The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-01
GheGttslLiqetree
PUBLICm HIGH SCHOOL.


IL seems tue e4 peultHSy VI FVs''J "
tnbIi.hinga High School IL connection
with tho public schools OF Wheeling, Is
oncU again under consideration BY the
Wheeling Board Of Education, this being
the third effort IN this direction, by this
august body, since the organization oil the
schools under the present system.
The authority 10 establish such q
schools placed with the Board Of EduCa'
ton by the second clause Of the eigh-
tenth section Of the School law Of the
Independent School District Of Wheel
ing" which says: 1.-THE Board shal!
have power 10 establish one High School
for the District" &c, Under the old
reyiDle, too, like authority was vested IN
the Board Of School Commissioner. OF
the City Of Wheeling" Section SIN Of q,
Act entitled, ian Act concerning DIStrlGt !
Public Schools in the county OF ONO
passed February 23d, 1919, reads as lol ,
Iowa. "The School Commissioners OF
the CITY Of Wheeling shall have power
~ oS,nIIish one or more High Schools
within said city, and prescribe regul9'
lion" therefor, anduppropriate suitable
20" On The sEh day Of February, 1851, more
than twenty-five years ago, Morgan Mel:
s0n, Es0, then member Of the Board OF
School Commissioners, and a prominent
member OF the Wheeling Bar, proposed
to the Board to purchase two lots on the
southeast corner Of Fourth (Chapline)
aud Centre efficiently streets, now oc-
cupied as part OF the site Of the Capitol
building, with the view Of erecting there.
on Central High School building. The
purchase was made; but despite the eli
forts Of the lamented Nelson and other
friends Of free education, in favor OF the
erection Of u suitable building and the
establishment Of the proposed High
School, the lots remained unoccupied,
except us "si,es for carpenter shops and
cow.stables," for period OF twenty-three
years. In 1874 they were sold by the
Wheeling Board OF Education 10 Henry
X. List, Esq, for the sum Of little more
than $4,000, and BY him to the city as
site for the Capitol building at small
advance upon the price which he had
paid for them. 1t is not presumed that
Colonel List proposed to purchase these
lots with the purpose Of diverting them
from tho object for which they had orig
inally been bought by the Board Of School
Commissioners; but, seeing little or no
disposition on the part Of the Board to
establish High School, and the lots be.
ing put in the market, lie concluded to
become the purchaser
In 1870 the Lindsey Institute Board
proposed to donate the use Of the Insti.
tute building to the Board OF Education
for the purpose Of a Public High School.
The Board Of Education by unanimous
vote decided to accept the offer; but re.
markablea as it may appear, declined, by o
tie vote, TO adopt the measures necessary
for carrying the school into operation.
A year later (lS7l) the subject was
again brought forward. The Lindsey
Board again proposed to give the use OF
the Institute building for the purpose;
the subject was under consideration for
several months, but was finally dropped
without any definite action.
Now, the matter Is again upon the
tapis, in the form Of resolution, pend.
ing in the Board Of Education, looking to
the establishment OF High School on
the lst OF January, 1877. win the re.
solution prevail? 1t is greatly to be
hoped that il may, and that the day is
not fur distant when WhCeling's reproach
il standing alone among the cities Of the,
country without this GROWING feature
in her school system, may be forever
wiped out
The general arguments in favor Of tho
Public High School were probably never
more iorcibly advanced than by State
School Commissioner Barney, Of Ohio,
several years ago. His positions are alb.
sOutely unanswerable. And it is scarce.
ly conceivable that any true friend OF
free schools, and Of the general diffusion
Of knowledge, whatever may have been
his preconceivcd views upon this ques.
ton, will, after careful reading OF ex.
Commissioner Barney's arguments, fail
to be High School advocate. After
discussing the subject in general way at
some length, Commissioner Barney sum.
marizcs his "reasons, arguments and
axioms" under fifteen heads as follows;
l.. 1.-THE High School or High School department,
as component pTt u u Common school system, Il
soh more 10 the schools u LOArer Crude ihda ooits
Independent " he GdpaHsageI TeeStTsd by us as'adi
psplLS.
most desirable prOmOIiUn, operating as powerful
md abiding stimulus ~ exertlon upon I'LL the
pupils In the lower schools, being regarded by
them rs the sure reward u Icrseyertns cxcrtion
D "ItArOuses the dull, stimulates the indolent
aud encourages the suultous, hy holding ont to
them the strongest Of Rll honorabl 10 NEGATIVE! 70
diligence In study, and upt&htneeS In conduct inc
assurance that II they ctieCiu1lly and faithfully
Improve tho advantages offered In tho lower, they
shill have the privilege Of gfautOs instruction In
the higher departments Of learning.
1. ''It reacts most happily upon tho younger
schools by constantly p,Cscntln: to them an OK
ample FOE imitation, and an object Of hope aud
honorable ambition.
s. III strengthens, energies aud ndOrnS the
whole common school system, induces greater de-
grei Of thUrOughness, better attendance, aud more
exemplary department In the schools below.
q at opens 10 tho poorest chlId M avenue by
which no may no admitted to the realms oil knowl.
edge, not Us \ charity but as right impEtinS free
education Of u high order 10 hundreds 81 youths
whose Pccuniary means would 20 wholly inAue-
QuaIe to secure Il 10 private schools.
T. "By bringing together in the same school,
Children irOm families Of tho most diverse ctrcun-
stances a. 10 wealth, professions aud occupations II
exsIls most happy sJclal lniluencc, enabling tbs
child Of poverty to Scl tue genial iInlcncs o. our
iulncss honor and happiness Is alike open to the
mehtOTiOus from every class and teaching The child
OF afuenCo 10 take his proper place upon the plat
form Of American society, aud 10 depend for honor
able distinction upon the proper cultivation amt
exercise Of hose faculties and powers which he
possesses Ia common With humber, but equally
talented, school companions,
8. ut eularSes the influence, extends tho adj
vautaees and ni,cs In public estimation the char
ACTOR Of the school Sy'tm, giving thorough
ness and expansion to tho whole c1urAe Of instruc.
ton, callS * the people to take warmer aud
detter interest Ia It's prosperity.
o at hel "a 10 raise up among Us u body Of well
educated teachers, aud t0cxclI0umOns them asalul-
tary emulation, by exhibiting In Immediate com:
pIfson lhsr aptitude, teal and skill, as evidenced
10 the preparation Of lh0 Candidates they furnish
iOr tho High School.
TO- at takes the children Of all, whatever thOlr
Fank, occupation or circumstances may 10, add
send: them out into lie endowed with such emil
neat advantages Of education, and Inspired with
Sch principles to guide them In tholr future cOurse,
that they will b blessings 10 their day and genera
hon, adornnE their various pursuits with intClll-
ruucc, enrlchnE society with their discoveries ele-
waiting and q ,allElug the rank and respect billy
Of their widely different occupations, making Ill
duitry honorable, and securing TO labor lis proper
dignity. ,,u,,
thrlatcnt talent Of the youth Of tho state 1t Will
gather up from the hlmblest walks Of lie, even
from the abode, Of OBJ curity and want many
gem Of pheele value, polish IT. and thus 81 !; on