The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-20

CM4hEEN8aFF"'
Concerning the Schools, Especially q
"HIgh SCHOOL,"
One Of our High School friends EN-
braces the opportunity to say a last word
this morning to the Board Of Education,
in view of the meeting of the Board this
evening. We ore not disposed to take
issue with what he quotes respecting the
benefits conferred by High Schools, for
we are in favor of such IN institution
under suitable and favoring Circum-
stances but we feel constrained tore
the suggestion heretofore made To the
honorable Board that the ward schools
are not yet sufficiently out of the woods
to warrant the attempt now to establish q
High School. We must have good
lower story before attempting to build an
upper one. 1--WE beg that the Board will
give due consideration TO these facts;
The primary department of the ward
schools-iust as important and necessary
as the higher departments-are greatly
inadequate. They are OVercrowdedi there
are already far too many pupils for the
supply of teachers and children are
neglected. But what is even worse, large
numbers oil children, because there 10 not
school room, cannot be admitted at oil.
II Is absolutely necessary to provide new
or additional school buildings in oil the
wards OF the city hut two, and the Board
are already considering applications for
new buildings in two townships which
need them Immediately, and for additions
In others. IttOok more than sixty thou
sand dollars to build the 1st and 4th
Ward houses. How much will il cost to
build the End and Sth, and how much
more to supply adequate buildings loF the
other four wards? Certainly all that the
people Of this city can afford for the next
live years, .r....
Would tile High School enable us to
save one dollar of this expense for build
ing in single wardH Would 1t reduce
the current expense ol the schools In n
single wardy That is not claimed, It Is
conceded that II will add at least three
thousand dollars to the school lax "at
first" How much in subsequent years
nobody pretends to say, but our corre'
spOndent assures us that once we assume
1t the burden will be permanent.
With the exception Of this want Of
room and teachers in the primary de-
partment, the ward schools arc doing
well. There Is no pressure from the
schools for any enlargement Of the higher
department, There Is room enough and
sufficient teachers Tor the grammar
classes. They are sufficiently and sue
cesSiully taught; and they turn out
such good scholars that they pass
the ordeal provided by the Board
Of Education for teachers. The
branches that would be taught in the
High School are already taught In the
Ward schools, and no more teachers are
required than would be, in the High
School. The difference Is that In the
Hs1I School they would have higher sal.
SISs3 dndthero ID, the milk in the cocoa
nut For II is worth mentioning that SO
far as wO know, with two exceptions, the
active friends Of this scheme arc persons
who expect personally to profit by it. 1t
Is singular but true that Of those who
have written in It's favor in our columns,
there has not been one whose name Is not
connected with a position in the High
School II established, or who has not an
equally interested purpose. Wehave not
yet received line in advocacy of 1t from
dlSinterested party.
Would II not be better, for year or
two at least, to take tho sum that would
he added annually 10 the school tax by
the High School and employ additional
teachers for the primary schoolsS The
work Of making more room for them
must go on 10 any event. The 1900
which Il is proposed 10 pay Principal
in the High School would employ two ex.
Cellent lady teachers. The 81 800 now
paid the City Superintendent, Tor doing
practically nothing, would employ two
more Indeed, II economy Is any object,
lady teachers might take the place 0f
most Of the male teachers, aud either re.
duce the expense one half or double tho
number Of teachers.
What we especially wish to suggest 10
the Board is that the urgent need Of the
schools Is not in the higher but In the
lower department; that the absolute dc.
mands that must he made on the taxpay.
Ing community for several years. for new
or additional school buildings in six
Wards out Of eight, will be 80 large rs to
forbid the addition Of q single dollar the
imposition Of which can be avoided.
II is no argument 10 say other cities
have High Schools. They are doubtless
able TO have them but we venture no
High School has been established in the
United States where the ward schools
were noLflrst at least provided with suIll.
cient buildings. slt.
Let us not, gentlemen Of the Board, put
on a Mansard roof before the foundation
Is completed, lest the whole structure Of