equally in
maintaining any kind of a school sys'
tenn; and will disappear with increase
in population. F's
How a greater fihd for the support oi
schools may or should BIO provided, we
do not propose TO consider now, our
present aim being to show that a more
liberal provision is needed. The State
tax for school purposes is now . PeI
cent. OF the entire State tax, or 10 cents
on the 500 worth of property. To this
Is added the tax on capitations, and the
Interest ON the school fund, with all
fines paid into the State Treasury,
These constitute the fund to be dis
r tributed TO the cohnties according
TO numbers OF children. Such dis
tributlon takes place annually on
the first day OF April. The State SUI
perintendent distributed on the first OF
last April about $50, 600, which had ac-
cumuIated up TO that date. This sum
was divided among about halfthe coun-
ties.-only those which had returned an
enumeration being entitled TO any
thing. One or two peturned an emu
meration and drew thor share, without
having paid one dollar of the tax thus
distributed. The reports made 70 the
State Superintendent show that the
schools were maintained last year for
an average OF between two and three
months. The school law authorizes
townships to make special levies forthe
purpose of prolonging the schools 70
six months; but very little appears 70