The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-07
E WHEELING DAILY NTELIeENuER FRIDAY MORNING. DE0NBNR g
TIC Ilirh nrhnnl H,nirllt.

f1p1UufBh ktentng Ltadw Of bth'
AT The quarterly meeting Of the cham.
Der Of commerce Yesterday afternoon hr.
John F. bravo delivered an eloquent ad-
dress on the question, SHOULD the High
School DO RboliShedP he taking The
ground thatlt should. During the deliy'
cry Of The address Captain bravo was
frequently interrupted by vigorous ap.
plause, which completely drowned his
voice. He commenced by saying the
chamber had never undertaken the dis.
cushion Of better subject than that Of
the High School. II was one In which
the people took u lively interest. The
more the High School was discussed, the
more would its demerits be apparent.
The attempt on the part Of the friende Of
the High School TO create the impression
that i5 opponents are opposed 70 the free
school system, only indicates how hard
lhese special advocates are pressed for
material to defend their system Of special
tayoriLism, which ContrAvenes the whole
spirit Of our school system, As we'll
charge the careful nurseryman with =
puspoSe Of destroying the fruit.bearing
tree when he cuts off some cumbersome
branch, that the tree may bear better
fruit. We only oppose that which tends
to impair the general usefulness Of our
public schhols-that which tends to break
them down In public favor and support
We want no patent attachments; no High
School air breaks TO check their growth
- RaIayI Nkaf. haha GnanN ,ysatla IN aUae .
home in this broad land.
Facts and figures show that the high is
maintained 10 the detriment Of the COM
mon school. In looking at these facts
aud figures we are bound TO inquire II
the poor taxpayers must pay assessment
after assessment 10 save their humble
homes from enforced sale that priVil-
eyed and preferred class may be educated
in the classics and higher mathematics 2
Do We not endaDger the whole system Of
education by these extravSgant append
ages? The people will not stand t. Ac-
cording to tie report for 1876 We find the
High School hR one teacher for every
iwenty.three scholars, whereas the COM
mon school only has one teacher for
every forty-tW0 scholars. We STOP 10
inquire, How 10 this? Does not all
Experience 60 to prove that the less.ad.
vanced pupils demand The most at
tention ? Again, the same report
shows that the average cost Of In
struction is one.hRli less in the COM
mon than in the high. We therefore
propose the following problem in High.
school equations, viz: Why should a
teacher having only twenty.three pupils
receive more salary than a teacher occu-
pying the same hours and teaching forty.
two pupil? The report shows only 400
out OF 17,ll3 children are permitted the
advantages Of this Eigh select school.
This startling eSclusiveness, this prear-
ranged preferment ought TO so stir the
public that with one voice they would de-
mand its instant disarmament. When
routed from their entertainments the ad.
vocates Of the High School cry "reiorm."
But II cannot be reformed; il Is foreign
and alien to an otherwise faultless system
However, we do not want reform in even
our common schools. We should not 20
into great Indebtedness TO build grand
school temples; We should reform the ex-
travagant cost Of text. books; abolish the
central board and reform the above
abuses.
Comments Of the Leader on the SbOTe.)
Mr.. Dravo's attack on the High School
in the Chamber Of Commerce yesterday
aroused much opposition, but the gentle
man has made himself a champion Of q
good and winning cause. The High
School, as even its defenders admit, is a
"luxury" and an Ornament" Growing
the common school edifce as a fancy
mausard roof crowns" building. Well,
admit the metaphor. A man Of honor in
debt as deeply as Pittsburgh il would
dispense with "luxuries" and do without
Ornament" and be content with roof
TO his house sound enough 10 keep out
the rain. Let the city keep It's useful and
necessary common schools for the chill.
dren Of all its people. And to do this
with honor and without ultimate repu,
diatiOn, let her retrench the costly orna.
mental institution where a higher educa.
ton is given 10 few out OF the taxes Of
the many.