Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-01-20

State normal schools the message
says
"While the State, in my opinion, is
not doing all that it should for the
primar or public schools, we may
well ask ourselves whether we are
not attempting too muck in some 9th
er directions. We have at this time
six so called normal schools, two pre-
paratory schools tor the State univer-
sty, and two colored institutes, max
ing ten schools of an academic grade.
In my message to the last Leglsla
ture / called attention to these mat
ters to the fact that the great State OF
Ohio had not had any normal schools
for many years. aud had recently un-
dertaken the giving of normal Il lain
ing to school teachers by establishing
departments tor that purpose in two
OF its universities at a small additional
expense. 1t was also pointed out that
our normal schools are not normal
schools in fact, and that at present
special normal training is given at
but one oil these so-called normal
schools. In reality these schools are
but academies or high schools. and do
work upon par with that of the best
schools The question before the Leg
islature is how to maintain all Of our
present State institutions and to keep
up with the growth and demands
which they make upon the public
treasury. The members OF the Legis-
lature will earnestly desire, | am sure
to do their duty by the primary or
public schools and by the University,
which is the cap sheaf OF our educa-
tional system: but we may ask our
selves il we are not trying to do too
much in the way of secondary or
academic educational work at the
whole expense of the State
suggested to the Legislature OF
1903 the propriety of disposing OF at
least four of the normal schools aud
also Gthe two preparatory branch
schools, and | renew that recommen-
dation to your body. | outlined a
feasible and just plan, i'll my message
to the Legislature OF 1908, by which
six OF these ms itutions can be con-
tinued with but little further expense
to the State, and at the same time tie
conducted effectively as free county
high schools in the communities
where located. The State could con-
tJibute s., 500 OF s., 900 a year to each
of the six schools to aid in supplying
teachers, and donate the plants to the
counties on certain conditions. AS
said in my former message: II the
State, having created the six institu
tons. which would be given over I'M
der this plan, at a cost aggregatIng
hundreds of thousand OF dollar, could
now be relieved of their further care
and responsibility, it would in no
sense be an injustice to
any section OF the STATE, and would
relieve the State of burdens which
have become too great This would
enable the legislature to take care of
the University and the reinaiuin.. ed
ucational institutions in more gen.
eroue manner"
A stringent law for the regulation
of the sale OF cocaine aud similar drug S
IS urged as is also a pure food law.
An important sug gestion is made
in relation to the question Of good
roads and that an appropriation be
made tor the state Geological com
mission aud survey to enable it to
give the road making question a care
full study a similar law to that of the
State of Maryland. The cost of guard
ing OF the negro rapist Williams last
year, in Jefferson county is reported at
s., I48.Io. The extension of the lease
of the Berkeley Springs property to
c. P. Jack and A. r, Uuger for one
year, to July I 1905 is rep rted as APP
proved by the board OF public works,
and appropriation is recommends
for a monument 10 the memory ct
James Ramsey, the inventor of the
steam boat, at Shepherdstovn, on
the Potomac rlver
A law is rec mended making
railroads liable for injuries to their
employees resulting from the careless
ness or neglect of elbows servant or
employe, Ohio and Virginia having
similar laws. On the subject of
n .wSpaper laws the Governor saws.