The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-05-08
FREE SCHOOLS In WEST VIRGINIA.

Whatever concerns West Virginia must be-
of interest to our people for the reason of our
former close relationship and present CONT
guilty. Prof W. X. Pendleton State Super
intendent, submitted to tie legislature of that
State report Of school operations for the
year 1872 which contained much interesting
information.
There were 2,4l5 schools in the State IN
1879, employing 2645 teachers Oae fifth
Of these were females, with an average pay Of
S28.99 per month; the others. males, with
a pay Of $3.50 per mouth There are in
he State 10 035 school children; but only
85,765 of these attended school during the
| ear, while the general average attendance
fell to 56.317.
The total ez penses for schools was gill;
945 IS, which is cost of $3.50 per, year for
each scholar attending, or less than fifty cents
per month, surprising the schools to have been
open ten months. This is good showing for
economy Of management:
There seems much to encourage The sup-
porters Of the system in West Virginia. The
general progress is steady and good, though
oarhapa not SO rapid as might be desired
ihe number Of teachers, scholars, schools,
,choolhouses and months taught during the
year are all increasing Debts contracted for
lands and buildings are being paid off. The
permanent school fund is Increasing. Public
eminent is becoming awakened, interested
and enlightened. o.
TIlia condition Of affairs is encouraging to
Virginia as showing what raay be accom-
plisbed in a few years. The school system
| # West Virginia has secured so firm hold
IN the people Of the State that now they
you'd not be deprived of it. At first it was
Just as much Of ae experiment as was tho
school system Of this State. Now, by ma
jority of The people it is held id high esteem.
Such is the case everywhere that a free
school system is once established and is tried
-Tong enough to become assimilated to the
character ofthe people. Never has it been
Voluntarily relinquished after fair trial.
Some idea of the opinions held by the best
| hinkers OF West Virginia may be CLEANED
am the following concluding sentences of
| Prof. Pcndleton's resort: bsae1
| West Virginia may we'll be proud Of her
position in this highest expression of peoples
patriotism and enterprise. Within less than
single decade there was, outside the city of
| Wheeling, scarcely free school 10 the State.
| Nov they rise up to greet us beside every
| Highway, and betokeu future Of rapid and
vigorous improvement. This is revolution
that cahuct SO back awards 1t creates its own
! .nomentuw. It moves BY a power within,
| Which increases as it moves and which strikes
ut The light and neat Of its own vitality.
An average Of the estimates made BY MANY
| large operators, working many thousa ads Of
hands, gives, as a result, that q knowledge Of
only che elements Of aprimary education adds
| twenty-five per cent: to the value Of las
| simple laborcr
This is a fact for every states.ian to pon-
ds It teaches that to educate the genera
ton is the most practical way to utilize our
resources; The wealth Of our hills aud valleys
and the number of our population, will be-
but barren blessings, if re add not tie intel-
| lsence and the virtue which make the true
glory Of State. Enterprise is born Of noble
| impulses in the heart, and conducted to sue
cess by light and science in tile Intelligence
| of people. Let our vigorous young State,
fresh in her freedom. begin at the foundation,
and by solid and sure basis in our primary
schools, and the rest Will come, as the ddv
follows the dawn.
The Greenbrier Independent of the 10Th
inst. savs:-That valuable estate known as
"Jerco," situated pear the Gfeenbrer White
Sulphur Springs, and lying on the waters of
Fl oward's Greek, containing $40 acres, has
been sold by James A. ,Cowardin, of the Rich
mond Dispatch, its late owner, to Mr.. George
6 Peterkiu, late of Scotland for che sum uf
S22 OOO--euuiTalent to cash. 7a