Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-19
OUR STATE UNIVERSITY.
Its Standing as an Institution of Learning
Advantages 1t OGers-Evils TO be Rem
edied-MethOds of Working.

merOuS articles have appeared In the /
leading papers Of our State relative TO /
the condition of our highest institution /.
OF learning, Many OF these were evil
IDENTIFY prompted by persons not friendly
TO the school; a few by those who pre-
sent friendly attitude, but only speak
when directly attacked, to defend some
action, the inOppOrtuneness OF which IS
becoming evident to some as time rolls
on. The truth is that all this wrangle
has occurred as the result Of the de-
feated desires of those entrusted with
the direction and execution of
its governing policy, while the
taxpayers al large, and those
who should manifest interest in the
welfare of our highest center of learn
ing, remain quiet and seem content to
follow the roads laid out by those few,
whose connection with the university
gives them. in many instances, stand
ing and bread. III our citizens paid
more attention 20 the university than
they do; If Democrats and Republicans
would leave politics out OF its admins
tration, and the various religious de-
nominations within our borders would
foster and encourage it, il would be but
a short time until West Virginia aduca-
tiOnal advantages would polish and
train West Virginia brains, and make
them par or premium in any intellee-
tual market in the United States. But
where does the fault lay, and how can
10 be remedied ? These are questions
which will be hard TO answer as long
as so many of our population remain ig-
nOrant of the existence of the univer-
Sity. Many people in the State, and in
tellgent people, too, know nothing
of this institution. The Gov
ernOr appoints the Regents, The
Regents select the President
and faculty. The President and faculty
constitute all that is material in any
school. II they are incompetent the
school must offer this 70 the students
coming % her walls for instruction. II
the President is able, and the faculty
composed of distinguished specialists,
as il should be, that school takes cor
responding standing and her students
enjoy corresponding advantages. The
great manufacturing establishments OF
the world are judged by the goods they
turn out. They are all stamped. So
an institution OF learning is rated to
some extent by the men it turns into
the world. They 90 forth to speak for
or against it, TO elevate or debaSe 1t.
But who is to judge of the efficiency Of
q professor to be appointed? The Board
OF Regents? How can they dot? BY
recommendation you answer. Are
recommendations by competent men
always sincere? Only after a professor
has been tried can his eff
cheney be passed upon. Surely
it seems that 10 ought to.
But in West Virginia the students COM
ing to the University have never heard
any other professor on that subject
know nothing about it themselves, and
how can they judge? Ii is only those
few who attend other schools of recOg-
nized standing and make the cOmpari-
sou who can Judge, and so a professor is
rated and makes record for or against
the institution for which he himself
labOrs. The instructors at the West
Virginia University have been multi
piled, and 10 seems, TO the writer, use
leSSly. The catalogue of ten years ago
shows nearly As many students in atten
dance as does that OF 1890. Then there
were fewer professors than now, no as
SiStantS, and good work was accomplish
ed The mere multiplication of schools
and inefficient SO-called professors will
never make any school a standing, and
never draw a student more TO its doors.
1t has recently leaked out frOm Uni
verSity circles that the professors are
studying scheme by which they may in
duce the Board of Regents to increaS
their salaries TO s.. OOOat the next meet
ing, the money being that provided by the |
Government for the establishment of an
industrial and mechanical school. This /
money becomes available soon, and |
those who know and have the power,
have friends hungry for places. All
are specialists, and competent to do any
kind of work for one thousand dollar
salaries. Now to those who are inter
eSted in the future Of the State, it is
policy to consume every available dol
lar in paying salaries TO any public or
normal school teacher who chooses TO |
call himself Il professor and lacks not |
the audacity to enter upon the discharge |
OF the duties Of a specialist. Or would |
il be better 20 thoroughly equip the de-
partmentS already existing, such COM
petent heads for those who have shown
themselves incompetent and pay them
such salaries as would not only COM
port with the dignity of the position,
but would make the instructor satisfied
TO remain and give US his best service
with q mind free from the financial
anXietieS necessarily engendered with
4 har l.
showing no growth for days that
will come to US all, when
nature in its own time units US for the
struggle for bread Yes, our professors
should be better paid Our good ones
would then remain with us, and better
ones would seek a place among us than
now show up on every hand when a
vacancy occurs. The President gets
1000. He should have s., 600 per an
mum and house rent, even if the position
be Sinecure.
This matter should be brought fairly
before our Board of Regents, all of
whom are men anxious for the best in |
tereStS of the University. They should |
put each department already existing /
on its feet, raise the salaries, il they /
can, OF the President and Faculty, and /
not multiply teachers who will have /
nothing to do but draw their salaries /
and pose as learned men. The main /
professors, il they will look carefully at /
existing facts, can instruct coo students /
rs easily as they now instruct ITO. We /
want more students, fewer instructors. |
Our University now offers special /
courses leading 20 the degrees of law /
and civil engineering, as we'll as a regu- |