Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-02-24
Spirit Of yeffersn,
CharIesiOxn, JsEersOn Cenn.1. West u.
TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY a, 1874.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOLS.

adopted At the recent meeting held at Shap-
herd College, SkepherdstOWn, in this county.
We commend them to the attention of all
interested in the advancement of the educa,
sioGal Interests of the State
ReSo'red, Thst next to the culture of
morals aud religion it is the highest interest
of the commuaity to extend education to all
classes of the people. and that in order TO this,
as ascertained by the experience of all ma
tiOns, it Is necessary thst it he made in it's
rndimentary branches free, aud ia lis higher
branches chear.
WaEREAS, 1t has been found absolutely
necessary for the successful coodmct of edu-
cati0n. that there be intermediate schools be-
tween the culnmon school and the University
prope.-such "s have heretofore passed under
the names OF Academies, High Schools and
the ike. aud of late years with Normal De-
psrimert attached. for the sra.uitrms educa>
ton of teachers ior the common schools. not
t. speak of the facilities which such inter-
mediate schools afford so = large number of
youths. even the poorest. tor f',in. them>
selves for useful situations not otherwise at>
tAinab!e by them. Therefore
Re.OiVe,l That tho Legislature of West
Virginia. lu ct'wmon with other States, acted
wiseIy aud in a"oUriaUce with the advanced
civilization at Gha age in establishing such
schools in various parts of the state and
furthermore. thar the otjcct'"n which few
have raised against them tLst they al0 local"
is without either force or jlsrice. since all
schools local in a like sense, sni tn shso.
lutte equality Of advantages is impossible, the
benefits IeTVasie i.nm the Univ.Tsity itsolf
being greater u those who reside iu its im>
mediBte vicinity, from the nstura of the cSse
snd against which no uat couIplAiLt can be
entertained.
WHEREAS, The teschers nov serving in the
NIrtnsl Schools "f West Virgins, including
Shepherd college, were duly appointed by or
der of tie Safe on or before the Ist of Sep
tepher, 1873. aud heres< we srr s3vi-cd by
the highest legal authority that the obligation
of the State to I..v the rs|ari.s Of these it4
Grr":ntces, is Of tho nature of cnn,rsct
hinding upon lie STATE, un,i! the order for
their appointment shall Lg resciuded. There
fore
RCso'crd, That the Trustees Of Shepherd
COLLEGE mem"r.aiizr ,he Legislature ct an
early day of It's next session, urging M ap>
pr"Iristi"u I" ueer lie expenses of said Col
lcsr Tor tie school wear Of IS and ~, " here
with t. refund suea amounts AS m.V ba OBJ
tanned Nv borrowing or otherwise iu tho mean
time - meet s*;' expenses.
WnFHEAs, We n.rke no COMPLAINT of the
unequal hnrien Of taxation which tine eoneral
sch"'.i sw imposes the couot7 Of .ief-r"on-
snri we FnnIo-e We same may be said ct f:c!ks>
!ey-snne $50, coo OF scAool tsv havir. L.So
psid uEdoT sid isw over and bbHve xilat has
ren'cxEendni for school purposes Within the
county, including the single srVTnrrist.on Of
twenty cEs hundred dollars for our college
aud Normal Ech1"lz; and, where's, Ill tho
other public moueyS-tO which We have con-
trihuted in liEe proportion, ,-exrcnAed for
school huE1inga SnA "nG"EnmcEt, 90 also
that contributed bV 'hc United States. smount
ing in nEl to some $500 0t0 have Eeen exppud-
Ell on tho West sis Of the mouptains "od not
one cent on this side, cur own s1mirHLle Col
ledge Building here, having been nlsde freq
to tho State for school purposes, under per-
pet"sl lesSe by Shepherd Brooke, Esq, of
Boston. Therefore
Rrxoirr6. Ist. That 10 our opinion which
We surnose to be the nn.nirnous opinion of
this V,"Tt 1T the State. annual approximation
of So 500 for the support Of Shepherd College
and NorN'~l School should no, be withheld.
2nd. That sad .uurorriA,iou should TO
made for certain number Ut years IN scivsnCe,
that the institution be rot crippled BY per.
p-tual suspense AS 10 it's stability, or the trus-
and teachers be left ia the position in
which they nrw 6nd themselves by the nom
1cti"n "t thu, la'e LEGISLATURE
WHEREAS, On sccuunt Of the failure of
the Legislature To make the usual spprorrietio
the Trustees Of Shopherd College aud Normal
Schnnl fni themselves without the means of
paYiu, the Professors snd teachers VIII" have
already worked half the school year under the
lsw sod whereas. in view OF the vreSt suc-
cess of the institution the thcuGht Of its failure
is no: t" be entertained Therefore
Rcs"'re3, Tint TIE patrons Of the College
be aru"aI"1 to, to arcedc to such an increase
of tuition fees for the curren, year. "r tire re-
mainiu. heN OF it. according to = scale which
will be ruhmrrt"d :" hem. as will enable Them
TO rc'aiR the professors. though upon reduced
compensation until the end Of the coming
term, or until the next session of the Le:is>
lsture. it being Understood that cOrre>pond-
ing abatement will he msde from chsrges for
the school year Of 74-5, provided the sppro-
Priation be made as fully e1pccted.
Ee'c/rt", That in the Judgment of this
meeting IT il eA peient shat a State Ccuvcn-
tinn be held for taking into consideration the
school laws ard the general interests OF educa
tinn 10 the State Of West Virgins, to consist
of tie State and County SuperiDtendents Of
Schools. the Board Of Regents and the teach
ers of all the State Schools and of such other
persons as may be interested in the subject {:
and i; is further suggested, the Board Of
Regents concurriog, that said Convention be
held in the city Of Petersburg, on Wednes~
day the 18th Of July next, and that the Gov
ernor of the State he requested to attend
and preside ov"r ssid Convention.
ResoIre6, Th>t the thank. Of the Nornsl
School of West Eiraruis are due tn Col Byren
State Superintendent, for his visits to said
Schools since the adjournment Of the Legis~
lsture, and the encouragement he has given
to have them sustained for the year. By any
meaus which it may be competent to their
eeveral Boards of Trustees to provide
Resolre1 That the Secretary of this meeting