The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-22
PROF. w. n. PENDLETON'S LET
TER.
Our Free and Normal SchOOls-Cer-
tain UnfOunded Charges Refuted.
BETHANY, w. VA, Sept. a, '76.

BETHANY, w. VA, Sept. a, '76.
Editors Enterprise:
l have Just received yours of the Both
August, in which you inform me that
'you are in receipt of intelligence from
various sources, some seemingly trust
worthy, that 1 am emphatically opposed
TO Free Schools and Normal Schools OF
our State;" and to this rumor you ask me
TO reply. | do most cheerfully. Were
it not that it is calculated to deceive some
who are not familiar with my uniform
course with ref renee to these institutions,
| might Justly treat this absurd story as
simply ludicrous. After the many ways
in which / have publicly commended
and advocated our free echools, and the
earnestness with which | have labored,
with tongue and pen, to increase their
efficiency, both in our own and in other
States, il seems indeed strange that l
should find myself called upon to answer
to charge Of opposition to them.
In the Convention which framed our
present Constitution, l was member OF
the committee which reported the article
on education, and to which, as it WAS
finally adopted, l gave my cordial sup
port. A comparison of this article with
the corresponding one III the former Con-
stitut ion will discover that several i'm
portant changes were made by which
free schools are placed on a iirmer and
more efficient basis than before. First.
The State Superintendent was made
constitutional officer Of the Executive dc.
partment. Second. While before, prOvl-
sion for tree schools was left to the dis
erection OF the Legislature, this article re.
quires it to provide efficiently for them
Third. Also, several fruitful sources o
income were set apart sacredly for thel
support, SO as to put it, in good degree
out of the power of legislation to inter
fere with their perpetuity or efficiency.
In the honor OF this work l claim an
original and abiding share.
In 1872 | was invited 10 deliver an adj
dress before The Teachers Association
Mt Fairmont. The subject assigned to me
WAS, What the Educational Interests of
the State Demand Shall be Taught" &c.
In that address said: alt is source of
profound qualification 10 witness the sue
cess of our educational Efforts In West
Virginia. This is a revolution that cam
not 90 backwards. 1t creates lis own
momentum. 1t moves by power with.
in, which increases rs it moves, and which
strikes out the light and the heat OF Its
own vitality. Let us remember that
knowledge of only the elements OF
primary education adds % per cent. to
the value of n man, rs simple laborcr,
and see to it that none are allowed TO
grow up in Ignorance. To educate the
rising generation is the most practical
WAY to utilize our resources. The wealth
of our hills and valleys, and the number
of our population will be but barren
blessings, if we add not the intelligence
and the virtue which make the true glory
of State, Enterprise is born of noble
impulses in the heart, and conducted to
success by light and science in the intel
ligence of people, and educaclon alone
furnishes these" So | thought OF our
educational efforts then, and so with
ever deepening conviction, l think OF
them now.
liz 1873, was called by Gov. Jacob to
Gil vacancy IN the office OF State Super
intendent of Free Schools, occssloned by
the resignation OF the Hon. Z. ;. Lewis,
and in the report which then submitted,
any one honestly curious to know my
views of our system of Free and Normal
schools, can find them unequivocalIy set
forth. During nay service IN TINS once,
| was requested by the joint committee
of the State and House OF Delegates on
the revision of the School Law, to assist
them in that work; but with the eXcep-
ton of occasional conferences, L soon
found nearly the whole burthen OF the
labor lett to my hands; and therefore, to
our present school law, | may also refer
the honest inquirer for views OF the gen
eral plan and scope of our free schooi
work With the light OF experience and
more time for reflection upon the rela-
ton and adjustment OF the parts, think
it can be improved; but it has stood the
test of nearly four years, and the last
LEGISLATURE could not agree to alter it.
For my views with regard to Normal
schools specifically, may also refer to
nv report aforesaid, as State super
intendent. In 1t contend that they are
not only valuable for the teachers they
supply to their primary schools, but nee
cssary," ! argue, First, to give sufficient
and accessible education to V, who
10 not propose to go through n college
course or so acquire professional educa.
ton, but who yet desire to be some
what acquainted with the higher
branches of letters and mathematics.
Second. To prepare teachers for graded
and high schools These We hope Will
be rapidly multiplied; and whence can
we supply them with teachers, except
from our Normal schools or colleges?
Third. To supply suitable men for our
County Superintendent. These are an
important element in our system OF free
schools; and much of its efficiency de-
ponds upon supply of per ons thorough-
iv trained and accomplished in the art OF
teaching and handling schools. Fourth.
TO supply the intermediate traiRg between
the graded and high school, and the col
lege. This may be said to be the want
of the American system OF Tree
schools. 1t makes no provision TO I'LL
students over the chasm between the prl-
mary school and the college. We have
the basement and the upper story but
no stairway to connect them!
have long felt, and still deeply feel,
that there is great room for increase OF
efficiency in the practical working OF our
free schools We all agree, that what
costs so much money ought to be made
effective of much good. Years ago l at
tempted to call the attention of oar ed
ucators and Legislators to the two vital
defects in our present system. First.
The want OF qualified teachers. Second.
The absence of any adequate and gener-
ally accessible means of Supplying them
To meet the practical difficulties / sug
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