Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-13
SatSd'lre Of tie Te:gurts Of .5fr. I-ITZHUG9 Of
fd''.fdr, IN The eonmiitee oftIe phoie, an uic bit

fd'rfdr, In the committee ofIie trhoie an me- hin
CONCERNING FRFE Schools
Mr.. FITZHUGII said that tho bi1 be,ro ,i,o
committee contemplated two Objects first the rudu
al introduction into the state of improved sys
TEN Of primary schools and secondly insure to the
primary school fund, n more efficient administration
than 1t had hitherto enjoyed. In relation TO these
objects, he satisfied, that when properly nndar
stood, there could be but little difference of opnon,
and 1t would rest with the committee to determine
whether adequate means for their accomplishment
were provided by the bill under considerations
Mr. f. said. he would not trouble the counittee
with any general remarks on the importance of non
uiar education If he were not reminded by the age
IN winch he lived. and the place in which he stood
now unnecessary and i-tirAed such remarks would BIZ
the very fact that hada terary fund about which
10 lesate, you'd satisfy him. that here at least the
question lii relation to education, was at rest
nut the committee would bear with him, he hoped
while he exhibited such facts as were calculated TO
snow the defects Of orr present system, and such
considerations as had suggested the remedies propo-
scd by the present bill
BY the last annual report of the second auditor Il
would be seen that tue expenditure of something
more than $4,000. had procured the parfak cduca.
non by only 900 chldren and dividing this expen-
dture the average cost of education pr ann as
ted IN their report, it would fooU that if the same
children had been kept at school through tic whole
year. the number educated would have fallen short
OF 0UOo; TINS simple statement was amply sutic-
cnt 10 SHOW, that the benefits Of oC system hear no
Just proportion TO rs expenses and the inequality
would be rendered still apparent bya reference
70 the experience Of some Of our sister states In
Connecticut, for instance, u fund Welding sbnt
S'2,Ooo dollars educates upwards of 900 children;
and an appropriation of 100000, during the last
year, by the state Of Now York secured the benefits
or least partial education to than 46OOOO
children. This extraordinary difference in rcsibs
CAP be accounted for only from The radical difference
IN the system pursued.
our fund is distributed amonn the conntios in mo-
portion to their white population and is employed in
the education of the poorest description of cdron
III such miserable schools as already exist M the o.
horHous price OF 50 % pr. aunun. In the North
crn States on the contrary, but moro cgpeciaIlv IN
NeW YORK aud ConDctlcut, where the northern sys-
tenn has attained 10 lis greatest perfection tho sat
tund is distributed amongst the different school dis
tfIctS ~ certain proportions, on the express condition
tuat thcy Shall levy themselves an equal amount
ahd that the whole SUM be employed in ESTABLISHING
ana keeping up free schools oDnn 20 MI the chiIlrnS
or every description III the difcrcot districts rba
eHcct OF this course oil proceeding is to double tho
amount OF state appropriation to primary schools TO
desoy the odIous distinction between the children of
inc rich aud poor, and 10 improve tho character of
tne schools by exciting universal interest In rela
tfon 70 them, among the people.
am aware said Mr.. t., that this system in al its
oetals would not be applicable to the present cond
ZION OF Virginia; and tho frutlegg ATTEMPTS ~ intro
duce IT, that have heretofore been made by tho frat
talents OF the state, sufficiently warn me Of the folv
OF such an attempt at This time, ff wore disposed 10
make ~ But, sirs, though the whole System may
not suit u.s. there plrts OF nc applicable IN aij
times to All countries md TO any state oftbpgs and
l1cre are certainly many parts % our state preyar
co ~ once 70 oval themselves of such mprovcluant
" primary education ms tho Legislature will autlio
Jhe bill on yo1riablc, proposes 10 leave Tho mo-
,'Ih fysi"m 10 operation, wherever IL is prefeTre
on' sccciI1g the most valuable features of that svs
.rn "hch has been tested By an experiences Of
LD.G man Dali century il provides for their intro
auction into oDy county, dceminO itself prenarcd g.
"'H rec'pton. II accordingly authorizes the school
,.'t MISSIONER @. any county TO cause their conn
~ Q" ~ divided into school districts Of convp,icn,
80 appropriate two-fifihs the amount ncccs.
80 ouIid school house in each district provided
~ remaining tLree-hltbs shall have been subscrboJ
py t.ie mh'0ian'7 OF the distric.aud aio 10 anne
Pflate sum not exceeding 500 10 the emplov,prr
% '''''.r '"T s'd school IN coud ION 'ia' H. IT,"