Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-11-08


nances -
FREE SCHOOLS.
The State Superintendent of Free
Schools has, up to this time, received
but seven reports from County ouPerin-
tendents, and consequently is now una
BILE to make report to me-
| can. therefore, only speak in general
terms of the public schools. At the
election held in August last, SO far as
the State Superintendent has informa-
ton, there were two districts in the
State that did not vote for the levy of
taxes for the support of schools-one in
Boone and one in Mineral In the dis
trict in Boone it is said that the vote
was given under some misapprehension
of the facts, and in the district in Min
eral no election was held.
This almost universal assent on the
part OF the people has finally settled one
Of the most veXed questions connected
! with the school system, and has placed
it on a far more durable basis than be-
fore And think the result of the
election will be greater efficiency and
economy in the system. While there
are some provisions in the School Law
that think could be changed TO ad
vantage, yet in the absence of intorlna-
ton as to the practical operations Of the
new law l am not prepared 10 recon-
mend any changes therein.
A law like this, in which every citizen
is more OF less interested, and which
ought to be familiar to all, should be
subject to as few changes as possible.
From the report made to me by the
State Superintendent of Free Schools,
under the provision of section seventeen,
article I of the Constitution, it appears
that the disbursements OF his office dur
/ ing the last tircal year was as follows
For salary of Superintendent $3.50
20; for salary Of Clerk $S0S.5O; for
contingent expenses sS,7lO.57; for sala-
ries of County Superintendent SS,lS2.-
97-making a total Of $l9,3S2.74 for
the year.
There has been some difficulty in ex-
ecuting that part of the law which re-
quires the appointment of two eXamln-
ers who, together with the State super
intendent constitute Il State Board OF
examiners, from the fact that no provis-
ion was made for their compensation or
expenses. l presume this occurred
through inadvertence. | recommend
that YOU fix q reasonable compensation
to be paid the examiners and authorize
the payment of their actual expenses.
This system of examination is an admi-
rable feature of the school law, and will
tend greatly to elevate the character OF
our schools.
TIE UNIVERSITY.
The average lumber of students in
attendance at the University during the
wear WAS $50; and the school has been
very successful in all its departments.
TIE NORMAL SCHOOLS.
The total receipts of Marshall College
during the fiscal year on account OF the
contingent Fund was $l,l35.46, and
the total disbursements from this Fund
was sI,O2715, leaving balance OF
SlOS.S1. on hand. In addition to this
sum the institution had an appropria-
ton of -, 800 to pay teachers, all OF
which has been drawn. The whole
number Of pupils in attendance was l6l
/ and the average number 10.
NORMAL SCHOOL AT sHEpHERDsroWN
This school seems to be i'll quite sue
cessful operation-it was only organized
during the wear, and for the first por-
ton of the year the highest number OF
pupils in attendance was ~ and the av-
crage 80. During the latter part OF the
wear. the highest number in attendance
was 100 and the average GO, with a
prospect of healthy increase.
The school al Chenille was organized
last winter, aud is said to be in success
ful operation. The West Liberty Nor
NAL school is also said to be prosperous.
No appropriations were made at your
last session for the payment OF teachers
of the several Normal Schools, but the
laws in relation to them remain unchan-
ped. The Board of Regents therefore
proceeded as usual in the management
of these schools and employed teachers
for the current year. Unless some pro
vision is made at your present session
for their payment, their salaries cannot
he paid. 1t would seem to be manifest
" unjust to these teachers to permit
| these contracts to be made with them
and then TO provide no means to pay
them for their services.
FINANCES.
On the 1st day Of October, the begin
ming of the fiscal year, there remained
in the treasury but S3,509.29 subject to
draft for general State purposes. As
none of the taxes for this fiscal year are
required to be paid in before January
! 20, next, the amount of revenue coming
in during the present quarter Will neces-
sarilv be small, and probably inadequate
to meet the demands on the treasury.
This is not new condition OF things; 1t
has frequently existed before, but here
tofore when it happened that the fund
provided for general purposes was ex-
hausted, it was the custom to use tenn
porarily the General School Fund until
sufficient revenue should come in. But
changes i'll the Constitution and laws
have put an end to this custom.
The General School Funl is now
payable, one half October Is, and the
remaining half January 10, in each year
bot . +bo wbo1a of Hi, -