The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-04
Work will be suspended in the
REe,srER office to-day and DO paper
will be issued tomorrow morning.
THE FREE SCHOOLS.

10 the section of the School Law which
we publish this morning. The time
for the election provided for in the law
is rapidly approaching and there Is as
yet but little public information rels.'
ing to the mater. On the second FIJI
day in August, which occurs THE year
on the 9Th day OF that month, an elec-
ton is to be held in each school district
in the State, for the choice OF the local.
and county officers Of the public schools
and at the same time the voters OF eacn
district are to express their approval or
disapproyal Of local levy for school
purposes.
The section Of the law which we
copy this morning furnishes full iafor'
nation in relation to the matter ana
we trust that it viii be carefully read.
By subsequent sections Of the law it
is made the duty of the State Superln-
teudent OF Free Schools to prepare and
transmit to the County Superintendent
Instructions how to conduct the cleo
,ious prescribed, with full information
as to the manner Of making returns
&c and it is also his duty to furnish
the necessary poll books and other
blanks to be used in this election. We
doubt not that this duty will be per-
formed in good time aud that official
Information will be given as to all the
minutiae Of the law.
The County Superintendent OF free
schools elected this year does not enter
upon his duties until the Let of January
1874, though hereafter his duties will
commer co on the let Of September suc'
ceeding his election, the regular term Of
Office being two years. The city OF
Wheeling and other independent school
districts are exempt from the provisions
of the act, the special acts for their cree
alton aud government being unrepealed
by the general school law.
The feature OF the present law which
has excited most adverse criticism is
that bestowirg upon the people OF each
district the right to declare by vote
whether or not they will sanction any
local levy for school purposes. The aim
ofthe system is to establish in each dis
trict a public school which shall be
kept open not less than four months in
the year. The fund provided by the
State tax is insufficient for this purpose,
but must be supplemented by local
levy to make up the deficiency. 1t is
provided that where districts fail to
make the requisite local levy for this
purpose the portion OF the State fund
which would Otherwise be applied to its
benefit is to be withheld, and thus the
people OF such a locality are compelled
10 accept the alternative of providing
by special levy for the maintenance of
four months school, or Of doing without
a public school altogether.
Under the pressure Of this al.erna-
tive, we expect that but few districts in
the State will vote against local levy,
and thus the feature of the school law
which has been most criticised by those
who were DESTROYS OF fodirg fault, will
fail to fulfil their forebodiug. The
legislature had no option in this matter.
The old Constitution, interpreted BY
the former Court Ct Appeals and copied
verbatim in this respect by the new IN
strumenr, requires this district vote,
this "local option" az the Radicals
have been pleased 10 term it, and not
even the most enthusiastic friend OF the
free school system could have framed q
law differing in this respect from that
which has beer enacted.
Our readers in this county and
throughout the State at large. exclusive
ofthose residing in independent school
districts" viii please take notice inst
on the Sth day OF August next an cleo
tion IL TO be held in accordance with
the terms OF the law published this
mornicg. 1t is important that suits.
bic candidates tor the several positions
to be filled be designated beforehand
aud we call attention TO tie matter at
this time 10 order thstii may be talked
OF among those most interested
and that proper means may be employ
ed for the election Of suitable men.
Our public school system is in reality
the most important concern OF the State.
The future prosperity Of the common
wealth depends more upon this than
upon any other subject Of pablie inter-
est or legislation, and when the whole
rsople Of the State can be induced to
give to the free schools that attention
which is their due We may safely con- |
clude that the welfare Of West Virgin
10 is assured.