Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-29

COmptl-tu " ltuNe llke SCHOOLS pre-
maturely, but l think in the majority
of cases or at least in many cases.
children grow up outside the schools
because careless parents permit them
idly to spend their lime in running the
streets and lettering upon the street
corners. This is one of the evils ex-
listing in our cities to an alarming de-
gree, and to remedy it some States have
passed compulsory laws. Because a
large class of people may refuse to, or
may be unavoidably prevented from
availing themselves OF the advantages
offered by an institution essential to the
well being OF society and the State, that
is no argument against the institution.
If it were otherwise, the same objection
could, with eQAol propriety and force,
be urged against all educational insti-
tutions and against the churches and
Christianity as well. Until the advan-
tages Of the High schools are offered
TO the public the majority of the youth
have no opportunity to acquire higher
education. Instead of "a few children
of the well-to-do reaping the benefit of
the High school TO the exclusion of all
others, the fact is that the benefits will
be largely reaped by the children Of the
less frunate. The rich can afford to
send their children away to the col
lege and the universitys; the poor can
not do this, but they can send them
10 a High school in their midst where
instruction is offered free The rich
are taxed according 10 their wealth TO
maintain and support such institutions
and the advantages are shared by the
children of the less wealthy. know of
one citizen Of this district, man living
in Single blessedness, without either
wife or children TO educate, man of
large wealth, who pays over $500 annu-
ally to the school tax, and who is an
enthusiastic advocate Of the High
school. and has been such for many
years.
Now. why?
Because it is a matter of public
economy.
Why? Because it is for the benefit
of the community at large.
Because OF the pride he feels in the
city where he resides. Because it is a
duty which he feels he owes to the
State and society. Because he is, in
a word, broad minded man, and recog-
nizes the fact that the interests OF the
masses are paramount to his own in
dividual interest, or in other words,
the welfare of the community is his
welfare; that the interest of the State
and his interest are one and INSOFAR
able.
Here are his views on the subject:
Il have no money to throw away. and
I want the Board of Education to use
such precaution, and economy that they
will certainly obtain a hundred cents
worth of good results for every dollar
they expend, yet desire that our public
free schools be as nearly perfect as they
can be made, and want the children of
the poorest parents to have tuition prac
tically free to them, not only so far as
a common school education is concern
ed. but something beyond, so that the
very poorest, if they have the requisite
taste. and energy. and latent ability,
may also have the fullest facilities for
the fullest development; therefore,
am in favor of the High school, and I
am no new convert to these ideas"
The organic law of this State imposes
upon the Legislature the duty of estab-
fishing "A THOROUGH AND EFF
GENT SYSTEM OF FREE SCHOOLS"
and the Legislature has conferred this
power upon the Board of Education in
the district of Wheeling. There can be
no THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT
| SYSTEM without a High school.
Horace Mann said, In our times no
man is worthy of the honored name of
statesman who does not include tie
highest practical education OF the peo-
pie in all his plans of administration"
Prof. Huxley says, mo system of public
education is worthy of the name unless
it creates a great educational ladder
with one end in the gutter and the other
in the university" l believe the state
ment of Prof. Huxley; therefore, l am
in favor of putting this HIGH SCHOOL
ROUND in the educational ladder.
And so far as the manual training
school. suggested by some, is concerned,
il is worthy of remark, that a manual
training school can be successfully car
ried on only in connection with the
High school work. Whenever such in
dustrial schools have been started sue
cessfully it has been in connection with
the High schools. Establish the High
school and you form in time the neil
cleus for the contemplated school for
manual training.
Not only so, but in connection with
the High school Normal department
can be established for training, and
instead of looking elsewhere for assist
ant teachers in the ward schools, the