The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-09

temperance or other good coNse whe"
clearly proued -,
Now, / most respectfully submit
whether the holders of these diplomas
and professional certificates do not hold
them by virtue of q contract, at least an
implied contract to which the State is
party, pledged by its legal enactments,
by which the holders are entitled to all
the privileges conferred for the length OF
time stated in the laws? 1t strikes
me that !he holders of these certiti-
Gates and diplomas, might, with great
force, claim that the State is bound by
its contract with them. to protect them
in all their privileges acquired by virtue
of these certificates, acquired under the
authority of the law, rs stated above.
But suppose these contracts are such
as, for reasons of public policy, the Leg
islature might abrogate, ara there sutti-
cient reasons of public policy operating
on the minds of this Legislature, TO war
rant them in the adoption of such e1-
treme measures in this case? 1t seems to
me that your free school system
will certainly suffer no detriment
if YOU suffer the holders Of these
diplomas and certificates to contin
ue to hold them with all the privileges
which they had every possible reason 10
believe they conferred.
There are about two hundred and
twenty holders of normal diplomas in
the State IA few others of these graduates
have since died) and about one hundred
and fifty who hold professional ccrtii-
Gates; in all, three hundred and seventy.
1t is doubtful whether you can find an
equal number in the whole State who are
rs we'll qualified to teach the common
and graded school, rs the holders Of
these diplomas and certificates.
Most of these are young men and
young women, all OF good character,
who have spent several years, and 1t Is
believed in II majority ot cases, all their
means, with the lsudabIe purpose ofqual-
flying themselves for that profession IN
which our State has been 80 sadly def
cieut in the past These young people
have now but just entered upon the
Threshold Of their profession, which, in
my luupihtntI 10 NV Ht'VHh W '''f''N-
ance to tho prosperity of our State to
any other profession in it. They
are proud Of the distinction they
have so laboriousIy and so nobly
won. VIII you now strike them
down by single blow, and in
doing which, violate what they believe
to be contract solemnly entered into
between you and them, and which they
have so faithfully kept on their part!
trust you will reconsider your action
in striking out these two provisions, at
least 50 far as TO enable YOU to provide
that the present holder of these diplomas
and certificates may be employed without
further examination, as was provided 10y
the law when they were obtained.
1t is no part of my purpose
to say anything in behalf of the Normal
schools. | have said in my last annual
report on that subject, all that it is DEEM
ed my duty to say. 1t is believed by me
that the question involved in the abro-
CATION of these diplomas and certificates,
is one of much more grave consideration
than any mere question of the practical
utility of Normal schools. 1t is qucs-
tion involving the aspirations and the
hopes of nearly four hundred young
men and women who are the flower of
of your State.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT