The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-24
wrsr yIR0t4IA UsIyEKsIrY.


An ola Teacher elves ome Reasons Why
Thc I%nStItuiIOn Is not q success.
Tohe Edior N he inelipHcI.
slR-Copcerning the West Virginia Uni
vefsity, it may not he improper, at this
time, 10 ark a lew questions, First Of all,
are wenow, or have We ever been, since
the establishment OF that institution, in a
position TO support a university? Where,
in this STATE, are students being prepared
for Il university. We may have one or two
schools, that are preparing young men for
college or university institution; but prac'
tirally We have not in the whole state q
sufficient number OF schools to prepare
the necessary number of students to attend
such All institution,
The University was organized before we
needed it. And We shall never need o
university until we shall have a larger
number OF high schools and academies.
Again, have We ever had q university in
this STATE? Has not the institution at MOI
pantown been merely q high school? Is 1t
not no. nov merely . high school? What
inst and proper claims has that institution
10 the name Of Il University? l state what
must frankly be admitted by all acquainted
with the facts when | say that the institu'
tion Mt Morgantown has not been even the
very best sort Of a high school. Spelling
ID not taught there; and correct spelling is
not required. 1t would be a very interest
ing investigation, II the entire body oil stu
dents could be examined in the very hum
Bile branch OF English orthography. The
truth is, students go to Morgantown with
out sufficient preparation, and very ire
ouently without q fair knowledge OF the
common English branches. And, without
The simplest rudiments OF a good English
education, they begin to study the
ancient and modern languages
and the sciences. Formerly this
trouble was Temedied by a Preparatory
Department, which offered this advantage,
and only this, the student was attending
'the University" He could not spell cor
rectly the common words Of his mother
tongue, he was sadly deficient in. reading
and arithmetic; but he waS attending the
University. Aud that compensated him
fully for the imperfect instruction and do
~fectiye drill Of the Preparatory Depart
ment, But the regents, after A%bolishing
spelling and President Thompson, contin-
ned the great abolition movement, and
abolished the Preparatory Department,
aud, il they persevere, will abolish learn
ing itself, 1t least at Morgantown.
Ii may be denied; (anything eau be de-
nied;) but it can be- shown, beyond a rea.
sonable doubt, that the instruction given
at Moryantown is, generally, lar from
thorough. Nor can it be otherwise. The
students enrolled, from year 10 year, are
not prepared for university, or even, college
instruction. They arc at least allowed, ii
not absolutely encouraged by the Faculty,
10 take up studies for which they have no
adequate preparation, and the result is, oil
course, miserable progress. There may
have been, indeed there must have been,
since the organization OF the institution,
some exceptions. Some students, no doubt,
baye been prepared for the course OF study;
and some few gifted minds may have tri.
implied over the dilliCul,ie met with on
account Of meager preparation; but with
the great majority OF students enrolled, the
result has been, unfortunately, very differ
ent.
Justice to the University and to It's fac
ulty, regents and students require this
much to be said and considered. The re-
gents have been expected TO organize q
University without Al available number OF
adequately prepared m~alriculates; the
faculty have been required to conduct a
University without a body OF students pre-
pared for Il college course and students
with IN imperfect preparation, and, in
many cases, with no preparation, have
t,n, nstaFVN nNtTfF m VTt1FEFNA uH o. II PpI 9tIlH.
les, without a knowledge Of tho rudiments
Of a common English education. What
could be expected under such circum-
stances but diRaSter and disgraceful failureP
Now, what il the remedy? 1t Is evident
that we must lay the foundations OF State
University in good high schools, academies
and seminaries IN every section OF the
State. Until We have these, until these
humber institutions are more numerous
are better conducted, better manned and
equipped, no amount OF wisdos95 learning,
ex Experience, talent and money expended
upon u State University will give any other
result than failure. When we can make
flour without wheat and iron without ore,
then we can have u University without
high schools, academies and seminaries 10
prepare students for university or college
courses OF study.
1t is a notion too commonly entertained
in West Virginia that all that is necessary
for the permanent organization OF an in
stitution Of learning is to erect q suitable
building, appoint a board OF control. and
secure some money, and then success Is
expected, as a matter OF course. The folly
OF this notion will, perhaps, some day be
manifest. II is the purpose OF this article
TO hasten the dawn Of thatday. The writer
Of these lines would be glad to see a good
State university in West Virginia. The
truth honestly told and received may
help us to such an institution,
AN OLD TEACHER.