The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1889-06-11
Isit Polieys

the comm0nest school offices. 1T is
no uncommon thing to make dis
ordinations upon purely political
grounds, in the selection of teachers
for common schools, in the appoint
ment Of trustees By Boards of Educa-
ton, in the election Of school boards
and county superintendents. Were
politics, as defined by the great ma
jority, anything higher than blind
adherence to sectionalism or to the
principles for which ''fsiher fought"
and voted, some respect might be
given to slight determinations in
these departments Of service, but
politics as known to the great num-
Der Of the people, is a farce, a, name
without an existing principle. OBJ
servation has taught us that little
improvement has been made in ele-
waiting the standard of education in
our common schools within the past
decade. Many improvements have
been made, but, we speak from per-
sonal experience when We affirm that
in many counties the standard ID
lower than 5years ago, and the class
of teachers decidedly inferior. There
is a constant and indeed a jast CONS
plant among the teachers Of the
State that wages do net justify any
special effort on the part of the teach |
er. ] say these complaints are just.
and must be heard, but cannot be
under the present system of govern
ment in our common schools. The
taxpayers as rule are ready to conf
tribute of their hard earned funds
toward any enterprise that proves
itself a0orthy of patronage. I do not
say all tax payers, but The great ma
jority. With education at its presE
ent low standard the salaries paid
educational men, teachers, &c, are
commensurate Win the feaairements
of the situation. This is . just but
not healthful state Of affairs, since
much improvement can be made,and
must be made if w. Va. holds. her
station among the progressive States
of the West, the literary East and
the rapidly developing South. WI.
Va. has choice talent. Examine the
records Of W.Va. stnde Tents in every
college il the u. S. where our State
is represented and fattering reports
are always found. The W.Va.U. can
be improved in the number and char
acter of her students just in proper
tion as the fountain head of the
school-system is improved, the com
mon schools. Blind is the theory
that the W.W.U. must claim the att
tention of our legislatures to the neg!
lect of the common schools, acade-
mics and normal schools, which are
the sources whence must be drawn
our supply. The idea that politics
must4enter intoa campaign for the
election of school officers as it has
and does do even down to the apF
pointment of common school teach
ers, is a fatal stroke at the public
school system and subjects il to
harsh and too often deserved critiS
cisms by it's opponents. tits wise
provision that county superinten1
dents are elected at a time when the
heat Of political campaigns is latent.
But it has been custom for many
years in many counties of W. Va. to
elect man for superintendent who
is in sympathy with the predomi.
nant political sentiment of that
county, and any man elected, or who
will permit his election on this basis
is decidedly incapable Of admins
tefing the duties of the office free
from political bias. The result is,
the political teacher, the teacher who
is popular with political rings and
demagogues, and not unfrequently,
indeed, he is not a teacher and never
was good one, is elected, regardless
Of his educational ability, his official
merits, or the good of the schools,
and in nine cases ont Of ten be il
eminently inferior to half le mum.
Der one teachers in theeoLaty. The
board of examiners is chosen from
among political brethren: the super.
intendent must recommend him o.
he Is denounced as disloyaL Polit-
ical favoritism is the primary object
and the improvement Of the school.
secondary one. The most prom