Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-02-21
For the Register.
ISA NORMAL SCHOOL A BENE-
FIT OR A BURDEN TO A STATEf

"We-are already taxed beyond en-
durance; without the addition OF anoth-
er that is of no real benefit to the ma.
iority; or to say the least might as well
be dispensed with" Il am opposed TO
being taxed for the support OF a school
that is of no immediate benefit to either
me or my children; only those living
within the District are benefited, and
if they desire higher school than the
rest of the State by them alone should
it be supported If / send my son
am obliged to pay, tell me what it isfor
the majority That public money
should be appropriated for such local
uses at is doubtful" (says another
with little clearer conception OF what
a Normal School really is)whetherthose
receiving its benefits will ever render
equivalent recompenss to the State;
numbers 60 there snd openly disavow
all intentions of teaching, thereby dis
annulliug the fundamental principle OF
the institution" Those and others, are
some of the arguments that | hear re-
peatedly in antagonism to the Normal
School recently established in Shep-
herdstown, w. Va. 1t is OF no use my
fellow citizens for one of the Oldest,
most honorable, and proudest States in
the Federal Union whose very name Is
a synonym for all that is great, noble
and good, to establish and support Gn
common with other States) school
where poor young men and women, for
a mere pittance may receive the benefits
of higher education; thus fitting them
selves for positions of usefulness nthelr
own noble State, or if needs be the
world ? Is it of no use for the Old Do
minion whose ancestors took the lead
in acts of public welfare and public
good, to at least keep pace with other
States of more recent origin IN the
march Of progress
But to take a more practical view OF
the question, are not the majority bene-
fted by the establishment OF such
schools that come within the reach of
all, even the poorest, who wish to bene-
fit themselves by its Legitimate nse, viz,
the training Of teachers for the work OF
general instruction in the State.
Is not the whole State directly or in
directly benefited by such school 7
They are organized in the spirit OF the
greatest good to the greatest number.
Judging from the experience OF others,
States who are the ones that availthem-
selves of these benefits ? | answer the
one who most deserve assistance, good
and worthy young men and women, OF
limited means who would have no other
means of obtaining what they desire to
fit them tor public usefulness were it
not for those noble institutions. In
Ohio and in most of the Western States
these schools have been established and
thoroughly tested, and what are the
results ? why, as competent and line a
corps of teachers as the nation can boast
of, are annually filling up the ranks,
and displacing fogies who have outliyed
their profession, and who find it hard to
disengage themselves from the age OF
scat and nine tails" long sessions spent
in uncomfortable seats, in badly ventl-
lated rooms ''without recess" and still
longer lessons. Experience proves that
it is from these Normal Schools, from
these pure and worthy students, are the
teachers ranks replenished. The wealthy
graduates of colleges and semenaries
rarely seek recreation or even profit
from the arduous duties of the school
room. The day once was that the un-
trained student found a means in the
school room, without other aim or pur-
pose than to replenish his meagre purse,
That day has passed; teaching has be.
come profession and must be studied
as such in order to fall in ranks and
compete with those who are properly
trained for the life work. To the Nor
NAL school is assigned this place Of
training competent teacher for the ben
fit of the State.