The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-25
AWAY wIrH PoLIrIcs
In the Management of this Univoraily mud
Our Normal schooIs-The Boards of Re-
gents Political bodies.

Our Normal SrhoolS-The Boards OF Re
gents Political Bodies.
To he Editor oJhe Intoiigaiee.
SiR:-In a recent number OF the Edu-
catiooal Journal of West T,ginia there is
an account OF the life and career Of Mr..
J.. W. Barnes, the present principal of
the Fairmont Normal School. One I'M
acquainted with that gentleman might
be deceived by the bombast contained
in said account. To speak OF HIM as n
scholar and us having merited the posi-
ton to which he has been appointed is
| simply Iudicrous. lie is at best but al
ordinary district teacher. As a student
he never saw within the walls OF an in
stitution Of learning higher than the
| school Of which he is now the princi-
nal. As a teacher he was q disturbing
element in the school tor three years
previous to his appointment us princi.
pal. Through his conniving, aided and
abetted by Marion county politicians
and the administration ring, he sue
ceeded in forcing from the principal
ship at first a man of his own political
faith and of recognized scholarship and
| ability, and subsequently n man OF OPP
posing politics and Of many years OF ex-
perience in educational work in the
state. Tho result OF all this is that the
Fairmont branch OF the State Normal
School is the only branch that has a
principal for whom no II can claim
| culture or scholarship. This school.
the largest OF its kind in the state, and
in which exemplary progress should be
made, has passed out OF the hands OF
| scholars and educators and become the
prey of designing and INSCRIPTIONS
politicians.
The statement that "no apology is
necessary for placing Democrats on
guard" made by Governor Fleming in
his Fairmont speech, is not sufficient TO
excuse the iniquity oil %displacing COM
petent by incompetent teachers, as
| charged against the state administra-
ton by the Republican PLATFORM. The
lack OF sincerity in this defence is obvi-
Gus, in view OF the fact that IN ardent
Democrat as well as 81 inotfensive Re-
\ publican was renewed from the princi-
palship OF the Fairmont Normal school
10 provide place for Mr.. Barnes, late
chairman OF the Democratic executive
committee OF Marion county, as a re-
ward for services rendered during the
gubernatorial contest.
The Journal of Education may lend its
columns to praise unworthy teachers,
but the public cannot be deceived in
this case. The facts are too well known.
Another institution deserves notice
in this connection. The University Mt
Morgantown has been an eye-sore to
the taxpayer for some time. During
the last twenty years large %appropria-
tions have been made by all legislatures
for the support of this institution, yet
the public never hears OF the state
University except when a scheme is
c~ontrived to remove the president, or to
provide a place for some dependent
friend Of a member or members of the
board of egents. ANY i'll feeling eX-
listing in the faculty is known to the
students and discussed by them at all
times. Fighting as usual" is about
the only answer one receives from n
student when an inquiry is made con-
corning the University.
Reports to the effect that the school is
in a furnishing condition which now
and then emanate from the manage.
ment are not entirely supported by
facts. Not less than four or five hun
dred students ought to be enrolled at
the present time, while the actual num-
Der OF bona fdc college students in at
tendance the present term does not
exceed sixty. The enrolment is much
larger, but the greater part consists OF
those in preparatory courses.
All this certainly indicates that there
is something wrong in the manage
ment. 1t is not due to the incompet-
ency Of the instructors, rs some are
wont to charge, for the faculty, as at
present constituted, is exceptionally
strong in most all departments. The
only objection to the faculty is that It'll
too numerous for the number OF stu
dents. The evil exists in another
quarter. Men are appointed to the
board OF regents because of party SER
vice, as to enable certain factions OF the
board to control its operations. Quail
| fcation is not considered in making ap-
pointments, although there are several
most excellent men on the board it is
not improbable that a single member
ever made a comparative study Of the
arrangements and operations OF the vari-
Gus American universities.
1t may be objected that it is the func-
ton OF the president OF the university
to keep informed as to methods, man
apement, etc., and to recommend to the
regents the means of supplying the
needs OF the university. This may be
true. but it is we'll known that the rec
concentrations OF the president have
had less influence upon the actions OF
the board than the suggestions OF stu
dents.
That this is all wrong no intelligent
citizen will deny. Under the circum.
stances the university can never pros.
per. Some radical change must be
made, or sooner or later it will share
| the fate OF tho Fairmont normal school,
and the chairs become mere prizes for
county politicians.
What is the best means OF relieving
our state schools OF their unfortunate
condition may not be free from doubt.
That they should cease to be treated as
political plumber, is admitted. Nom
partisan boards is the desideratum.
Under the present laws these a be
had only through the governor. A
change in the laws taking the power Of
appointment from the governor, and
leaving the choice to the voters ut cleo.
tions held, in case OF normal schools, re-
gents in congressional districts, and in
case OF university regents in senatorial
districts, would perhaps be the best
plan. These elections could take place
ut the same time that county superin-
tendents are chosen and thus avoid not
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