Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-06-27

years TO come many OF these young pu-
pills will rise up to thank those whose
toll and sacrifice, and friendly interest
have been expended upon their instrpc'
ton For the teacher alone among
men, is entitled to make the proud
boast ofthe Pagan author, that he writes
for eternity. His work is not traced III
sand to disappear with the first swell OF
the waves, nor yet inscribed upon shaft
of marble or granite which, for centuries
may DEFY abrasion and decay, but upon
those types of immortality in this NOR,
tai world, the human heart, mind, Soul
and character.
But while the past is secure, and we
may well be excused for pointing to It's
trophies, it is with no doubt or suspicion
as to the future existence and fortunes
of the school. for one can not be
made to believe in advance that the
State of West Virginia proposes to
abandon her Normal Schools and suffer
them to languish and die, and especially
one, which, with the first scant recogni-
ton has manifested such vigorous
growth, and such promise OF future use,
fitness. Against such suicidal folly and
judicial blindness she is pledged by the
charter of her existence, and against it
her peculiar and crying necessities no
less than the spirit of the age, uttertheir
Solemn and emphatic protests. When
the State of West Virginia presented
herself at the door Of the Federal | mon
she came bringing in her hands a char
ter, ia which a cardinal and lromlnent
principal was education for her people
BY its provisions certain funds were to
be set apart for this purpose ana none
other whatsoever, and it was enJoined
upon the Legislature to provide as soon
as practicable a thorough and efficient
81 stem of Free Schools, to be maintain
ed by the interest OF this fund, by gen
eral taxation and local assessments.
And in addition to these specific direc-
tons still more clearly to indicate the
general policy Of the State, and her
high aspirations in this behalf, the duty
was laid upon the Legislature ''to foster
and encourage moral, intellectual, SCI.
entifc aud agricultural Improvement
and "wheneyer practicable 10 make
suitable provisions for the organization
of such Institutions OF learning as the
best interests of general education III
the State NAV demand" Under this
authority and obedient to these inJunc-
tons a general school law was enacted
and general system OF Free Schools
attempted in the State. The difficulties
and obstacles in the way Of success were
great, and at times and places almost
appalling; difficulties which, under the
most favorable circumstances, were IN
separabls from the physical structure OF
the State, its numerous mountain ranges
and isolated communities, its sparse
population and general poverty; but
these were greatly increased by the
novelty of the system, the universal lack
of experienced officers and competent
teachers; by ignorance and prejudice,
and above all, by the civil and political
commissions of the times which naturally
alienated many who would otherwise
have been jealous and able friends OF
the experiment. Yet, despite all these
and adverse influences, amid
all tie necessary and actual maladmln-
istration incident 10 the troubious times
on which we had fallen, so much OF po-
tential good was discerned in the sys-
tenn. and such vast capacity for useful
ness. that when, after nine years, the
people again assembled by their repre-
senta,iyes to remodel their organic law,
to strike from it whatever experience
had shown to be hurtful and ineXpedi-
ent, and TO add other safeguards OF
good government, there was 80 serious
attempt and, so taras | am informed, there
was no disposition to attempt change
in the educational policy OF the State.
The ample provisions or the first consti-
tution we're reenacted with more OF
particularly and scope; aud although
as recent experience has shown, a Leg
islature may neglect or contemn the
mandates Of the people, the same high
Injunction confronts every succeeding
assembly of law makers, Ito foster and
encourage moral, intellectual, scientific,
and agricultural Improvement, and to
make suitable provision for the organl-
cation of such institutions Of learning as
the best interests of general education
in the State may demand.
Thus it will be Seen that OR young
State at the beginning OF her career
announced wise and liberal education
al policy as part and parcel of her fun
damental law, and whatever has been
the actual measure OF achievement, she
has never lowered her standard from that
day to this, and in SO doing she his
simply caught the enlightened and
Christian spirit Of this age. For If
there be one point on which modern
craftsmanship seems agreed, it is as to
the duty and the political necessity of
the State providing the elements of ed
ucation for all of its citizens. Not only
has this practical connection Of the ne
cessitv of absolute universal education
to the well being of society, taken hold
of the public mind, but also the more
advanced conviction is rapidly spread
ing, although not yet Incorporated in
any Bill OF Rights, or Magma Charta,
that each individual has right to such
culture as shall fit him to fulfill the
functions Of citizenship. and TO live
usefully and well, in whatever relations
his lot may be cast. Hence, there is
no enlightened State of the present
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