The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-02-13

OF which was 10 DO q college for teaching |
the languages, geography, surveying, |
and other useful things Of that grade and |
then q single University for the sciences
II was received with enthusiasm; but as /
had proposed that William and Mary,
under an improved form, should be the
University, and that was Of that time
pretty highly Episcopal, the dissenters
after a while, began to apprehend some
secret design Of preference to that sect.
About three years ago, they enacted that
part OF my bill which related 10 English
Schools, except, that instead Of oblieine,
they LEFT II optional In the court Of every
county to carry It into execution or not.n
IA similar scheme 10 put our schools at
the mercy Of County Courts was re-
fcrred to by Charleston correspondent
in our columns yesterday
MIR. LEWIS also quotes from HORACE
MANN, the eminent educator, touching
the carly struggles Of the educational
system in Massachusetts, and adds this
allusion TO that illustrious Commonwealth:
Mr.. Mann thus graphically, and no
doubt truthiully describes tho trials, dan.
gers, difficulties and priVations under
which bis native State inaugurated her
Free Schools, which now stands pre- emf
nent among her sister States, and, indeed,
throughout the world for Its perlectness
and practical results, and which now con.
stitute tho chief pride and glory Of her
people"
The following encouraging review con.
Cludes the Report.
II may not be generally known, and yet
II is true, that oil tho States Of tho Union
have adopted free school system Of edu-
cation. In their leading features these
systems are the same. They are supper.
ted by general State and local taxation,
operated and controlled by local agen-
cies, and supervised and directed by
State and county superintendcy., The
object and the prominent means of It's
accomplishment arc the same in all,
slight differences appearing only in the
several systems. The amendments here
recommended do not change or mortifiy
any prominent feature Of our school
system. In It's essential parts our school
law Is fully equal TO that OF any State or
country in which common free schools
have been established, and in some par
ticulars 1t Is far in advance Of the school
systems Of many Of these States. The
amendments proposed refer, mainly, TO
the minor details, and by which II is
hoped to give more harmony and eftlcien-
cy In the practical workings Of its machin-
cry. If the Legislature, therefore, should
think proper TO adopt some Of these sug-
gestions, and neglect others, or indeed, i'll
all should be neglected, and our school
law remain as 1t now Is, the cause of
spopular education in our midst would
till progress. II is now too deeply and
dearly enshrined in the hearts Of our peo.
pie to be overcome or seriously impeded
by unessentail Irregularities, or incon.
veniences.
Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Mary.
land, Virginia-each and every State
whose territory touches the State OF West
Virginia, has adopted free school sys.
tenn OF some kind. We arc surrounded
on all sides by the friends, advocates and
patrons Of popular State education. Sur.
rounded as VIC are by a Gordon Of States,
inviting and pressing us forward, we could
not, II we would, retrace our steps. The
recognized claims of humanity, the die.
tates ofan enlightened and liberal states
manship, alike forbid backward move.
ment.: .Each.common free school teacher in
our State Is apractical and efficient com.
missioner OF immigration. Our twenty-five
hundred and sixty.four. and more, public
school houses, whose door arc open to
all, scattered throughout the length and
breadth OF the Substituted in cities,
towns and villages, in fertile valleys, and
in our rich mineral mountain gorges, are
80 many refreshing springs or the great
highway of emigration, inviting industry,
enterprise and capital to stop on their
journey and repose in our midst. They
not only attract population and wealth,
but are co.laborers In all the departments
Of science and industry that tend to the
felicity ola people or the greatness of
State. ufs 4Is