Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-16
THE UNIVERSITY.
interesting interview With Prssl-
dent Turner.
He Reports the Institution in Flourishing
Conditional Higher School System
Needed in This State.

z
A REGISTER reporter met Hon. +, N.
President Of the State University,
IN the rotunda of the Mcclure House last
evening, and after shaking hands, the
nswsgather er asked:
How are things going on at the UNI
versityY'
every much better than had any resson
10 anticipate. The recent troubles at the
University and the financial condition OF
the country forbade any reasonable expee-
ts,ion of an increase in the attendance tor
this year, and / should have been satisfied
If the attendance had kept up 20 that OF
last year. But am glad to say that We
have a larger number of students presert
than at any similar time in the session for
several years past, and more thar were IN
attendance during the whole OF last year;
the total enrolment last year was lO7, and
we have low in actual attendance lVS
students. They represent al sections Of
the State, and nearly thirty counties
Have any changes been made IN the
government and regulstlonsY
Yes, students are required to attend
prayers in the morning and religious wor-
ship on Sabbath. They are not allowed to
room at hotels, as has been the case for
several years past. / propose 20 have as
little government as possible, believing 1t
10 be better TO allow the young men to
govern themselves as far as they wish to do
But We intend to have enoogh government
10 insure good order and proper attention
to study and reputable conduct. HO"
much government those objects WI! re-
ouire. will depend on the students them
selves, I think it is better to develop their
manliness and self control in this way,
and only resort TO rules and regulations ss
8 correction and prevention. One thing
will be insisted CD, however, end that ID
that the young men must conduct them
selves as reputable members OF the com
munity, and attend to their college duties
Idlers and those inclined to disorder and
dissipation will not be tolerated
What is the most pressing need OF the
/ University, to insure its future successY
The CRYING need Of this State, in an ed
ucationsl sense, ia a system OF higher
schools. We have q well organized prims-
~ system and q well equipped university
or college. Bat We lack the connecting
link between tie two. The result Is that
Young men DESTROYS ola college education
must lesye home and incur a large expense
to obtain even the preparatory training re-
ouisite for admission 10 the regular class
es. To q large majority Of our young men
this is o serious obstacle, as they have lin
tied means aud cannot meet the expense
Of two years for preparatory studies IN sd-
dition to the four years eourte IN tina COZ
!ege studies. IftEey wish to complete the
course they must interrupt their studies
and 20 out to teach, or in some other way
earn enough to carry them through. This
is one of Iae reasons why 80 few OF the
University students graduate. They have
not the e TO complete the course.
IL ia slso q serious obstacle In the
way CT making thorough scholars Of
them. | was astoDished to learn a few
months ago, that Of tho 800 or 900 students
who have attended the University lass than
twenty of them, oil told, we're prepared,
upon admission. 20. enter the lowest college
class in oil departments. All have been
obliged TO so into the preparatory depart
meus in some stGdy. Our work OF the
University tegiDs, therefore, where that OF
the primary school ends, and this is a treat
drawback 10 US. 1t explains, also, the
necessity for maintaining q preparatory
school at M~orgautowr. Without it we
would have scarcely any students in the
college classes. We have no wish to con-
tiuue this schools longer than il is necessary
10 the success of the University, but we
Cannot abolish it until we have something
else to take It's place"
HAS anything been done toward meet
ing this ~dihiculry?'
Yes; q step in this direction has been
made. The Regents Of the University and
of the Normal School have arranged fol
establishing in each Of tbs branch Normal
Schools an academic department having a
course of study similar TO that OF the pre-
psratory school at Morgantown. Stu.
dents completing that course and
passing q satisfactory examination upon il
will be admitted to the University clssse:
without further examination. This ar
rsngemens gives the youth OF the State a
least six preparatory schools, where they car
get their preparatory training without hav
ing to ceue to Morgantown for 1t. In
course of time oikeT schools Of similar
character may be established, and thus q
system of higher schools gradually devel
oDed throughout the State. These will be
Of wider usefulness Than mere prepare
tory schools, forthey will afford advantage:
of advanced training and knowledge tC
many bright young men and women who
have no mesCs to command them exeeptsI
home
What about the feeling between the
University and the Normal schools in the
PsstG' .,
ut Is hoped that this arrangement viii
do away with tGe hos llity and Jealousy
heretofore existing to a greater or less ex
tent bet Reen the Normal schools and the
I University. l never could see any good
reason for this s~ntsgouism. They occupy
different spheres ard perform different
functions. Each ba5 its legitimate work
and should conine itself to tbst york.
The whole educational system of the
State is an organism of which the primary
schools, graded SCHOOLS, Normal schools
and the University, are organs, each
having its proper function and intended to
work in harmony with the others, to the
end that the youth of the State may be
properly and competently trained for the
discharge Of their duties in life, both as
men and as citizens.
AT the University we propose to do our
part of the work as thoroughly as the cir
c~umstanees i hSvo 2Grrsted will permit
We propose TO develop and perfect our
methods from time to time and make the
University equal in It's teaching power to
any other institution in the country. We
expest also to maintain a high moral
standard, recognising thatit takes charde.
ter as well as intellect L. aaEe g man
In these endesyors We expect tbs Eesrty
cooperation of the press and the friends
of education throughout the State.
There are many other things which !
hone to accomplish in time, to enlarge the