Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-10

| lhes, penalties, and forfeitures, imposed
on the violators of the laws Of the State
Thus by happy feature in the system
wee, and immortality, are made 10 pay an
involuntary tribute tovirtue, and 10 pro
vide the means ftleir own extinction.
1t appears from the terms of the rcso
luton OF The General Assembly. that the
plan ot'e lucation, contemplated by them
embraces three essential parts. which
are, however, intimately connected, are
subsidiary to each other, and constitute
snc system. The arrangement of This
| system, seems TO be dictated by consi-
deraiions OF great prOpriety. 1t conteni-
plates taking boy who is ignorant of the
rudlments oflearning, and first impartinp
TO h,l1, those rudimenis, next placing
| linn IN a seminary. where he can obtain
| a higher degree of information. and final
| ly in 4 University, where every kind of
science attanable in this country, can be
acquired. The steps in This progress are
natural and regular, and present at a
glance, an outline of such system, as il
IS proper To adopt. The President and
Directors of the Literary Fund, submit to
the Legislature, the subject under the
different divisions, of whit h it is susccp-
'Ible, and will recomr:oiid TO their adop
ton, such provisions as appear TO them.
try, and To the extent of the funds, estab-
lished for this object. In doing so, tl,ey
will forbear TO enter into a minute detail.
from belief, that the most important
thing is to fix the great principles of the
plan, TO be established, after which twill
be easy TO supply, by an act of the I.e-
gislature, the numerous provisions, which
will be necessary. The subject is divisi-
bic into Primary Schools. Academies, and
an University. They will be considered
in their order.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
The object of these, ~, to have Il School
so convenient to each citizen, that his
children may be taught at least the rudi-
ments oflearning. 1t would be melan-
choly reflection, if single youth of our
country should from poverty, be .iepriv-
ed ofevery ray of acknowledgement vet
how many hundreds, of perhaps, the first
geniuses of our land, are condemned to
groupe out their lives in a state of Intel
lectual darkness. To obviate this ca!ami-
tous state of things, must be the object of
the Primary Schools a difficulty will
occur IN adopting rule for the location
of these Schools. If resort is had to ex-
tent OF territory, it may frequently hap
pen, that the population will be so sparse.
In some parts of the State, that School
will not be useful in particular limits
ltpopulatiOn be the rule, without regard
10 territory, then, that population. may be
so dispersed, that sufficient numbered
pupils, will not be obtained within con-
venIsnt distance. 1t would perhaps be
better, to have regard both to territory
and population, in assigning the number
of Schools, and to vest discretion, TO a
certain extent, i'll the trustees TO be alp
pointed for the regulation and manage
meDt of those Schools, as TO the proper
positions for them. 1t is expected, that
the Primary Schools, will he in part
supported by pupils, sent by persons
who are Ill circumstances TO paw for the
schooling of their children, and that il
Will be only necessary, to appropriate a
certain proportion of the salaries of the
teachers, out of the Literary Fund. In
the Primary Schools, it is supposed, that
the rudiments of learning only are to be
taught, which will comprehend, reading,
writing, and common arithmetic. Bows
when well grounded i'll these, will be pre-
pared, to be sent TO the Academy. 1t is
recommended 10 the Legislature, there
fore:
/. That each county in the State, be
divided into townships, to contain
not fewer than housekeepers, and
that in each township, there he establish
ed one Primary School, to he located in
the manner herein provided for, upon con
olllon, mat III sucn township acres
Ofland, d sufficient house, shall be pro-
vided, and vested in the President and
Directors of the Literary Fund. The
President and Directors, cannot forbear
TO remark, that the subdivision of the
COMMITTEES into smaller districts, NAV be
made highly beneficial in many ofherres-
poets, such as the care Of roads, the poor.
and almost every other object of police.
2. That seven persons shall be selected
by the housekeepers, in each township,
who shall be trustees of the Primary
School therein. That they shall have
power TO fix the scIte Of said School. TO
superintend and manage the same, make
rules for ITS government, appoint teach
er, or remove him for incapacity, or mis-
conduct. That they shall select such
children, whose parents are unable TO paw
for their schooling, who shall be taught
at said School, for three years, without
charge. The said trustees shall be elect
ed annually, and shall fiji up the vacan-
cies which may occur during the year,
They shall report TO the President and
Directors of the Literary Fund. the rules
| they may adopt, for the ofsaid
School, and shall also make once year
| reports to the said President and Directors
ofihe state of the School, the numbers
and conduct Of the pupils and their pro
| grcss IN learning, the conduct of the
Il