Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-02-13

seat having been restored to Charlestown,
Prof. Joseph McNurrau applied to Mr.. Pc
ter Brooks, the owner. of the property, for
the use of the buildings for the purpose of
opening therein an English and Scientific
school. Permission was readily granted,
and the property leased to a board of trustees
at nominal rent, for term of years, and re-
rewable as long as used for the purpose
specified in the lease.
The school was named shepherd Col
Iege," in honor of the late Rem d. Shep-
herd, who owned the property, and had
erected the main building. The school wEs
opened September 2, 1872, by Prof. Joseph
McMurran, with two assistants and II pupils.
The principal and trustees feeling the great
want of school that would give more atten
ton to instruction in the English branches,
and the practical branches of scientific
course, determined to make this an interme>
diate school, between the graded and high
school, and the more advanced collegiate and
scientific schools, and to open it to both
sexes. They saw too, that the State needed
just such school to cooperate with the 9th
or schools of the State, in developing her
material interests and improving her system
Of public instruction and in order to become
more fully identified with the State system
Of instruction, application was made to the
Legislature to establish in said College
Normal School. An act was passed by the
Legislature February 9th, 1872, and ap-
proved. establishing in Shepherd College
branch of the State Normal School, but the
act was not put in operation until November
21st, 1872, when the State Board of Regents
formally organized the school. Tho next
Legislature, however. by act passed Feb
ruary Nth, 1873, amended the former act
placing the school under different Board of
Regents, but before this act went into operas
tion it wns repealed by an act in the
"Amendod School Law" passed April 18th,
1878, and the school again placed under the
State Board of Regents. Owing to these
several changes in the legislation on the sub
ject, the school did NOT get fully under way
as a Normal School until September 9th,
1878.
TIE WORK 1T has DONE.
The first year, 1871. it had 1I5 pupils
in attendance; rs ladies and G1 gentlemen.
There were graduated this year in the normal
course 12 ladies aud Q gentlemen of this
number are either now OF havc been teach
iDg though many of them were pay scholars,
and did not enter with the intention Of be-
coming teachers The second year, 1SII-I5,
there were lG0 pupils in attendance, 1S ladies
and 81 gentlemen. There were graduated
this year, in the normal course, II ladies'
and IL gentlemen of this number 6 are
now teaching, and more would be il they
could obtain situations. Many Of these were
pay scholars, and did not enter with view
of fitting themselves for teachers, but were
induced TO engage in teaching by the train
ing they had received, aud familiarity with
the work.
The third year, 1S75-7G, there were in
attcnishce 1856 pupils, 60 ladies and T6 gem
tlcmen There were graduated this year, in
the normal course, ii ladies and lG gentle
men of this number 3 arc now teaching,
and others failing to obtain situations have
returned to school to fit themselves for high
cr positions in the profession of teaching.
Wherever l have met, in my official visits,
teachers from this school, have found the
school in good order and prosperous, and the
patrons and pupils anxious to retain their
teacher.
I have attended the examination Of the
pupils, and can speak knowingly of the
thorough work the school is doing in prcpsr>
ing teachers for our public schools. It ia
infusing new life into our schools. and is of
great help to our school work. It has shown
that there is such thing professional
training" for the teachers work, and that
they sre under better teachers by such train
ing, which, added to experience in the school
room, gives teachers n great advantage over
those who have to depend entirely on ezpe-
rience for their training
This school is progressive in its manner
of mrnrtiug instruction. The old methods
of coufiung the recitation to the questions
aud answers in the tcxt book is abandoned,
and tho pupils are trained to frame their
own questions and answers.
10 the year 1S72-73 in which the school
was opened under many discouragements aud
difficulties, the income from tuition
S6G6 rs, and it received from the State
81 coo.
The most of this fund was used in fitting
up the building, aud heating the rooms, &c,
for the anticpa' ed increase of pupils.
In the year 1S73-74, the rates Of tuition
were 80. SI5 and 500. and the income this
year from tuition was S1,l54 so; and re-
ceived from the State nothing.
In the year 1S7I-75, the rates of tuition
were fixed by the Regents at $50, e25 and
S32. and the income from tuition was 81
667 .6l, and received from the State 81 500.
In the year 1876, the income from tut
tion was 81 ,925 G5, and received from the
State 81, 600.
There have been employed in the school
since September 1873, each year, four teach
era, three male and one female, at an average
salary of $500. The salaries were fxed by
the Board of Regents, but the amounts
promised have only been fully paid for one
or two years, the teachers running .lI risks,
and receiving only suoh salaries the in
come of the school will pay.
The present session. IS76-77, has opened
with about go pupils, and the number,
have no doubt, will reach 100 or more by
Al
ment of Prof McMurran and his able assist
ants the school ia so well organized and