Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-10-10
To the State superintendent Of Free
Schools for West Virginia.


SIR: l enclose you a partial census OF the
youth between the ages of and 81 years In
this County. You will perceive that one town
ship tOsborn) has sent no report, and that one
district in Shepherds has not made q return
Last year / made no report, simply because
l had nothing to say. l wish | had nothing to
report this year, as this would be more salts
factory than the very discouraging account
have to give. II is well known that our Coun-
ty is emphatically of Rebel proclivity, very
large proportion of our young men having
served with great credit for bravery, by the
way) in the Rebel army. At the conclusion
of the war these young men returned full OF
the animosity engendered by the contest, and
were met by another party who professed to be
ultra loyaliSts, but were in reality TO a consid-
cradle extent Rebel sympathisers during the
war, although they exhibited more prudence
than the others, and when they saw the course
events were taking "ran with the hare" as
they had formerly cried with the hounds"
This latter party would not tolerate their
more imprudeut brethren, and the out and out
Rebels encountered them with hatred mingled
with contempt. The consequence of this state
of affairs is, that we are in a worse condition
now than at any time during the war. There
is bitterness Of feeling engendered that is ru-
nous to every branch of business, but espe-
cially 50 to the interests Of education.
a free school system was before the war es-
tablished in this County much against the will
Of a respectable minority Of our people. The
arguments adduced on either side Of the ques-
ton were sifted thoroughly and the consequence
was triumph FOR the cause Of enlightenment
| As a matter Of course enough Of the oli opp0-
/ siton remains, and it is farther intensified by
! the law excluding vast majority Of our pen
| pie from the elective franchise, thereby degmd-
| ing them 10 their own estimation. aud causing
very natural apathy concerning cd1catiou
or any other public enterprise.
must say that another complaint made hv
/ our people appears 20 me % Pc vel founded.
| mean the disproporti1n between TIE school
/ tax levied in this univ yearly and TIE school
/ fund app rrtiauei D. as 10 Wheeling Wepiy
I yearly q school tax % about $40 600. and tie
/ largest appropriation rs ever received was this
last year about $4,000 You have explained
/ tbs matter 0n a frrmer occasion. bot / nut
7 say thar while we understand h1u We cannot
zee riy s. 900 yearly II our money should be
/ expended among our trans-AllCg' tuy brethren
who appear o. BE- remarkably prolific in child
/ rem .the number &C which appear. o De tie
basis &C thc calculation but who appear o. be
in an inverse ratio as lar as regards the means
/ e educating their progeny. These causes
tend % prevent the organization Of schools as
/ the De pie arc GlscJutcutcl with the whole AZ
UuEemCut.
have omitted 20 state another cause Of our
failure which Is, perhaps, still more potent
than any yet mentioned. Our law excludes
from any participation in school affairs as su-
perutcndeut. commissioner, trustee, or teacher,
any person who cannot take the oath prescrb-
ed for the exclusion Of the disloyal. When it
is remembered that there are whole districts in
this County where scarcely a single man can
be found who will dare to take the prescribed
oath, aud where no Radical teacher would dare
to show himself, you may well imagine that
there is poor chance tor organizing schools
under the present law.
l viii say that have very few schools, and
very poor prospect Of having them, until the
rigors Of the law are mitigated to meet our PEE
cular circumstances. In mercy TO the poor
children who are running wildly through the
woods without any prospect of an education
tried to "whip the Devil round the stump
by taking advantage Of the words Of the law
TO give it liberal construction did not dc
this for love Of Rebels, for whom have no par
ticular admiration bat for the sake Of theil
innocent offspring. gave certificates to teach
crS without exacting the oath, merely assuring
myself that they were loyal at the time of their
getting certificates. This brought on me the
wrath Of the "Simon Pures' Of my own party
some Of whom are stragglerS that accidentally
dropped of here while the army occupied this
region, and who came originally from parts un-
known, perhaps for the benefit OF those re-
gions-certaiuly not for ours. Another por-
ton Of our people that gives me great trouble
is that which is composed of Sympathizers with
the Rebellion while il lasted These like all
apostates, desire to shew extra zeal in the new
cause. hoping thereby that their former short
conings may be forgotten
1t is not my desire to attack any party OF
individual. My only object is TO give you a
true statement Of the condition Of school affairs
and hope have given you good idea Of
the state Of things. | have few schools, few
teachers low funds, and little courage 10 en-
counter the bGotry and stupidity that meet
every day while trying t. prosecute my duties
| sometimes hear from districts where 10 man
can or rW undertake the duties Of school
officer Of any kind, and yet the spirit if not
the letter Of the law requires Of me TO establish
schools all over the County. having receiv-
ed no School Board reports unless from Har-
pers-Fcrry Township, last year, | cannot, o.
course, furnish any.
JOSEPH BARRY,
County Supf Pre- Schools
z o