Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-21
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
A Reply to the Criticisms OF the action OF
the Board of Education.
Wheeling, w. Va, April 20, 1897.

date of April lotn, 1881, thelS "PPN
an article purporting to have been WITH
Ten by a reporter for the Register, ana
/ headed "The High School PROJECT
The Board of Education is Ignoring
the Constitution then the report
er goes on, as he says, to give the views
of one gentleman, whom he does not
I name. Because | think the views eX-
messed in that article of the Register
arc calculated TO mislead the pubic III
regard TO the action of the Board OF
Education. and because the views
therein expressed. as l believe. do the
BOARD of Education an injustice; there
fore. as a citizen interested in the
progress of our city and the cause OF
education. | ask permission to reply to
said article. through the columns or
your excellent paper. The article re-
ferred to represents the unknown party
as saying, "The action of the Board Is
an outrage and was taken in defiance OF
the very constitution which they, as
members. swore to support and uphold
when they took their official oaths.
This is certainly a serious charge 10
make against a Board Of Education,
composed of honorable and Intelligent
men. such as compose the Board OF this
-. Tf 49, c,,.o,,o cboroo made iS trUe
then the majority Of said Board. ac-
cording to the views of the person max
ing the charge, stand impeached. But
what are the facts offered to support
the charge? First, he calls public at
tention ito the growing tendency IN
this community, on the part Of the city
Council. of the Board of Commissioners
and of the Board of Education, to Gre
ate debt withut the consent Of the peo-
pie"
That is, in order to establish the
first charge, he makes another and i'll
cludes the Council and Commissioners.
The Board of Education is not respon-
sible for the shortcomings of either the
city Council or the County Commits
sioners. 1t is responsible for its own
sins only. But what is offered in evil
dence by our friend to impeach the
Board of Education? In order to prove
this grave charge, he says, he quotes
section TO- article 6. of the Constitution
of West Virginia. Now. section 10. ar
/ tic1e 8, of the Constitution has no ref
| erence to schools whatever but refers
wholly and solely to the division Of
the State into judicial circuits and the
election of Circuit Court Judges. He
meant. doubtless, to cite Art. 10, Sec.
| s, of the Constitution.
He cites. also. Sec Z. Art. u. of the
| Constitution. but omits a very import
ant part OF that section. The omitted
words of this section are given in caDi-
tails: "The Legislature SHALL PRO
4 VIDE FOR THE SUPPORT OF FREE
| SCHOOLS. BY APPROPRIATING
+ THERETO THE INTEREST OF THE
INVESTED SCHOOL FUND. THE NET
PROCEEDS OF ALL FORFElTURES
AND FINES ACCRUING TO THIS
STATE UNDER TIE LAWS THERE
OF; THE STATE CAPITATION TAX.
AND BY GENERAL TAXATION OF
PERSONS AND PROPERTY. OR 9TH
| FRWISE." That is. the Constitution
! provides that THE Legislature shall
provide for the support of free schools
by general taxation of per-
sons and property, or otherwise" And
again. IN Sec. /, Art. y, of the Con-
stitution, it provides: THE Legislature
shall provide by GENERAL LAW for a
THOROUGH and EFFICIENT system
/ of free schools"
Now let US see whether the I.egisla-
ture has exercised this right vested in
it by the Constitution. Chapter 45.
Sec. q. of the Code of West Virginia.
provides: when the Board of Educa
ton of any district deem it exDedient
to establish a high school, they shall
submit the question to the voters of
the district" etc. If we were to stop
here. it might seem that our unknown
friend had made good his charge; but
Chapter As. See. Is. of the Code of West
Virginia. says: Nothing in this chapter
shall alter or affect the laws now in
force respecting the free schools in the
city of Wheeling, and the parts Of dis
tricts connected Herewith
or as affecting any right or privilege
conferred upon them respectively in
the Acts Of the Legislature by which
they have been created, except so far as
such right or privilege may be incon-
sistent with the provisions of this chap
ter" Now. then, the act of the l.egisla-
ture creating the independent district
of Wheeling as amended March II.
April y. 1879, and February Il, and
March "a. 1882, provides as follows:
Sec. / of said Act: The city Of Wheel
ing shall constitute an Independent
school district. to be known as the
school district of Wheeling. The
said Act. Sec. IS. provides: THE Board
shall have power to establish one high
school for the district. in which shall
be taught such higher branches Of