The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-06-22
The IIlph school Project.

TO the Editors ofthe IntelllgGnCer.
The first article Of your correspondent
in opposition to the establishment Of
High School in Wheeling, requires an
answer by some one differing from him.
The unfair and unkind assertion that
by institutlng High School "the pres.
cnt excellent standard of the Public
School system must be torn TO pieces to
crafty the whimsical pride Of n few indi-
vduals, or make situations for few In.
terested parties" needs no refittatlOn, be-
cause II "a an assertion, the proof OF which
Is wanting, and cannot be imagined
Neither can't be Of benefit to any one to
know holO, trIcn and Where this. High
School project originated, and whether
at isa plant Of recent or gradual birth
and growth. The question worthy Of
discussion simply Is. rs The establishment
Of q Public High School in onr ciy a
6eneM to the community or not"
1t Is readily granted that the public
schools of Wheeling have been and are
working very well, and that the knowl
edge acquired in them sulllCes Tor the
majority of our children, but we respect.
mlIy reject the conclusion that therefore
any further improvement OF the mind,
and more extensive attainments In the
higher branches Of education, on the part
oi not few Of our pupils, are uhnecessa-
ry and unimportant. ....
II will, we presume, bo admitted that
the course OF studies in the highest classes
Or our public schools cannot even com.
pete with the preparatory department Of
any respectable college In the country.
They are consequently primary" that is,
preparatory TO other schools. For the
majority Of our children this limited edu.
cation Is quite sufficient. They do not
and need not strive for higher attainments
in knowledge That which they here
learn answers their purpose. As mechan'
les, laborers, or farmers, or as women IN
the daily discharge of their household
duties, they require no more. But are
there not In our city numerous children en-
dowed with superior talents, whose
thirst for greater altainments manitests
itself day by day. is they who should
be permitted and melted to ascend higher
and higher; II is hey who in the diligent
pursuit acknowledge are expected to sue.
ceed in filling important and responsible
offices, To reach this end, God entrusted
To them such talents as an ardent longing
for knowledge, patience and perseverance
n retentive memory and the like. Il
the children of the rich only had been
thus endowed, there would indeed be less
necessity for establishing Public High
School. Private institutions, Academies
and Colleges, near and far of, nfIectonatc.
ly invite them, and they are privileged tc
90, But among the poor we often find
the very brightest minds, which, II thor
oughly trained, would send their benill
cent light far and wide TO aid and bles.
their fellow men. The children Of poo,
parents have until now been deprived o
these privileges They cannot afford I,
pay from $40 to $l5 tuition per quarter
1t may be q triflo for people in aflluent cir
cumstances, but II cannot be paid by thu
majority Of our citizens, The establish
ment of a Public High School remove
this obstacle. 1t invites all that are pre-
pared to enter IT, ItinduCes the pupils II