The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-12-02
Some Suggestions COncerning the
Law.


We were all glad to read the messag q
Of the Governor, and are equally graf
fled with your brief editorial dissenting
from his views on the reorganization Of
our excellent school system under the
new Constitution. There is 20 doubt
that the Governor recommends what he
thinks is best promotive of the Interests
of free schools. He places high
value upon our school system when be
asserts in his message that ait is our
greatest public interest" both 10 view
of the objects it proposes to accomplish
and the amount Of the public funds il
annually expends 1t is indeed impor-
tsnt that the present Legislature com
prehend fully the interests Involved in
their dealing with this subject and the
coust quences that will follow.
The common school system now in
operation in our State is not novelty
in the administration Of States: it has
been tested by every variety of legisla-
ton, and therefore demands on our part
the careful consideration Of certain
practical features which have the ap-
prevail Of long experience. There are
d fects in our present school system, but
10 what the Governor proposes the best
that wisdom and experience can sug-
gest? l. we are to have system o.
public instruction. it is important IT, at
it be executed efficiently AID bring to
the youth OF the State the greatest
good l. it not best, then, that the
Legislature be very sure that anv
change of the present school system
proposed will be really advantageous
before they make il?
There is a very general impression
among tie people t. at the most credit
able tiing the L-gi-lt'ure can do dur
ING it's present sess on, SO tar a. the
.coool system is involved, is to readopt
the system as it is, and leave improve
meuts 10 Re made at its next biennial
session. There is a large amount o.
public business before that body, and
vet it may have time to look 10 one or
TWO features Of our school system with
a view to Improvements. Allow me as
a friend OF free schools to suggest thai
the trustee system be abolished, as ut
rerly worthless TO add any effic'enc to
the schools This will leave a local
board in each school district; all thai
is essential tor the protection Of the in
rere-ts o the schools. Ii will Also have
what is now known as the Township
Board. B tn these Boards are made
essential pats OF school machinery in
Indiana. Ohio and other older States
70 dispense with these Boar Is, or to
take from the former the immediate
control OF their own schools, and from
the latter the power to levy snch tax
Tor the support OF schools as in their
Judgment and the Judgment Of the ciri-
zer OF tow nship or county di-tricr,
il you please, the school interests de-
mand, seems to us both unwrse, danger
Gus and eminently designed to defeat the
very objects hal IN view IN tie or.anl-
zt,ion OF public schools We submit
the question to any true friend o.
-choos, and 10 the wisdom Of our legis
lators, whether it is not both just
and patriotic in the administra-
ton of this State Department to
allow each township or county district to
make it's own school levy-and to en-
ploy the avails Of its own liueralily 90
Tar as free schools are concerned-onlv
with this proviso that all districts or
township shall make at least levy o.
a fixed value to be entitled TO the bene-
fits OF the State fund? There is no
outside party that can, with any drgree
of intelligence, judge Of the school
wants Of any school district or town
ship as correctly and properly as their
local and township boards. We must
be allo we'd there ore to express our great
surprise when the Governor, in an i'm.
portant message to tie Legislature, re-
c, mmends that the general manage.
ment of the rec schoo's of each county,
including the levy of taxes, be COM
mi,tpd to the county court. We say
this suggestion OF the message Is won-
deriul to any mind that takes in the
magnitude OF the Interest pending and
the hazard OF an experiment o. that
kind VINO are the natural guardians
of the schools where their own children
are educated il the parents are not, as
the proposal of the message intimates,
and 10 whom can the organization aud
supunrt OF the schools be entrusted II
not 10 the citizens OF the d sirlctf
Such failures "a the message COM
plsins Of on the part OF school officers
10 furnish prompt and Satisfactory re-
ports are incident to other departments
Of the State Administration rs vel as
10 that OF tree schools The fault com
plsined of is not a defeat OF the system
a, much a. the want of stringent legIs'
lation to enforce obed ence to law on
the part OF school officers. 1t wou
indeed be desirable 10 execute the tree
school system with the least number O.
officers aud the most direct respors''
t,Iuy. But while this is disadvantage
il il essential on the other hand that such
school boards be created Is shall brig
the administration OF the schools II
most direct and intimate relation to the
people whose direct benefit these schools
are designed to promote. A County
Court cannot, in the very nature OF the
case, represent the advancing and dir c.
interests q. the several school districts
O, the county. 1t is too ar remote rom
the sympathy OF the people and car
realize too ieebly the varied wants o.
the several townships in this respect
There ia no fact more patent in the past
working of our school system than that
The true interests OF our schools require
tina each township make liz own ,evy
o. taxes for SCHOOL purposes. And 70
m