Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-10-30
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS.

Board. According 10 law tHG CdbuA-
dates must come from the Third,
Fourth and Fifth wards. For these
positions the present incumbents are
announced for reelection. This be-
4 ing the case it is not improper to re-
view the past and determine whether
they have done their duty.
The past four years have been years
Of transition. There has been strong
desire on the part Of the public gener-
ally to elevate the standard Of the
schools. In this particular the Board
! has been most fortunate. Like all
real reforms this has met with OPP
position. Yet we are happy to state
I that all opposition has vanished. The
tendency is upward and il no back
ward steps are taken the brightest
hopes Of the most sanguine will soon
see their full iruition. We now have
High School second to none in the
State and the acme of perfection is
not yet attained.
Two weeks ago we published a
communication from one of the
brightest educators in the State COM
planning that the Board of Regents Of
the University would not open the
doors of the Preparatory Department
of the University to the female grad
yates of the Wheeling High School
The effect OF that communication was
seen when the Board of Regents inn
mediately removed the restriction.
The point we make is that Martins
burg graduates do not have to pass
through the Preparatory Department,
but at once enter the college classes of
the University. This fact was noted
in the Herald few weeks since, when
a Martinsburg Junior was admitted to
the full Freshman course and to the
Sophomore in at least one branch.
We do not pretend to claim that all of
the juniors could accomplish this
feat, but that one can do SO proves
that it is possible for ALL AND if a
Junior how much more likely senior
or graduate. 1t shows that we are on
the right road Being there, surely it
is the height of folly to think of max
ing change.
How has this been accomplished
By adopting the right course and adj
herring to it. Another gratifying fact
is that there has been no increase of
taxation. Two years have been saved
to each pupil without increased cost
to the people.
As is we'll known the Herald OPP
posed making a change i'll the position
of uperintendent. The Board
thought otherwise and change was
made. Fortunately, the man selected
is most admirably qualified for the
position. There are few, if any, bet
ter educators than Prof. c. III. Cole.
All of the schools from the primary
grade up to the highest classes realize
that his is the mind of master He
has so arranged his work as to have
considerable time for experimenting
and directing the course OF the ward
schools New ideas and new methods
are presented to the teachers and ac-
cepted by them because they realize
that his ideas are best. Given time,
Prof Cole will accomplish that which
has been desired for years by the most
advanced thought of the city. The
action of the voters next Tuesday will
determine whether the peace and good
order that now prevail shall continue
or a recurrence to the chaos of years
gone by.
Another matter OF much moment
is that of school buildings. The new
structure just erected in the Fifth
ward is tar and away the best school
building in the city. So substantial
is it that it will stand for a hundred
years. Every foot of lumber in it is
the very best obtaina BILE. The brick,
of Martinsburg manufacture. cannot
be excelled for durability. The foun-
datIon would support a ten-story
building. The heating and plumbing
are the very latest and best as regards
health and comfort. 1t was and is
the intention of the Board, in all mat
tiers ofthis character, building and re-
pairing, to avoid patchwork and thus
save money,
All in all, the Board has done we'll
and merits a vote of confidence. 1.-THE
people of Martinsburg appreciate fl
deity to duty, economy in the use of
money and the advancement of educa-
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