Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-07
fox 1T. ~ Z II'f II
Uniform System Of Pnbijc Instruction an I"St"iq.

GNo St
On the present means Of Education in Virginia, the
Rev. Il Rice. d ID , says: 1T seems Ia be generally
admitted, that Virginia is deficient in various matter,
connected with her highest glory and hrr dearest me.
State She Is rich IN people, but pour IN ne
Of ai!ordng them improvement have greatly
wondered al and deeply regretted The thousands "Ira
have been and ever wear sCuaudrfrd What 10
falsely called the Prmary Sch"ol System | carnM
help expressing my indignation and that an ~
peten, Ike this should be called the Public Schoo Sy
TEN of Nirgnia."
In this connexon, ! am, BY the kindness of frerG
enabled 10 give some views Of the county Of Russell
which are extracted from late letter of James Cl.
roll ESQ, Clerk Ot the Court IN that county, Us
and patriotic gentleman. All active sch"n comm.ss
oner, and one better Than any other ncGuaInwd WITH
that county. He says "tha, there IS d,l'oohI:
want in The proper means by which alone the huuan
mind ~ county Ia be mig heusd vhn las
glanced at the present 81 EducHrI"n
n"IOn with the execution oi The plan br mistaken
II is true that the community have been hent ft'd IT.
der the system, but not al all 10 The exett Nmch ne
expenditures attending II would TO warrant TIE
principal mpetlments TO the execution {" ihr rx'slu.
system. within my own observation these the wan
OF sufficient number Of competent achfrs-a d'sp"''
ton IN the community, or majority Of them, 10 upf!
the cheapest instead Of the COMPETENT eachrrt
and then keep the children home Tor large pr
of The time they ought To br al schOola wan, oi ssa
ton 10 the schools by the school commissioners, Win al
this country, being OF those individuals, whom C'b'I
public business domestic concerns require uucJ Il
their personal attention, and receiving pecuEnr.
Enumeration for the services they required It, pcfal
schn"l commissioners very sed"n 'heir schools
and scarcely interest the neIres al all IN the progress
those children whose education they ure supposed lI
superinend" He mentions too, 1.-THE general aFaL!l
that exists amongst majority Of indvlduaIs whs"
cunary resources enable them 10 offer Their rhG'raI
the advantages of a Common School Educa'.rn i
One result Of such things, Is 1.-The ncapabIrry u al
proportion OF the citizens Of county. to wrr goa Il
toIerabiy intelligent letter on any subject "lhr.I
are, lie says, "aOout 1900 children IN The coUnY 4
Russell who ought TO 90 10 schuul-of this DDmU'' %
more Than une.ihIrd al school II is estimated t-
there about AGO poor children; and Of The latter. Int
sent 10 school say, Tor half of Their imP-at
2UO. The Instruction they receive, amounts. IN E"nri'
TO mere imperfect sEati.rIng IN spe hing. reading ="
ing, and sometimes arithmetic. 1he funds allowed /
the purchase OF books and materials it writing orc e.
phrIIng, are Inadequate ,U deirdy TIE nrcc>sa? 81
penses consequent on proper supply; and, tor inr ~
part, the ncapaclty of teachers prevents them iTa"
parting 10 the youths OF ther charge, the necesi'
CIlitir5 In several Instances too, the teachers az
times iniPmpersle-use ardent spirits 10 rxctss-s
pr"iIgate, and shui-rs of spotted pas,rbnarc-2
fame In th-Ir language and otherwise Imrn"rn Ihe'I
cuse Tor employing such men to teach u.s. that ,n"y
The cheapest and best that be had that ih'S
restrain Themselves in their habirs hiIe scho-'
capable Of lnsrrucIing snarrly. the unIrtd arc
tutored mrd. The School Commissioner, unC'r ~"
circumstances, diskss 10 wnhh"id his patronage
the nrghborhn"d. although lie ls confident IT la'.
ing ihIs school none) has AIDED, IN many ns'r,'
in the employment OF ieuch-rs-ms y holly ung'a.t
Tor important Gully. | have visited some ct ."''
schools
According 10 data, before given there must be ii
than 100 COO children in Virginia growing up I" i"-',
and ignorance, 10 add 10 the number Ui Pres"'
nurant adults
Is not This sad picture Of State Of which W
proud: have hoped some at these accounts p"trS 4
ed Is ii so all The land: have fought ogAIh'
conviction; bn, am met by The fact that ha" .,
found an individual 10 gansay them; aud more '',"
IN the name OF common sense what else zen VIZ
a'IPr this startling official result; With all TIE g"t
has been done, and with all the iathuIness ma COS
claimed IN relation TO State expenditure nf co"
schools, the last report says, there orr - ,f. ",I
children in the different cnunIles-and l32J."
only. were entered at school Iasl year; ana be-" w..
you think that each one Of these favored "c'p''.
State munhcence sfaId at school and reaPed '"' s !
culable benefits Of the above detailed e1crll'n' ".
ton in reading. writing aud clpherlrg: I"yIt4
G2 l.2 days, and some Of these days they ale
long enough 10 have their names entered .,,-s
Is not This an absolute waste Of SIiOUO pr"
Stale: IL this be mo, absurjy # tins oe u" ,-i
climax Of fulrliIy, it is !uticr"us; hui "hpn ~
of the abortion Of hopes. aud OF the appalling 80
to The State. and the awful consequences 70 '"e f'
tears fill up the wrinkles Of laughter