The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-06-15
THE WEST VA. UNIVERSITY
After Twenty-Five Years of Ex-
istence.
Its Position and Relation to the Schools
Of the State.
Missing Factors in Our Educational
System.

Missing Factors in Our Educational
System.
The West Virginia University il
situated where the pure mountain
air and crystal water invigorates the
body and tones the brain; where the
picturesque country enchants the
observer and offers close commun-
ion with nature. The opportunities
for mental drill are paramount
course of instruction as thorough
and practical as 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; well selected library; incen-
tives to literary excellence, and the
vigorously practical instruction of
fered in two or three technical de-
partments. The residents are hos
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.
Now, after twenty two years of ex-
istence with these gradually ipcreas-
ing advantages, one can glance over
the present condition of the State
and see the fruits of our State Uni
versity. 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
of LAB students an average annual
addition to the alumni of but six
members. Only A 1-696 of the stu
dents who have attended the Uni
versity have completed the academic
course and taken baccalaureate
degree!
Why has our University been thus
doing more the work of an academy
or high school, after being designed
and made to offer exceptional adj
vantages for collegiate education?
Because very few young men in
West Virginia have had opportuni-
ties at home to prepare 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.
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
a surrounding country.
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 its work on raw ma
terial.
When our University becomes the
ultimatum of graduated system of
instruction, then and not till then
will she perform her true function
and be devoted exclusively to the
higher education. She is destined
to become the fountain head oflearn-
ing in the Mountain State She has
her support from the state and can
offer superior advantages at the
public expense unlike the 40 differ
ent colleges in one other state most
of 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
fuence has been silently moving
along and is now appearing at the
surface and sweeping away the. OBJ
staeles to her own advancement and
the states educational interests.
The alumni have gone out and be-
come the leading and influential cit
liens in various sections of the state,
and of course their influence for
their alma mater is felt wherever
they locate The State Superinten-
dent of free schools and the princi-
pals of all the normal schools but
two and of the public schools of Par
kersburg, Huntington and other i'm
portant towns are alumni. The in
fluence of the alumni and former
students in every occupation is
gradually being reflected from every
quarter of the state. More students
are in attendance now than even be-
fore and greater proportion are
from distant counties than during
the previous years. As the advanc-
ed classes are becoming fuller the
instructors and the apparatus are
kept frightened up and not allowed
to become rusty. Friends to our ed
vocational interests are becoming
more numerously represented in the
legislature in whom are entrusted
it's means of support.
Progress is being made in estab-
fishing a more desirable way to the
higher education in West Virginia.
But great field is open for i'm
provement. Progress has only be-
gun. Pres. Turner in the December
number of the W. Va. School Jour
nal urges the proper method. The
people in every county or at least
in every senatorial district must be