The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-25
OUR NORMAL SCHOOLS.

Views of superintendent Byrne.
Editor OF the Courier:
Permit me through your paper to
call the attention OF the Legislature to
the subject of continuing the aid OF the
State to the Normal Schools.
These schools have been esia blished
from time 10 time, in the several seC'
tions Of the State, until there are now
five in successful operation, A large
expenditure has already been made out
II the State Treasury for building and
furnishing these school buildings, until
most o. them are now completed. A
"w thousand dollars more will be sll
Nat will he required to complete and
urnish the unfinished ones. The one at
Genville, think, is the only one
in operation that needs aid for lts CONS
pletion. This school property is now
owned by the State, and should by all
means be retained and used for the pur-
poses for which is was provided. Most
of the expenditure necessary 10 the
completion and equipment OF these
buildings. having already been incurred
by the State, but little additional ap-
propriation will in the future be neceB-
sary, except the annual appropriations
to pay teachers Tor the current year.
This amount will, in my judgment, be
very inconsiderable, in proportion to the
benefit that will be received, 10 the
general school interest OF the State.
These appropriations, ever since the
establishment of these schools, have
uniformly been made out Of the State
Treasury.
The policy OF our school system is,
that the fund for the support Of free
schools throughout the State, is raised
partly by general taxation on al the
property OF the State, and partly by To-
cal taxation on the property Of the dis
trict interested In addition to the
general tax OF 10 cents on the 500 val
uatiop, the Normal Schools and the
State University, have always been
supported from the State Treasury, thus
in fact requiring greater tax on the
general wealth OF the State than 10 cts.
on the hundred dollars valuation, say
in ell about - cents on the 500
worth OF property, for school purposes,
or 10 cents for common schools and
about . cents for the higher grade, the
University and the Normal Schools.
This has been our free school system
uniformly since its inception. The
question now presented for your care
ful consideration is, will you change
this system by cripPling or abolishing
this higher grade OF schools, and leave
your whole system based simply upon
the grade OF common schools Z?
The position which | occupy as the
head OF the free school department OF
the State, has made it my duty to IN
quire into the working OF the free
schools OF other States and countries,
and in doing 30, | find that in almost
every State and country in which COM
mon schools are prosperous some sys-
tenn OF Normal training is regarded as
OF paramount importance in the train
ing OF teachers for the common schoo,s,
and that as a general rule, their Normal
schools are organized on the same pla
with ours.
The United States COmmjssionor oil
Education, in his annual report for
1872, page 53, says, there are reported
in the United States 81 Normal schools
supported by % different States, having
2jl teachers and 1894 pupils; 1 sup.
ported by counties, with So pupils; l6
city Normal schools, with ll2 teachers
and POOP pupils; making total Of III
Normal schools, with AS teachers aud
1922 pupils. The idea OF the impoT-
tance Of specially training teachers 'or
the profession, is steadily gaining
ground. States that, for time, zu=-
pended their Normal schools, have re-
opened them, and even those having
the largest number are disposed TO -
crease them.
or the 53 State Normal schools most
OF them are supported by 40 annual aP-
pyopyistion out OF the State treasury, rs
ours ere supported. See statistical
table, same report, page COZ.
The design OF Normal schools is to
provide well trained teachers for the
common scnooia Of the State Tn5
grea, demand in this, az il ali the
States, ia for good teachers in the lower
grade Of public schools. Skill in teach
ing, with the average scborISrship IN
studies, for the common schools, is more
desirable than the highest scholarship
withou: the knowledge OF the practical
methods TO be pursued in the school
soon8.
A Normal school is training scAoc!
for teachers. Is purpose ia 70 teach
the how, more than the what; tie
manner OF teaching, more than 'r
branches 10 be taught Il teaches ;-e
philosophy OF education, me,ncds a.
teaching, school policy, AL observe
ton and practice 10 the be; meiLoi-
Of teaching.
l have received a repoII from tie
principal ofthe branch Normal schooI