Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-19
TALKING IT OVER.
TIE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION REVIEWED. BY
NRMBERS OF TIE BOARD
Many Of the Members Heartily in Favor Of It
The Various Arguments PrsSsnted-POst-
ponsd for a Month.

the proposed High School were quite
interesting. A brief synopsis OF the re-
marks, which lack Of space yesterday
precluded from print, are herewith
given.
In the course of discussion Mr.. Bloch
remarked, in answer to the ultimatlon
that the Committee on Teachers and
hSchools were too haSty, that resolu-
ton was referred 10 the Committee last
February. The matter being very
serious one, the committee has taken all
this time to look into the question.
Mr.. Bloch then read the statement pre-
pared by the Superintendent, and pre-
viouSly published in the REGISTER
showing saving to the city by the
High School system of So, 600. There
isn't city one-half the size of Wheel
ing that hasn't a central grammar
school, or a High School as 1t is other
wise called.
Mr.. Jefferson. however, insisted upon
more light on the question before ne
could intelligently vote on the question,
whereupon Dr. Dickey took the hoor
and said he agreed with Mr.. Jefferson
in the matter Of making haste
slowly. That is just what the
committee has been doing. MY
friend and colleague Of the Third ward,
l believe, is agitating the building OF a
new school house in that ward, while
down in the Eighth ward, it is only a
short time ago that we completed a
new building. l think we have been
spending money literally, and we
haven't filed the bill yet. venture to
say that within a year there will be an
other movement on foot for new gram
mar school. Now, why not put the
money into a central High School.
Steubenville has high school and run
ming successfully. The next school
building that should be put up in this
city is high school.
Mr.. Eberling stated that at present
there was badly needed a new school
building in the Sixth ward; that the dis
trict was overcrowded. He was not
prepared to vote for High School until
the little ones were provided for first.
Mr.. Miller said he did not believe a
suitable lot could be purchased for less
than SO, 600, building put up for less
than S45, 900, and equipments at $4,000.
Now here is SIS, 600. Take that much
money out of the peoples pockets, and
il is worth 6 per cent. interest. That Is
s., 500, and then the cost of running the
institution will be about 81, 500 q year,
making $4,000, which at the rate of $40
a month would pay the salaries of Is
teachers. Mr.. Miller doubted if
a principal of high school
could be secured for less than 81, 500 in
stead of 81, 200, as Mr.. Bloch stated.
And If there are 800 pupils at the
rate of forty To a teacher, 1t will take
seven or eight assistants TO run the
school. And, again, among these seven
grammar schools as they now exist,
there is certain emulation and incen-
tive TO rivalry and excellence in studies
which will be entirely lost in the con-
centratiOn of the pupils in a High
School.
Mr.. Bloch said he believed Mr.. Mil
ler's figures were somewhat Qexagger-
ated, but at all events be thought the
statement OF expense came in bad grace
from member who had just expended
S25, 600 in building an annex on to an
old rattle-t trap of building, making the
whole building now stand at about $780,
0GO. But suppose the high school does
cost SIS, 600, even place it at 100000,
the city will then save money. Park
ersburg put up high school building
for SEQ, and there is not a better
pleased people in any city. We will
save in ten years twice what 1t cost US
to build high school.
Mr.. Acker said he was going to vote
for high school no matter what 1t
cost.
Mr.. Jefferson said he was not opposed
to the idea of a high school, but wanted
more light on the question.
DR.. Ulrich was in favor Of high
school, and intended to vote for it when
ever 10 came up. He thought instead or
forcing il upon the people it was better
to present all the arguments possible
first. We cannot teach the scholars at
present with one third the advantage
we can when they are concentrated in d
high school.
Mr.. Cowden said that even the much
smaller city Of Parkersburg has a high
school with a curriculum far ahead OF
anything proposed in our new High
School, almost preparatory to college,
and it seemed humiliatings that we
couldn't even support a central school.
DIR. Pipes said he thought both sides
had been exaggerated somewhat. The
fact that high school will relieve the
present crowded condition of our
schools is all moonShine. 1t won't re-
lieve the plethoric condition Of
our schools at all. You
wont take over so scholars out OF the
different wards. There are two many
drop out of school before they get
there. My idea of high school is to run
it economically as possible, and to begin
with have a lady principal Of the High
School at salary of from S70O TO $500.
He believed that ladies' as rule were
more careful and painStaking.
President JepSon said he was ready
TO vote for high school right now,
and to have it located below the Creek
as the centre of population is drifting
southwark He was opposed TO having
a library and Board of Education
rooms connected with the High School
building. The schools here at present
are decidedly in the van guard. A
scholar, with the training received here,
could not enter the refreshment class
OF a college of any standing. l do not
know Of a more abominable, mixed-up
system of public education than we have
right here.
DIR. Campbell said he was one OF the
new members of the Board. But he
was heartily in favor of high school.
He didn't think il would take him
eight years to make up his mind. He
said he was prepared to vote that night,
and believed it was the accepted time
10 take definite action.
Sunday Excursions.