Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-05-16
THE NORMAL SCHOOLS.


A great protest lie arising all over
West Virginia in regard to the order
of the Board of Regents Of the State
Normal Schools looping of the senior
years work of the Shepherdstown,
West Liberty, Chenille and Athens
schools, and requiring that the course
be finished at either Fairmont or Hunt
ineton. The friends of the four in
stitutions that it is proposed TO de-
g,ade in order that Huntington and
Fairmont may be elevated are indig-
nant, and are making emphatic objec-
ton. 1t is the almost unanimous
opinion that if the board g order should
be carried out the four normal schools
above named would be utterly ruined,
and it is hoped that the regents, who
of course do not wish to see such a
result, will be induced to rescind the
resolution.
The Wheeling papers are active in
their opposition to the order. and ex-
pr ess the unqualified opinion that its
effect would be to destroy the West
Liberty school. The people of that
section are up in arms. and have gone
80 far as to suggest an injunction to
prevent the order from becoming eff
fective. One of the Wheeling news
papers refers to the order as con.
spiracy between Huntington and Fair
mont school interests, and there is
reason 10 believe that the matter was
engineered by sel6ah individual who
is not averse-and has for some years
had that reputation-of building him
self up regardless of the rights Of 9TH
eers. On this point more may be
said later, however.
The more we think of the proposed
plan the more strongly we are con.
WINGED that it is Impractical to the
point of absurdity. No person with
Intelligence enough to want an edu.
cation would go away from home to a
school where only part of a course
could be taken, and the result would
be that perhaps there woald not be
student from any other county in at
tendance at single one of these insti.
buttons. They would be local schools
then, sure enough result that the
board processes to be anxious to avoid.
Senator VIM. Campbell, of Charles
Town, has written-a pointed letter to
State Superintendent Thos. G. Miller
on this subject, and expresses the SEN
timent Of our people very clearly.
Senator Campbell says:
CHARLES Town, W. VA,
May l3, 1907.
Hon. Thomas G. Miller,
State Supt. OF Schools,
Charleston, w Va.
Iacira 10
voice the protest OF all those interested
in the success and future of Shepherd
College against the hastily considered
action recently taken by the Board OF
Regents of the State Normal Schools,
of which you are ex-officio president.
In reducing the course from four to
three years and depriving Shepherd
College of the right to issue diplomas,
death blow will be dealt TO that insti-
tuition, which is, as you know, now do
ing a good work and serving the citi-
Zens of the Eastern Panhandle, South
Branch Valley and entire northeastern
part of West Virginia faithfully and
we'll.
II it is the intention to strike down
the other normal schools to the upbuild-
ing of those located at Huntington and
Fairmont, it seems that it would be
better to allow the people of the State
through their representatives in the
Legislature to decide on such action,
rather than that AN insidious blow
should be thus struck and the damage
done before an appeal can be taken and
Justice rendered.
If write thus strongly, it is because
I feel that one of our most cherished
institutions is being unfairly dealt with,
and in addressing this remonstrance to
you, l do so with the full knowledge
and assurance that you were not party
to it. In fact, do not believe any sim
gle member of the Board Of Regents OF
the State Normal Schools, when he is
fully informed as to the existing con-
ditions, will by his vote destroy any
one of them.
| will be glad to be advised that the
recent order, as above outlined, will
not be promulgated until we can be
heard. Yours faithfully,
VIM. CAMPBELL.