The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-30
normal school. and reneher.' institute.

lg WEST LIBERTY, January 2S.
Editors IntellIGencer.
The public schools in some counties oil
West Virginia, are systematically con.
Quoted, aud through the efforts Of few
earnest persons are doing good work
yeta large portion OF tho State lacks ELI.
cient management.
Before the spirit Of Progression" can
enthuse the mass Of the people, 1t is neces.
sary for the friends Of popular" educa-
ton TO unite throughout the State in their
Efforts to bring about the desired results.
The recent legislature gave to the Bour-
bons such power that, in many localities,
they can qussh the schools. 1t is thus that
our Normal schools have been crippled.
The State secured the buildings and
property where these schools are located,
at greatly reduced price, promising to
support schools for the trdis!iMg Of teachers
for our public schools. The State has with
drawn ller support. Now, what DISPOSE
ton is TO be made OF the property? A
wrong use or disposition is acting In bad
faith to the communities in which the
property is located, as well as TO the Stale
at large. Not satisfied with inducing our
legislature to indirectly and directly Grip.
pie our Public and Normal schools, the
opposcrs to popular education then direct
ed their attention toward further Grip.
bling our Normal schools by diverting the
Peabody Fund from their support
The State Superintendent, In a circular
letter, under date Of December 20, 1870,
informs the public that he had Just inter.
viewed Dir. Sears, General Agent for the
Peabody Fund, who informed him that
while the policy OF that Board OF Trustees
| Ia TO encourage aud assist in the improve.
ment OF teachers In the public schools,
yet "they will appropriate nothing 10 as.
sist any academical education. not
even that furnished by our Normal
schools" He further says: "Dr. Sears
does not consider these schools as meet
Ing the requirements OF their policy, aud
will therefore contribute no aid to them. i
am instructed by him TO expend their ap-
preparations to West Virginia upon county
and district institutes, &c"
Now from whom did the Doctor receive
ths information on which to base his
opinion? Was It from the friend Of Nor.
nal schoolsP Certainly not. What mo.
live induced his infornier? Was it Teal.
ousy, or was 1t blind opposition? ! am
unwilling to express nh opinion. Did our
SUPERINTENDENT inform. DR.. Sears that,
as President OF the Board OF Regents,
which control these schools, he had up.
pointed competent persons to conduct
Them? and had also prescribed u course OF
training and instruction especially intsnd-
ed 10 prepare teachers for, our public
srhoolsP bid the Superintendent say TO
Or. Sears, II these schools do not meet the
requirements OF your policy, ], IS Presi-
dent OF tho Board that controls them, will
ace TO 1t that they shall meet the necessary
reouirements? Did he say these are the
kind OF schools that your Board ut its last
in New York, determined to be-
their purpose TO support? II the matter
was not presented in this manner, what
are the reasons for not doing SOP l.etthe
Superintendent Of Public Instruction an
Bwer.
Why, inquiries and observations In re-
gard to the Peabody Institutes, held pre-.
yious to this time, lead me to conclude that
the money was idly spent; because
First-lnstitutes ola few days each can
not give thorough or extensive practical
instruction.
Second Very few teachers attended
those institutes, and majority OF them
but parts OF some sessions during their
continuance. .fr. -.f
Third-The State has already provided
for ilVe'day institutes to be held In each
'' Fourth -1h.tituIeshaye become pppop.