The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-20
Glre Qtttelliqetlrrr:
WHEELING. NOVEMBER 20, 1901.
AIlish School for Wheeling.

Itipn school LOT W nCclinS.
The Board oil Education has resolved
to establish high school, which is to
begin by taking the place OF the present
grammar schools. The cost is yet to be
determined. Mr.. Bloch thinks the site
and building can be provided for $4,000
or $4,000. Col. Miller thinks tho site
and building with equipment will cos,
$4,000.
Mr.. Bloch thinks there would be q
saving, as compared with the present
cost, OF $500 q year. Col. Miller in
cludcs interest on Investment; Mr..
Bloch does not. Add interest nj six per
cent on Mr.. Bloch's estimated invest.
ment, and the estimated saving disap-
pears.
The majority OF the board seem to
contemplate high school tina. shall
not go beyond consolidation OF the
grammar schools, to DO raised to no
higher level and conducted at no greater
cost than tho present estimate. Col.
Miller is convinced that the present
proposition is only an entering wedge,
that the high school course will be
elaborated and become much more ex-
pensive than his present estimate.
Here is a radical and wide difference
OF opinion. Within five years after the
establishment OF the high school Col.
Miller will be shown to have been u
prophet. The cost will far exceed the
) low estimate on which the board is pro-
ccedins The expenditure will grow
out OF proportion to the attendance,
and it will be borne chiefly by tax-pay-
ers who cannot afford to keep, or will
not keep, their children at school
through, the three years course ncces.
sary TO graduation.
Out OF +,2!5 pupils enrolled in the
public schools in the month OF Septem-
Der. IA were enrolled in the grammar
schools, less than one in ten. The nine
have gone TO work, or to pay schools
at all events they are not to be found
in the public schools OF Wheeling. The
high school will no. be supported for
the nine; it will exis: for the one.
About thirty-tive year graduate, hay.
ing remained long enough to get the
benefit OF the iull course-iour thous.
and entering at the bottom, thirty-tive
coming out at the top; more than nine
ont OF ten of the enrolled pupils drop,
ping out before they get 10 the grammar
school, more than nine out OF ten OF the
grammar school pupils dropping out be,
fore they graduate.
Ii the thirtv-tive graduates be sup.
posed 10 be, the children OF seventy
paren,s-all that can be made out OF II
and il each OF these parents be y
taxpayer, We have at the most 4 grand
total ofseventy taxpayers year in the
city OF Wheeling who, through their
children, avail themselves OF the iull
benefit OF the public school system
The other thousands are content with
very much less.
Certainly these other thousands are
not demanding high school. They
will not send their children 10 i. ii it
be established. So far as they are con,
cerned there is no need TO add 10 the
already liberal expenditure OF $4,000 .
year ior, the public school system Of
Wheeling.
Without high school we arc sup.
posed TO be providing Tor every child in
Wheeling an opportunity 10 &c. good
common English education. This we
ought 10 do. Those who wish more
should be allowed 10 find it outside OF
the public school system. If they can
afford TO keep their children at school
long enough 70 so through high school,
they can afford 10 send them to o pay
school.
The high school scheme can only
serve the convenience OF the lew; but
the many will have to pay iori,. It is
IN unwise, uncalled.ior and unfair pro.
ceeding. It may gid the dome OF the
public schoo! structure; i. can add nc
strength 10 the foundation.