Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-11

taio the beneficial results which were 20 cehud-n an
on the introduction OF or system. sue
TAI depends on the .Aerons oil the school
Commits ioners. To the wors OF The SDperin,t n
dent Il Common Schools in New York, F" The minds |
of those ho eontroul and potronse the operations u
the School Districts must be dtrdkensd, interested and
eonvinced before any great and permanent improre-
nsnt can be t6ected; Otherwise hs most perfect rys
,eu a. al can he devised uust fail 10 practice.
At the date of this communication, the only report
received for 1880, containing return oil the establish
ment of District Free School, Is from the county OF
franklin This county has been laid off the manner
designated by law into thirtyfour Districts in oil
which school-house, towards which the Commission
contributed 500 has been erected, and school put
operation. he teacher received 1920 per
$40 of which were paid by the Commissioners, and
$50 by the Inhabitants OF The district The school
attended Tor six months by htyhve children OF all
classes, seventeen OF whom of the description
which the fund.- under the old system, exclusively
appropriated The expense per annum for each Of the
hfy-fvc pupils, was ST. for each poor child, 81 o.
The rate Of tuition previously reported from that county
IS. The quota of the county at present, is $6l2
81. Calculating from these data, the following results
may be dcduced:
ist. That the contributors made by the Commission
10 the district amounted TO than six times
the average proportion OF that district the contribution
being $50, and the proportion OF the district, SIS.
I'd. That whole years quota will probably be
qured to aid in building ten school-houses:
Sd. That il will consequently require the quotas oil
three and two-ths years TO afford similar aid TO each
of the tlr ty four districts of the county, And
4th. That after every district shall have been provi
ded with school-houses the annual quota will not be
sufficient TO furnish than one-tourth OF the aid
granted in the Of the district in operation.
1t is evident, them that il it should be attempted in
that county TO extend the district system much further
il will in temporary cessation for
two or three years, OF all instruction throughout the
county, and after the erection OF school houses,
tire cessation in twenty-four out OF the ,hirtyfour dis
rcis unless this consequences be remedied in Of
the following modes:
| Is BY the erection of school houses, and providing
them with the necessary furniture the sole expense
of the district and by liberal and sufficient contribu
ton the part OF the Inhabitants, towards the employ
mt of teachers: Or,
I'd. BY the appropriation Of a sufficient sum from the
public treasury az once in aid OF the erection Of school
houses, and by increase OF the annual quota the
necessary sum, (in the Of Franklin,) about
four times its present amount.
| 1t becomes important therefore, before thorough
change in any county from the former mode 10 the dis
trct system be finally determined on that the certain
of carrying the latter into successful and perma
ncnt operation should be previously provided As fur
Their aid from the Treasury, at any rate beyond very
limited amount cannot be expected in the present
of the Literary Fund, is il necessary
that must be had TO the individual of the
inhabitants of the districts? This is understood to
the in the States Of Connecticut, Massachusetts
and New York, in which popular education has been
carried to its greatest extent. There Legislative
sstance is afforded only for providing teachers Books
furnished the children by the parents The school
house, together with its site and APPENDICES, is prov-
ded by upon the school district, imposed legal
meeting Fuel is obtained either by direct tax, by
subscription, or by proportonae contribution
he school fund drawn from the State Treasury Of
New York, is only 100000, (bu little than dou-
bic aprropriaton) and yet with that compare
lively small aid, being not than 81 for each
child, and Sl2 to each school, 4s0,0l children were
sent TO school for period OF eight months in
the year. The actual expense for each child accord
ing the report OF the Superintendent of that State
exceeds 49, of course ninetenihs of the whole
was contributed by the inhabitants IL the number OF
children in this State be estimated high even
as log, 900, they have provision from the Treasury
equal at least TO twice the amount Of that made by New
York.
1t is undoubtedly very important that experiment
should be made in district of every county in which
/ ~ .taso
admit o it, even IT, as was the case in Franklin, the
proportion OF the school quota should be exceeded
The inhabitants would then be enabled to Judge from
their own observation, OF the advantages disadvana
ees Of the District System, applicable their own
neghborhoods IL its superiority shsuld he mani
fest both their feelings and interests will call forth
liberal support, and the adjoining districts would hasten
TO initiate their example.
Several amendments TO the existing laws and rcgula-
tons, deserving consideration, will be found i'm the ex
tracts from the reports of the School Commissioners in
document X. Other changes and provisions also, not
alluded TO in those extracts, considered expedent,
as wei Tor the removal OF difficulties which tend
reard or perhaps defeat the recovery OF money from
delinquent Treasurers of School Commissioners as Ter
the further Improvement in the management Of the
school funds, and extension of the benefits flowing
from them. In the mean time, the present arrange
mens, it is believed, such throw no serious
obstacle in the way OF the effective and satisfactory ope
ration OF the systems at present authorised.
Soon after the adjournment OF the last Legislature,
additional supply Of the forms and abstracts the laws
Tor the government of tho School Commissioners was
printed and distributed, and there is reason to believe
that copy is in the hands Of every School Commits
oner in the State. At the time | addressed 10
them circular, of which document L., hereto append
cd, is copy. With view of shelving the practical
effect Of the FORMS have also appended full copy of
the returns lately received from the county of Franklin
which will be found in document NJ
Il beg leave to submit TO the consideration of the
General assembly, the propriey of auhorsing the Pre-
sdent and Directors of the Literary Furd make sale
OF the Bristoe tract oil land in the county of Prince
William. belonging TO that Fund, if it can be done con-
sstentiy with the interest of tue State. The greater
part of this valuable tract of land is subject 10
leases which will not expire until the year Is4g An
uninterrupted course Of bad maDag cement, cultivation
and neglect for the greater part of century, is repre-
sentcd to have reduced TO miserable state of power
y and unproductveness, and left il in great measure
destitute OF wood either for fuel fencing Ii is very
improbable that during the expired term of the leases
any change in the mode of cultivation on the part the
tenants, calculated 10 improve the land or increase s
value in any way will be experienced the probability
on the contrary is that il will continue as heretofore
in progressive state OF deterioration, and that when
reverts TO the Commonwealth, it will not command
better price than il would at this time though subjected
10 the incumbrance of the leases. Under these circum
stances, If sale can be effected such terms as NAV
increase, but at any rate diminish the income der
he the Of dispensing with an agency which is at
tended with much trouble, and the same time be pro-
ductive, in all probability, ct very considerable adyan
tags TO the county in which it lies.
with great respect,
i have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedent servant,
J. BROWN ir.
Second .fuditoT and
Sup TtnfeHde1t Literary Fund