Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-11-06
From the Oct. No. of the Educational
Monthly.l e.
THE PROPOSED NORMAL DE
FsAESEMENF IN, THE WEST
VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
BY THE EDITOR.

We learn from the Official Report of
the late Proceedings of the Board
of Regents that they contemplate Great
ing a Chair of Normal Instruction in
the West Virginia University. AT first
view this newteature mightseem advanta-
geous both to the State and the College;
but we apprehend more careful survey
of the character of the College, and its
surroundings at this period in its histo-
ry, will lead the candid mind to very
different conclusion. The spirit and
work of "a well arranged college are
radically different from those of q nor
NAL school-so much so, that it has
been, land will befodnd, that the two can
not be made to harmonize. The ten
dency, where this union is attempted,
will be unavoidably to degrade the
scholarship in the college, or to over
ride all that is. properly .ddactic and
pedagogical in the normal department.
Even in colleges where scientific
schools are created, the tendency is to
destroy the collegiate and classic charac-
ter of the institution. This has to be
guarded against firmly by making ad-
mission to the school Of applied sciences
post collegiate This has been the ex-
perience of the leading colleges in our
country.
In nearly every instance, where such
departments have been appended to col
leges, it will be seen, upon examination,
:hat they have proven TO be elements OF
weakness, and have contributed to the
injury of the colleges by destroying
public confidence in their character as
such. This plan is generally adopted
10y such schools as have not strength to
maintain their proper rank for patron
age without this strategy. The Michl-
gan University holds tirst-class rank
as a State institution, but it has no nor
NAL chair. The same may be said of
the Virginia University, and also of the
Universities of Germany and Switzer-
land Each of these States ard coun-
tries have provided for normal sch ools
distinct from their State Colleges.
The life and experiences of Il college
are those of miniature commonwealth.
Students are jealous of their rank and
honors, and the tendency must be to
embarrass any associated pupils of a
lower grade. On the other hand.
should the normal and academic class
be the greater, numerically, the spirit
of the college must give way and sink
TO the lower grade. In this case we
have Illustrated the picture of a beauti-
full woman ending in a base fish, as
given by the old Latin Satirist. Tins
the character of the two schools are
destructive of each other, for the sufii-
cient reason that they are, andnecessity,
as society exists, must be, antagonistic.
This condition of things will not be
questioned by any mind familiar with
the spirit of our higher institutions OF
learning.
Bat there are other and more serious
considerations that should lead the Re
gents to pause and consider the conse-
quences before executing their purpose
by establishing normal chair in our
State University. 1t may be well for
those interested, to reflect upon the
state of our educational work at this
time. West Virginia has six normal
schools, established and organized sew
eral years since. These schools have
created circles of influential friends
over the State. They have local as
well as Jointly State influence. They
are jealous Of their rights and reputa-
tion. They will not readily surrender
these advantages to any school of equal
rank. The Regents of the University
caunot hope to Ecreatela, normal chair
that will equal the worth to the State
of any one of the successful normal
schools alre,.dy existing. They cannot
even do this, aud maiutain credita5le
college, from the considerations alluded
to above. The Regents must do one of
two thlngs-either make their Univer-
sity college or a normal school. They
cannot create an educational hybrid
with any prospect of commanding pub
lie confidence.
If it is proposed to degrade the Uni
versity into Normal School, then we
must consider that the complaint is that
the State has too many normal schools
now. There is neither patronage nor
place for another. The local patronage
of the existing normal schools covers
the whole population, and they will not
give this over to normal chair in
State College of only equal with them
selves. The very fact that the friends
of the College are attempting to create
within it normal school, is an admis-
sion of the superior popular power of
the existing normal schools, and an
argument against all unfriendly legisla-
tion to SCI them aside. 900 s"
1t is admitted that the, Regents de-
sire to build up the University and to
secure for it public sympathy. Itmay
be proper, then, TO suggest that how
ever high aud honorable their motives,
yet their attempt to create chair Of