Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-02-02
OPPOSE NEW SCHOOL LAW
Local Board Of Education viii
Fight the Measure.
is SCHOOL BUILDING SAFE
Architect Whitson Reports on condi'
ton of High School Building
Business of the Session.


esting sessions of the Martinsbur
board Of education feld in man.
months was that OF Monday night
when the question of the propose
sweeping change in the state schoo
law was brought up for discussion and
unqualifiedly condemned by every
member present The discussion on
this point was preciptated by Superin
tendent Brindle who recently return
ed from Charleston, where he becam'
thoroughly familiar with the proyis
ions of The proposed law, and where
he strongly opposed it's passage by the
legislature on the ground that it woul
work incalculable injury to the indie
pendent school district of Martins
burg, as well as every other indepen
der school district in the state.
Mr.. Brindle stated that the new law
was proposed many months ago by
Governor Dawson, who appointed
committee 10 draft it, with the idea
Of submitting it's provisions to the
people at least two months before tn
melting of the legislature Owing u
tn dilatory methods of the committe
in charge of the measure, 1t was not
made public until last week, when it
was found that such radical and III
precedented changes were contemplat
ed as to effectuaIly obliterate the lines
between the city and country schools
and to practically place the latter iii
control Of the educational forces
each county, making the city superin
tendents and teachers subseryient t."
the county superintendent and Destroy
ing the independence and individuality
Of the city schools.
Provisions of the Law.
Some OF tht salient points OF the
proposed law, as outlined by Mr. Brir-
die. are as follows:
Salaries of county superintendent
to be increased from It maximum of
$500 TO a maximum Of $1,000
Independent school districts to b
abolished with the exception Of that
of Wheeling the votes of this city be-
ing necessary to pass the measme)
and the county to be made the unit If
taxation for school purposes, thu.
making the city property help to pay
the expenses of the county schools and
threhy increasing the school levy in
the city
UNIFORM examinations Throughout
me state, which would require all city
teachers IN the lower grades to pass
examinations for higher grades, in
which work they have not been engag
ed for many years, and in which they
would naturally fail unless given OPP
pultHnity for study. AS the law would
become operative within a few weeks |
this provision would osult in a de |
cided shortage of teachers for the city |
schools, where much difficulty is al |
ready experienced in securing compe
tent teachers,
The snhordlnation of the powers OF
the oitvahoards of education to that of
Nne county boards through the SUI
perlor powers and jurisdiction of tn |
superintendent. who woul |
lhHve certain authority over the cit
schools and higher pow9r than the city |
superintendents in the schools of tn |
latter. Under this clause the indepen |
dent school boards would be compelled
ITO meet with the county boards to fix
salaries, duration of term, etc, and
being in the minority W uld be at the
power of the county boards.
Will Fight II.
When the full significance of th
proposed measure was brought home
10 the members of the board Their
was an instant and vigorous protest
A resolution was unanimously passe
10 the effect that Senator Silver ant
Delegates Ryneal and Wood be com
municated with, and urged to do all in
their power to defeat the propose
law. as being inimicable to the inter-
ests of both the city and county
schools. 1t was pointed out that un
ending and intolerable friction betwee
the city and county boards would re
suit from its passage, ana that the wei
fare of all the schools would be endan
gered by the enactment of such a rad
iCal measure.
Secretary Pitzer was instructed
write the above gentlemen, stating tn
position of the board of education q
Marunsburg, and asking them, in tn
interests of the schools Of this city an
Berkeley county TO oppose the passag
pf the law,
High School Building Unsafe.
Commissioner Young, of the First
ward, submitted report on the condi
ton Of the high school building that
MI