The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-11-23
Andrew Wilson and His POIicy-.Let
the Public Read and Ponder.
Editors of the Register,

Editors of the Register.
Capt. Andrew Wilson signaliZed hi
advent to the Board of Education, severa
years ago, by developing pccula
theory of the object and scope of GU
public school system, viz: that it Wa
designed to teach merely the simplrs
rudiments of education; in other words
TO give instruction in the three Rs
'rithmetic, readin' and ,ritin.
His idea of what school ought to be
does not seem to have risen above that
of the old log school house, and the 1riSf
paddy-whacker. He seems to have beer
true to this idea ever since, and every,
thing which does not chime in with it,
has been made, from time to time, either
the object Of persistent oppression or Of
relentless persecution. To carry ont hi:
favorite view, he has sought to control
the working machinery of our schools
Board of Education, Superintendent,
principals, teachers and all. If the
Board of Education WIS, at any time
inclined 10 pursue a more
enlightened and liberal policy
all his stratgctc and domineerine
power were put in requisitIon 10 defeat
IL. If the Superintendent resisted, he
was snubbcd and Inundated in every
possible way. Ii the SUPPLEMENTARY
itself stood in the way, he laborrd t.
abolish or dwarf it, by turning out the
present incumbent and putting in his
place mere tgure-hcad. If principals
resisted his imperial will, the loss OF
place or u reduction Of salary was, by
some means or other, held in tcrr0rcm
over them. In word. putting in prac-
tcc all sorts of dcvilish acts, which he,
OF all others, knew how to Use, hi
whole aim seems to have been to destroy
the independence of the teacher, by in
timidating, humiliating, degrading, and
if need be- destroying those who at
tempted to resist the accomplishment al
his ignorant, wilfull and selfish devices.
Bv such means, nearly al public dis
cussion of school matters was put under
the ban. or discontinued. The commit
nity knew but little of what WIS going
on in the educational line, and a. II con-
sequence fell into that sad state ot
aDathy which now exists, and from which
it cannot be aroused, except by an entire
change of programme III the working
plan of our educational board.
He has spared no pains to indoctri-
nate new members of the Board, and the
puplic generally with his antcdlIuvmr
notions. He has taken care, as far a. possible
to stock the Board, from time to time,
with such persons rs he supposed would
be- suh.ervicnt to his wishes. He has art
fully worked upon the public mind 80 rs
To lead the masses to look upon the SUI
pcrintendcnt and Principals somewhat
in the light of public enemies, who ar"
in some indehnublc way, striving to III
lure the communicative destroying
their influence, and enabling him e
march on with irresistible movement IL
the goal of his avaricc and ambition.
By some magic power he has succeed
cd in controlling caucuseS without benz
present, and elccting members of the
Roard of Education by his sngl" nod
For the purpose of strengthening ms
bower, he has gradually been introducing
into the Board an element of iutur"
strife. hv securing the election OF those
who nrr known to be- hostile /" our pub
lie schools. II is said that he has even
crossed the limits OF his own district,
and secured the election OF
his rc,aincrs in other Wards
than his own, he himself being all the
while invisible. \ wonderful magician
is this slippery Andy!
He has dwarfed the schools 10y with
holding the requisite number of teachers,
and ignorantly intcrmedlinS with what
he did not understand; thereby greatly
retarding the progress OF some, ana COM
pellinr the parents of otherS-s"mc "t
these being large taxpayers-t" send
their children 10 pay schools or educate
them abroad nj their own expense lie
has strcnuouSly opposed High School,
il hcinr something beyond his c"mpr"-
hensinn. and thereby prevented IA" -
Enlistment of an institution among Us
which would have put our schools lar IN
advance of what they now are. ana nj
c,mparativclv little cost, by aiiordimG "a
heartfelt, stimulus to teachers and pupils,
and providing n higher education free 81
charge, to rich and poor, and for al! VII"
desire to obtain it.
If our public schools are lingering far
behind those OF other important cities "l
tn, country, let the public understand
That for this signal blessing, they are IN
dnh,,a to the noble dislntercstcd
ness, unparalleled wisdom ana
profound sagscitv of Andrew Wilson.
Lonr live King Andrew!
But Andrew Wilson had other pur-
poses to accomplish, besides that {" 'n'
mere quix otto end of promoting the pun
lie good. Such an idea, perhaps, never
entered the mind of this scorner oil good
men. and good institutions. ScokNEE Is
his name. He opposed the High School
But why did he oppose II, especially on
the economical plan presented IN con-
ncetion with the Lindsay Institute de
will tell you-''economy. But upon
nv own responsibility, allow me to say
,bst il Was not economy. IL was SIM
nlv because he did not see the tU'Hb'r IN
it.and this indictment is true. $780,
Who ever heard of Andrew Wilson
opposing the building Of large and cNpen-
siye school houses? Did he oppose the
building of the school house in the irS'
ward. the Third. the Fourth, the Eighth
or the contemplated addition TO the
sixth? And who furnished the t,nideL
for these, or most of these, buildings
And what quantity, Of what quality, and
Mt what price? Who went upon
the contractors bonds IN each
case and directly. or n.dt'
rec,lv, voted money into his own pocket
out Of the public funds , Was it this
GREAT economist, the special guardian o.
the peoples rights, q or was it the ur'
scrupulous gadgrinder, who '.mps Pc.
teachers in time OF high prices, l" eA'