The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-17

~ ~ 4ASE ouuSMi Vouu OLuRRI Onaflei
Armstrong, q. G. White, Samuel Sawyers
John II. Robinson and others. Nor
anon, nm OCCASIONAL, :
P. s.-The oil well is progressing rap
ptdly. The operators are very sangutne O
success Crowning their efforts.
The Legislature and the school Laws.
Editors IntelltEeneer.
Asour Legislature Is now in session, ant
in these days there seems to be a mania
for much legislation, I think IT is the duty
Of the people Of the State generally to lei
our Legislators know their feelings and
opinions on the subjects that are likely to
come before them. As far as I have heard
an expression, and have been permitted
to hear it from different parts Of the State
there is deep feeling existing that there
should be but little legislation during the
present session. I wish particularly "a
speak in this communication Of the school
law. Many educators, and distinguished
ones too, think We have one Of the best
school laws Of any State in the Union.
Now, | do not go so far, as that, ,,but | do
think theOld school law was a very good
one, and the present one might be made
SO with very little change. Afew amend.
mems are all that we need to make ou-
law compare very favorably with that Of
any other State. D.aH ~.lt
Now II our legislators can only be made
to see this? There seems to be q disposi-
ton on the part Of the House Of Delegates
at least, to tear everything TO pieces. ia
undo, as it were, ali that has been we'll
done in the past, and to do much more
that should far better be left undone. We
hope we are mistaken, but We Judge from
the character Of the bills introduced
Some OF them are so trivial that we could
scarce conceive Of man protesting to be
legislator introducing them, while 9th.
ers, II they pass, will strike at the yery
vltals OF our free school system OF educa.
tion. Wehave as O State made yery ran.
i'd advancement in education since the in.
PRODUCTION OF free schools, in spite of ali
the opposition encountered, and now we
contend 1t should he the chief end and aim
OF our lawmakers to make them more eff.
cient But illthe legislation proposed
do 80? -
!. viii the State tax OF 20 cents on the
SlOO give satisfaction all over the State
We fear that twill seem 80 preposterous
that It will cause an actual opposition in
many parts of the State that are now
friendly TO 1t, /. e, the whole system ol
free schools. DECENTRALIZATION. \
2. Would It be the part OF wisdom to
abolish the Office OF County Superinten.
dent of Schools? We know that all who
have any experiences in the matter OF free
school education will say no. Il is the
very right arm oil the system. Far better
make the County Superintendency more
effective by paying that officer a living
salary, and have him devote his entire
time TO the work. There would be true
economy in this. But many Of our Legis,
lators do not see II thus, and perhaps
never will. The County Superintendent
should be none other than practical
teacher, whose heart Is in the work, and
then his salary should be made 10 cor
respond to the'work performed. ' '167,
8. The text book question it seems isalso
to be agltated, andif thebill recommended
BY the committee should pass, we will
have the whole subject OF text books
thrown open for the different publishing
houses ofthe country 10. compete for the
ascendeney. Now this might seem Clesir.
able, II our text books were unfit foruse In
our schools, or. were much higher priced
than others. But the contrary "a true,
Our text books are among the very best
published, and are the chedpea published
Then where the propriety Of having the
matter left to committees OF districts when
State uniformity Is so desirable. Ohio
Pennsylvania, Maryland and virginia
on oil sides Of US, have either county b
district adoption Of books, and IL there i
anything to be gained from the compcti
ton In these States we have the ADVANTAGE
Of It and still retain our State uniformity
OF books. No one is foolish enough K
suppose that tho houses that furnish oul
books charge US more than they charge IN,
States mentioned. Some propose tha
each district or county SHOULD lbuyS Il,
own text books and, dolIper them 70 M
pupils at cost. This may seem pladsibl,
at first sight, but II would be attended witl
almost insurmountable tlfiiculti6a. Thesl
difficulties have been so foTci6ly showr, b,
others that deem II Unnecessary to repea
them. '''7i' ? ,'s''''5;,' i1F' . isF'f'
I would oppose State publishing house
for many reasons, even Il HE State had tht
power to do 50 under the Constitution
(Which we do not think It has). Wht
would furnish the money to establish Il
Who would carry II ont And In short
who would undertake such q business ever
tho money was turnished2 We anpre
henu such a house would soon 20 mt
bankruptcy, But, 10 sum up in fey
words, we think II our Legislators wonlt
calmly reflect, they will let the subject Q
text books and also the other matters re
terred % rest Just where they arc, and Cd,
ploy their time and talents IN 4 dIrectiol
that vii make our laws more effective
FhaE sRould remember this one. fact nm
history is being made very fast at rSrescnl
and that man who wishes his name 4
pass down 10 posterlty az q pubifc bent
iaetor VIII be careful 70 do nought TO Ii
lsfe tae eaHsp o. Popular education, q
me veal or woe Of our young and CROWN
state depends on this great lever ~ reform
May We see our schoola still continue /
pFasper s the desire Of ',' l''ut'-' i1
FRlESh or EnvcArIoS.
,WAAyHyBR tends 10 diminish strenul
should be removed from the ssslst,.
F9s Nose y, w,eak!eplul diseases Of bahyhot