The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-10


must assume the responsibility.
Colonel Byrne says: "The next leg
islsture will, without doubt, provide fol
these expenses." judging from the las,
acts of the late legislature, we can moi
agree with the Colonel that it neces.
sarily follows as matter Of course and
without doubt" that "ths next legisla.
ture will provide for these expenses.
Certainly they will be under no obliga-
tious to do so, and indeed, viewing
the situation, it looks little like pre-
sumption to speak 80 confidently in re-
gard to it.
He also says, "If it be deemed exPe'
dieut to dispense with these schools
due notice will be given before new con-
tracts are entered into between the
board and the teacher" We confess
our inability to entirely understand the
above sentence. 1t must be scknowl.
edged by every one that cur Normal
Schools, as at present conducted, can
not live without State assistance, aud II
ia equally true that that assistance can
only be had by appropriation made by
the legislature, and which is not obhga'
tom on that body but discretionary
Then, as the legislature has refused te
make such appropriation, and inasmuch
as they can not be compelled to do so
we would like to know the use Of the
Board Of Regents entering into con-
tracts that cannot be carried out. But
il the Board has the power and righI
to enter into contracts wher
the legislature refuses to make
appropriations to carry said contract
into effect, have they the power to dis
pepse with these schools it they think
it expedientH Ifthey have, we would
be pleased to know what law it is that
gives them the power. 1t used to be
an acknowledged principle in the SCI
euce Of government that q law-pro'
vided it be northumberland be re.
pealed except by the power that enact
ed it. Then, are the Board OF Regents
a legislative body and can they enac
and repeal laws2 Are they empowered
with authority to exercise the func.
tious that pertain to the Judiciary o.
the State to the extent of declaring law
unconstitutional Are they, or are
they not?
But we will conclude by answering
question or two that may very materi.
ally present themselves to our minc
when we read Colonel Byrne's reflection
on the action OF the late Legislature
They are-Whst are Normal
Schools? Why did the Leg
islature refuse to max,
appropriations for their support, snc
why do the people OF the State endorse
the action of their representatives.
The ostensible object OF our Norma
schools is to instruct persons in the ar
of teaching, 30 that our common fret
echools could be the better supplied
with competent teachers.
There are six OF these schools il
operation in the State, and at q cos
OF from $4,000 to $4,000 per an
rum. The legislature when asked tc
appropriate money for their support
very naturally inquired into the pro-
priety of 30 doing and the result o
their inquiries were they found thai
these institutions are local in theil
benefits, and failures 30 far as accom-
plishiDg the purposes for which they
were created. Professor w. K. Pen
dleton, ex-State Superintendent OF Fret
Schools, and who was an advocate o
Normal Schools, says in his report fol
the year 1872, in speaking o
them, ut has been abundant,
showu that these Normal Schools, a
they are called, are not TO be special!
commended because they are the source
OF teachers for our primary schools
They do not furnish three per cent. o
the teachers and never can" Then
if they do not furnish three per cent o
these teachers and never can, the
certainly are failures in their ostensibl
object. The legislature therefore find
ing that they do not furnish teacher
for our primary schools, and believing
ewing to the high rates OF taxes, ant
the financial condition Of this State
that we could not support go many
graded schools that are only local il
their benefits, declined to make any ap
preparation for them.
We approve Of the course taken b.
the legislature in this particular, 10
many reasons. We are opposed to Nor
NAL Schools because they do not fur
nish our Free Schools with teachers
because they benefit only the respectiv
communities 10 which they are located
because they are very expensive, be
cause We believe our county is as mucl
entitled to q Normal School as 80.
other county, and as We already have
million and quarter Of capital invest
ed in school property, and as there ar,
three thousand schools in actual opera
ton, as we pay three quarters OF a mil
lion annually to carry them on, as vi
now are educating over ninety thou.
sand children in our free schools, lee,
Prot. Pepdleton's report, 1872 } and a
common and not collegiate education
is the great want in the State, and, ow
ing to the great dearth OF money snc
the consequent depression in all classes
OF industry. we feel We cannot support
our Normal Schools and do justice Il
ourselves. For these reasons, 10 which
We believe large majority Of the peo'
pie OF the State concur, we do not tbinl
"the next Legislature will, withou
doubt, provide for their expenses"
Yours truly, L.
Barbour County, January 6.