The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-03


approved by the superintendent l know
OF no such action. The last change 10 the
school course was made In September, is6l,
when Botany and Astronomy were taken
out OF the course, and two small books,
('Lessons in English" and Common School
Literature'') added to 1t, and the whole rear
ranged with view to making II easier for
the pupil, every change being made by 9
special committee (Messrs. Collier, Caldwell
and myself. with the advice and co-opera.
ton ofsupt. Birch. This revised course was
unanimously adopted.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS or EXPENSE.
A table OF figures ls'next laid before the
public, the purpose OF which seems to beat
any rate such will manifest1y be the effect
to show the taxpayers OF this city that this
Board Is growing more extravagant every
year, and Il needlessly wasting tho peoples
money. Iquote; From 1858 to 1874 the av.
erage current EXPENSES were So, GS3. 20 per
annum; and from 1874 10 1882, $52,0Gi,ll,
making an average yearly increase OF ST..
3sl S." Without examining the records.
accept these figures OF my friend as correct.
But is 1t not strange that be makes no refer
ence to the rapid growth ofthe city In the past
ten years, nor calls any attention to the vast
increase in the enrolment OF pupils? Does
lie not know that his statement will mislead
the public and cause unjust reflections upon
this Board? The only proper manner OF IS.
pertaining the cost OF conducting our schools
one year Us compared with another, Ia to cal.
cuiaIe exactly the cost OF educating each pu.
pill. We have seen that prior to 1879 no &c.
urate enrolment OF pupils has been found
among the papers OF the Board. In 1872
there were enrolled 1850 pupils. The cur
rent expenses OF the schools for that year
were sSJ, 2SGS0, which gives them an ex.
penditure for each pupil OF $3.50 In 1881
the number Of pupils enrolled was 1878, TO-.
tai expenses 81 ,032.l7, cost for each pupil
sll.Sl. IN 1882 the number Of pupils enroll;
ed was 1 $50, total expenses $53,4IS.23, cost
OF each papil $ll IS. The public should
know, therefore, that this Board, instead OF
reckiessly increasing the cost OF education
year after year, as the figures OF DR.. Hildreth,
unexplained, would lead them to believe,
has, as compared with 1872, (the' FIRST year OF
which We have the correct enrollment) made
reduction In the cost OF educating each
pupil, in 1881 oil 40 cents or per cent, and
Id 1882 Of 05 cents or seven and two.thirds
per cent. The above figures give US saving
in 1871 OF So, rs SO, and in 1889 OF 81, GIT 80,
as compared with 1872, provided We base our
calculations OH an equal enrolment. This
seems to be rather In the line Of progress aud
relOtnr; and should be eminently satisfactory
TO every taxpayer.
Another misstatement Is made in the as.
sertion that this Board is granting diplomas
TO "boys and girls from IL 10 Is years Of age"
The impression produced by this statement
Will be that our graduates are unfit to re-
ceive this honor, because, being SO young,
they must necessarily have very limited
knowledge OF the hooks they have studied.
Now venture the assertion that within the
past two years not three pupils have gradu.
ated under the Doctors maximum age, 10
years. know of but one, and he was IN his
10Th year. Its the opinion OF Superintend.
ent Birch that the members OF the class OF
1882 averaged II years, while perhaps not
more than one member of 1t was under IL
yearsold. "
As 10 the scholarship OF the graduates, sui.
flee It to recall the fact that tho diploma Is
granted, bya rule OF this Board, after a rigid
examination by the Superintendent, and
each applicant must answer 10 per cent. OF
all questions asked. My esteemed colleague
could not himself, nor could |, secure dip.
Iona to-day with the same list Of scholarship
A nunber Of our own most successful teach.
ers are graduates OF our public schools, and |
happen 10 know that DR.. Hildreth himself,
with whom have had the honor to serve for
two years as Commissioner OF Clay District,
so highly appreciates our graduates that he
always prefers one OF them when new
teacher is TO be appointed, and has voted for
three OF them for tho three vacancies OCCUR
ring within the two years past In Clay school,
Why then lead the public to believe that our
schools are turning out as graduates ignor-
ant boys and girls from - 10 10 year old?''
/. CONSOLIDATION OF TIE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The second measure OF reform that we have
suggested TO us as the outcome of this ar
faignment OF the Board, Is tho consolidation
of the Grammar schools. To this idea the
Doctor can lay no claim 10 originality. It
has been under discussion privately for many
months, Capt Wilson, Mr.. Maxwell, Mr.
Todd aud some others having long ago been
favorable to the project. To their ideas
gave shape at the meeting Of the Board held
September plst, by present ting the following
resolution "ResOlytd, That the Committee
on Teachers and Schools be instructed to in.
quire into the expediency OF combining the
Grammar departments OF the public schools
In one or more buildings" Al the next reg.
ular meeting, October 25th the committee
reported that the proposed change was inex.
pedieat Although the Doctor did not then
sufficiently interest himself In the subject to
attend the meeting, at which the report Of
be glad II his parting shot shall be sufficient
ly effective to stir up an interest III this ques.
ton that may result In the consolidation OF
the Grammar schools l feel quite confident
that this very desirable end cannot, however,
he reached until tho capacity Of our build;
ings Is increased.
In this connection allow me to make few
choice extracts from the Doctors remarks
Our Grammar schools ''are graded up to q
course Of instruction equal TO our colleges"
"the purpose OF our free schools Is TO provide
instruction in the common branches OF En-.
glIsh education" 'iiurther additions being
constantly added to our Grammar course;h
elevated condition" OF curriculum; Floss OF
valuable time 10 pupil and useless eXpenai-
ture OF school money In teaching the higher
branches; patrons burdened with the cost OF
text books" "heavy tax upon q poor man."
"purport OF the lawNwas the establishment Of
common schoals,n
expect as the outcome OF this wholesale de.
nunciation Of our grammar school course2
Clearly that the obnoxious growth shall at
once DO Topped otffrom the school system OF
this CITY. Butwe are disappointed such
suggestion Is made. Not u single study Is
marked out for destruction. What sugges.
tions have we, then? "The remedy for these
troubles is not only very plain, but also very
economical. It is simple and easy, and con-
Sists in consolidating the grammar schools in
one building, according 10 law How does
this relieve TIL" poor mani from the purchase
Of books, or the weary brains OF "boys and
girls twelve to fifteen years o.d2' How
does this bring down the "pleYated curricp.
LUMP" How does this more nearly Gomport
with the law, the purpose OF which is 1.-THE es.
Al nj
Doctor really favor the lowering OF our stan.
dara Of Instruction. II so, why not 20
straight at the matter, and knock out OF ex.
istence the grammar SchoplsY But no, MIR.
President, Il he holds any such position as
this he Is a recent convert TO It.
The most violent opposition 10 The con.
solicitation OF our grammar schools Is based
upon belief that this move Is only paving
the way for the establishment OF genuine
High 9Ohool lido not myself entertain this
view, but the following resolution, copied
E-oy,, tho w Inn teg NJ this Roa ri 6atad AuUuSt