The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-22
BOARD OF EDUCATION.

vi ANAA 80
President Hall in the chair. The roll was
called, and the following members an
swered: Messrs, Bickel, Bowers, Carna'
han, Caldwell, Otte, Pollock, Stewart
Todd, and Weitzel.
The minutes Of the last meeting were
read and approved d.
The Superintendent submitted the fol.
lowing statement Of attendance in the
several schools Of the district during the
month: Washington 4S2; Madison 34S
Clay 81; Union $50; Centre 39l; Web.
ster $50; Richie $50; colored 60. En-.
rolled in Grammar School 279; primary,
2,5ls. Total enrolment 1891
The report closes by stating that there
is u falling off in enrolment in Grammar
schools, exclusive of Richie, OF 90, al
compared with last year, or nearly 80 per
cent. In the primary schools the attend
ance is somewhat larger than in Septem.
Der, 1870.
Received and filed.
The following was read We, the I'M.
dersigned, as residents and tax payers Of
the city Of Wheeling, respectfully repre-.
sent to the Board Of Education Of the
Wheeling school district, that we are
equitably entitled to participate without
any sacrifice Of our conscientious COnviC-
tions, in the benefits oil the School Fund;
and request the appointmentOf commit.
tee by the Board 10 confer with com.
mittee on our part, to see what may be
done in matter LEFT by the law 10 the
discretion, that Is, to the sense Of Justice,
fairness, and liberality Of the Board.
The petition was very numerOusly sign.
ed Accompanying 1t was submitted the
following paper, which was also read:
To the Board Of Education Of Tie iSahool
District Of Wheeling,
GENTLEMEN The undersigned com.
mittee appointed by the Catholic tax.
payers and citizens 0fthe city of Wheel.
Ing, beg leave to present you the accom-
paying petition, and would respectfully
ask for Il your earnest consideration.
We believe all taxpayers have right
10 share In the benefits aCcruing from the
outlay Of the public funds, and careful
consideration OF the school law has salts.
fed the Catholic residents Of the school
district Of Wheeling that there Is nothing
in the law TO prevent their participation
In the advantages OF the educational fund,
II properly administered, without sacrifice
Of conscience. The application OF the
means raised by taxation Is made TO de.
pend entirely on the fairness and wisdom
Of tho Commissioners and Board of Edu.
cation, To their sense OF right, Justice
and true liberty we appeal, therefore, for
redress Of our grievance,
We would represent to the Board that
the Divine law las VIC understand iD Wig.
orOusly imposes on the parent the obliga-
ton o; imparting to his child the knowl.
edge Of God and His requirements, from
the first dawn OF reason, and In COnnec.
ton with all that Is learned OF the works
of creation and OF the business of lie.
That In our estimation the schOOlrOom
furnishes the most ready and suitable
place and occasion for impartlng these
lessons. That without such assiduous
training in the schoolroom, no less than
al home and In the chapel, the youth Is
not prepared TO resist the violence of bis
growing passions, and that society, as
well as himself, must necessarily suffer
from the omission. Recognizing fully
their own obligation to God, To our chill.
dren and to society, we claim their right
to fulfil the duty without forleiting there.
by the advantages of the taxes imposed
on u.s.
So evident Is tho influence Of assocla.
ton and training on childhood and
youth that we hold It rs u sacred and
paramount duty of parents to commit
their children only to those in whom
they prefer to confde. And we maintain,
therefore, that the regulations Of the BOarl
should be made to harmonic with the
duty of the citizen to his God.
We proclaim 1t the duty Of every free.
man, as of every Christian, TO hold fast to
bis patefnal rights, and as sincere friend
10 true liberty, TO respect and sustain the
rights OF others. For thtreare few things,
i any, respecting which liberty Is more
10 be priced and maintained, and where
Interference may be more inludicious,
more unjust and more fatal to mans best
Happily we see no reasonable objection
10 what as Christians and lreemen we dc.
nand for we are disposed to be content
with less than the full measure equity
would require, that. none may find even
plausible ground Of complaint. We are
not opposed TO the public school system.
We ask only such modification Of the prac.
Lical details as will mako II consistent
with the inalenable rights and natural
of parents.
Prejudice and certain objections against
The cOlored man, have induced the Legis.
ature to discriminate and even require
special schools for him. What II gross
insult 10 God, II the sincere md sacred
plea Of obedience to His holy laws las IN.
1erstoOd by us) should carry with II less
weight 10 Justify such organizations as
would be accessible to us, because con
siStent with our sense of duty TO Him,
We refrain from accommodating reasOus
nearly One.third of the
population Of the city, we
call upon the Board to do to others rs
Ihey would be done by, and respectfully
request the appointment Of committee
10 meet in conference with the committee
appointed by ourselves 10 present this pc.
,ition, and state more explicitly our griey.
lnCes and our demands for redress.
NJ. Reilly, VIM. G. Handlan, ]. F. Up.
legrat, ThOs. OBrien, Jacob Altmyer,
John g. Holman, Geo. Deusch, N. Reis.
.u, Geo. Curenbauer, Jno. Vockler, Chris.
ian Hess, Casper He'll.
Mr.. Pollock made the motion that the
petition and accompanying cOmmunica.
ion be referred 10 tue Committee on
Rules and Regulations Dr.. Todd that
/ be laid on the table until there Ia n
'uller meeting Of the Board.
On DR.. TOdd's motion the yeas and
nays were demanded.
Those voting yea wsre DR.. Todd
Those voting nay were Mtssts. BiCkel,
Bowers, Carnahsn, Caldwell, Launder,
Otte, Pollack, Stewart, Weitzel and MIR.
President.