Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-01
AFFAIRS OF STATE
Board Of Public Works Fails to Agree
on Sufficvlent SaIary-cierks
Appointed.

Charleston. w. Va, April 26.-The
board OF control has decided not
TO APPOINT secretary Turing the first
fiscal year of its existence. The
board of public works did not
agree to increase the clerk fund to
So. 600 and ths amount appropriated
by the legislature, So 900, will stand
alone. This fact removes John t.
Harris from the race for secretary
and the office for few months will
be operated by an accountant and
lstenographer.
Editor L. V. Reed, Of the Preston
Republican, has been appointed
book-keeper and accountant, and
Malcolm r. Mathews, member Of
the force in the auditors Office, was
named stenographer. Reed will get
$500 per year and Matthews $1,000.
They will begin work July /.
The members of the new board have
returned home and will meet
again at the cafl of President Lakin,
likely week or two before their
terms of Office begins. II has been
decided that one member will remain
in the ol-.ce all the time. the other
two visiting the state institutions
| when necessary. ~
Department Of High Schools
More attention to the establishment
OF high schools, district and city, is to
be given by the department OF schools
than ever before and an attempt will
be made within the next few years to
make it possible for the boys living in
the rural districts to have the advan-
tages of higher education than that
offered under the present system.
Superintendent Shawkey has estab-
nlished in his office a department. of
high schools in charge Of Prof. Long
anecker who, in speaking of the situa,
ton, said:
At the special session of the legis-
lature in 1908 the school law was
thoroughly revised, and in this re-
vision more liberal provision was
made for the establishment of high
schools, and especially distrist high
schools, than had previously existed.
These provisions are found chiefly in
sections % and 30 of the new law.
Section 20 is of limited application
and provides for the establishment OF
high schools by boards of education in
districts in which there is town or
village with four or more schools in
the same building.
Section 80 is of more general appli-
cation. If the board of education OF
any district deems it expedient to es-
tablish a high school they my submit
the question to the voters of the dis
trict on the third Tuesday of May Of
any year.
AS a result of these enactments and
agitation by the state school depart
ment and the friends OF secondary ed
ucation generally, there has been an
awakened interest in behalf of high
schools throughout the state.
The high schools already existing al
so felt the need OF a closer organiza-
ton and greater cooperation in their
work
Accordingly the division of high
schools has been established by the
state superintendent, M. P. Shawkey.
The purpose of this division is to aid
in every possible way the high schools
now in existence and to use all legiti-
mate means in bringing about the es-
tablishment of new high schools wher-
ever practicle. The interest already
aroused is very encouraging and it is
hoped that by wise direction of this
interest definite results may be ac-
complished.
The outlook is very encouraging. 1t
is hoped that the next four years will
see the beginning of at least one hun
dred new high schools in West Vir-
ginia. What this will mean for the
future of the state is beyond estimate.
1t is more important than the discov-
cry of new oil and gas wells and the
development of coal fields. We have
been busy developing our natural re-
sources, but we have neglected our
boys and girls.