The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-21
Our Normal schools.


wish to say a word through your col.
umAs on the above subject and an
prompted to do so from the reading Of the
editorial Of last Saturdays Standard on
the same subject. The editorial referred
70 seems 70 be a reply to something that up
reared in the Charleston CourisT. / knew
nothing Of the article referred to, wheth.
er /, i illtimed or not, but | am surpris-
ed at some OF the ideas advocated, and
positions taken by the Standard man, and
/ am led to believe that he either does not
know the true object Of our Normal
Schools, or that he Willfully misrePresenu
the sentiment Of the great mas Of our
educators. am inclined to the former
opinion, for | would not dare to say that
he would mArepresent. He says We
do know that a great majority OF the peo-
pie Of the State are firmly convinced that
The gums now expended by the STATE on
local high shoots which include special
courses Tor teachers in their instruction
could be materially reduced by conhning
efforts in training TO the University pro.
per and turning over the several Normal
Schools 10 the counties in which they are
situated. Now We say that our Normal
Schools are net local high schools. 1t
was not the intention TO make them so,
but they we're TO be State schools Tor the
education Of teachers for our common
schools. Teachers well trained for their
duty in the shortest possible time Is the
great want Of our schOOls Just now, Our
normal schools we're intended to do this,
and nobly we're they beginning their
grea; work when they were crippled BY
the Withholding Of needed appropria'
tons. We may have too many OF them,
bat give us enough, and make them eff.
Gent, We have the buildings nov, and
the amount required to man them with
efficient teachers and fill them with pupils
will be money we'll spent. We deny that
our University is the place to train
teachers Tor our common schools, The
University Is the place, or should be the
place, Tor the receiving Of the highest
and most finished education. Our Uni.
ver.ity has no better friend than myself
in the State, but | am opposed to making
a normal school out Of 1t. 1t will CEN
traliLe all our State educational interests
to one point, which will prove most dis.
astrous to them. But q very limited
number Of young men will ever receive
benefit from it, and young ladies are
not admitted at all. Our University
has its work land a great work 1t is)
to do, but we do contend that the normal
schools have a great work to do which II
not done by them will never be done.
What other State Of the Union has made
a normal school Of its University, and
what other State after having started eff.
Gent normal schools has ereH thought OF
abandoning them. Our Legislature may
do all that Is threatened-may refuse 10
make appropriations for our normal
schools and thus strike death blow at
their present usefulness, but we venture
the assertion that the time is not in the
distant future when the action will be re.
buked by an indignant people. We are
surprised that any one should think that
the majority Of our people favor such q
course. Ny experience teaches me that
normal departments TO colleges and uni.
yersities are not Of much force "a schools
Of training to young men and ladiQS' to
go to practical work In our common
school rooms. The normal school sup.
porters have never invited any CON
ilict with the university but il
was surely invited on the part Of
the University, when the Regents oil
that institution started normal depart.
ment there. Liberal appropriations will
be asked for Of our Legislature for OuI
normal schools, and we ask Tor just a.
liberal for our State University at Nor
gantown. Now | write this through nc
selfish motives. Situated as / am at pres.
ent, il might be better for me financially il
our normal schools were destroyed, but
write It from the firm and honest con-
viction that our free school system can.
not succeed we'll without our normal
schools. History teaches this, and we Al
a State, DESTROYS Of advancing rapidly II
everything that tends to make us great
would do we'll to learn from the teaching
Of history in this respect. We refel
the editor Of the Standard to the Law
creating our normal schools, and II i
makes them Local High Schooh we arr
willing to acknowledge he il right
,JUgrfCI.