The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1889-06-10

Its Position and Relation to the schools
Of the State.
Missing Factors In Our Educational
System.
The West Virginia University is
where the pure mountain
air and crystal water invigorates the
body and tones the brain; where the
picturesque country enchants the
observer and offers q close commun
ion with nature. The opportunities
for mental drill are paramount-a
course Of instruction as thorough
and practical dis that Of any average
college in the country most learned
and experienced instructors, the
means of illustrating the various
branches in the laboratory and mu-
scum; d well selected library incen-
.tiyes to literary excellence, and the
vigorously practical instruction Of
fered in two Or three technical de
partments. The lesidents*are hos7
pitable and the moral influences are
healthful The location offers very
few allurements to. vice and lavish
expenditures. Few colleges in Amer
lea afford equal advantages for the
money. II
Now, after twenty two years ofex-
istence with these graduallyincr
ing advantages, one can glance over
the present condition of the State
and see the fruits of our State uni
sgersity But the good results are
more indirect than direct.
When We consider that there is
and has been but one other small
college inside the boundaries of
West Virginia, and find that the av
erage annual Attendance of our Uni
versity Since it's beginning has been
only 143 students, while some other
States have thousands of students
attending their dozens of colleges,
We do not feel very highly gratified
And still less proud are we when we
compare with this yearly.attendance
of143 students an average annual
addition to the alumni Of but. six
members. Only 4 1-6% Of the stu
dents who have attended the Uni
versity have completed theacademic
course and taken a baccalaureate
degree! l.ss.t 1875 49, "Lf
Why has our University been thus
doing more the work Of an academy
or high school, after being designed
and made to offer exceptional ad
Avantages for a collegiate education?
Because very few young men in
West Virginia have had opportuni
ties at home. to preparet themselves
to enter the Freshmen year. 1t is
to be deplored that only a few of our
larger towns have had schools thor
ough enough to fit young men for
college. - J. .-.:.
All systems have . central, inter
mediate and primary parts. The
solar system has sun, planets and
satellites. A metropolitan system a
central city, neighboring towns, and
q surrounding country. '...l
! ! Likewise in the educational sys-
tenn Of our State, to effect good re-
suits there must be, in .addition to
the first institution and the primary
schools, intermediate preparatory
high schools. Nature is gradual in
her transformations, Art must go
through intermediate processes. to
make finished product, -.
The ore is melted, the iron refined,
the steel manufactured, then the
implement is perfected. Watch
springs cannot be moulded from the
iron as it runs from the furnace. nor
can college do it's work on raw ma
teriIaE = "
81 NJ When opr University becomes the
uItimatum Of a graduated system of
Instruction, then and not till then
will She perform her true function
and BE devoted exclusively teksthe
higher education. She is destined
to become the fountain bead ofleaTp-
ing In the Mountain StateI She has
her support from the stateland can
offer superior advantages at the
public expense unlike the 10 differ
ent colleges in one other state most
Iof which at the sacrifice Of quality
must throw out all manner of in
ducements to- sustain an existence.
Our University is gradually as
Stunning her proper place in an edu-
cational system for West Virginia.
The undercurrent of her indirect in
fucnce has been silently moving
along and is now appearing at the
surface and sweeping away the OBJ
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