Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-20

school houses, and legislative plans, similar 10
those adopted in some of the northern States; but
to attempt to engraft northern plans Oh southern
habits. southern population, and southern state
of things, would be about a. reasonable as TO en-
graft the apple on the sycamore.
Sd A third advantage Of the plan at present in
operation is, that il has tendency to introduce
among US higher order of Schoolmssters than
has heretofore been common. This would probs-
hly be the effect of any plan which would produce
consider able annual expenditure of public money,
and could reasonably be expected 10 be perma-
nent. ] mention it as an advantage of the plan
now in operation, because believe it il al
vantage not generally thought of. although it GER
ainly exists. Nothing prevents us from having
competent and respectable Schoolmasters, bu,
competent, and perm. nent salaries. As coon as
well educated and respectable men find that they
can make as much, more, by teaching school.
than by any other employment, and with less risk
than in most other employments, they will devote
themselves 10 this occupation for life, rksome and
unpleasant, undoubtedly, in some respects, il is.
sufficient number of well-qual6ed teachers could
not be obtained al once upon any pla9- Ii MIST
be work of time But let adequate salaries be
provided, and suitable teachers will gradually rise
up among oursel, es; some will come from the
North, and some even from the West. The forty
five thousand dollars which annually dis,ribut-
ed throughout this Commonwealth, for the edsca-
ton of INDECENT children. comes. or at least much
Schoolmasters. Its operation, In obtaining good
teachers, is already sensbly fell, and it's operation
in this respect. would become annually more and
more obvious, and in few years ould produce a
great and important effect But, in order to pro-
duce this effect, must be felt, that ,he
appropriation, in some form, will be permanent
IF the Legislature should. this subject, dscnve Ell
a vaciatng and he.itaing policy. it will destroy
the confidence Of teachers, and of those who might
! otherwise intend 10 become such; they will turn
their attention to other employments. While
upon this part of the subject, permit me to ex.
press my regret, that worthy Governor sboad
| in his Message to the House. have suggested the
propriety Of disseminating the appropriation fol
| the present, to be, perhaps, resumed hereafter in
| some other form. Such a suggestion tends 10 di
minsh the confidence Of teachers in the perna
| nence of the appropriation, and will induce then
at once to turn their thoughts to other employ
ments.
4,h A fourth advantage of the present plan is
tina, it benefits not only the poor, but also the
people in middling circumstances. 1t is thought
by many, that it is only the poor who receive aid
from the present plan; but this is great mistake
Many persons, in middling circumstances, have
been enabled by it TO educate their children, who
otherwise, in the present depressed state of agri
culture, could not have done it. The present plan
operates in favour of people in moderate circum-
stances in this way. Many negbborhoods are COM
posed partly of poor people and partly of people
| in moderate circumstances. People of the latter
description would not be able, of themselves, to
employ a cemI etent teacher. but by the aid they
! receive from the poor portion of the neighborhood
by means the Literary Fund, they are enabled
10 procure a respectable teacher.
The several views of the case, given above
might have been much enlarged upon, and Others
! might have been given, but lest / should be ted
Gus, will here come to close. CIVIS.