Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-01-17


licences in 1877, an: ounted TO four thousar
SIX hundred and eighty two; of whom eiev,
, hundred and twenty seven were unable
write: 1--we thousand and forty eight, in 1872
OF whom the number unable TO write ",
: eleven hundred and sixty six and in 1873,
the applicants were four thousand six hur
dIed and fourteen; and of these, The numbe
OF one Thousand and forty seven were unabl
to write their names. From which il az
pears there still exists adeplorabIe extent {
ignorance, and that in truth, il is hardl
less than 1t was twenty years ago, when ih
school fund was created-The statements
II viii be remembered, are partial, not EN-
\ Tracing quite all the countless and arc more
over confined To one sex. The education @
females, il is 10 be feared, is in a condition
OF much greater neglect. An abstract O
these statement will he laid bcfUrc YOU
with this notifying exhibition before us
are we authorized iorely upon the plan now
IN use, TO supply the pressing demands o.
The generation just rising into manhood?
There are now in the State two hundred
thousand children between the ages of five
and fifteen. Forty thousand of these are ro.
ported TO be poor children, and of them, on
ly one.haf To be attending school, IL may
be safely assumed, that OF those possessed Of
property, adequate to the expenses of PLAIN
l -
ignorance for want Of schools within conve.
nient distances. Oflhose al school. many
derive little or no. instruction, owing 10 the
Ihcapacity OF the teachers, as " ell as 10 their
cuipabie negligence andinatteniion. Thus,
The number likely 10 remain uneduca,ed
and To grow up without Just percep options of
their duties, religious, social and political
Is really Of appalling magnitude, and such
as TO appeal with affecting carnes,ness to a
parental legislature. Is not comprehen.
sive and well organized system, with care.
iul ana ample provisions 10 carry il success
fully into practice, demanded by the litera>
ry deslitution of so large portion Of our
people?
IL is not 10 be expected, tina, The appropri-
alton now authorized by law, distributed n.
mong line several counties, Can be made eli
iectual in accomplishing any general refor-
nation aud II is that consideration which
tends Ia lessen the interest felt by tho Com.
missioners, as il dues 10 discourage others
from acting in that capacity, whose inilu-
encc and intelligence would render them ef.
iicient. The sum is not sufficient, in some
oil the counties, 10 provide for the poor living
IN the vicinity ol schools already established
sill less, ~ establish them in situations in
which they are needed, and 10 provide the
| means OF preparing sufficient number Of
competent instructors. AT most, i, is capa-
! BILE Of siiording only par.ialreIiet, and there
10 toe much reason 10 fear il is rcnd, red vet
more Inefficient by the loose, Irregular and
injudiciOus manner in which il is sometimes
applied.
a system of popular instruction, such as
! is needed hy the State, and thin lis means
| 10 provide, should look as we'll TO The class
whose revenues are inefficient 10 educate
their children without some assistance from
the State, as TO that whiuh 10 more indlgeut;
and to the gradua! increase of The number
OF experienced and qualified teachers, and
! o! wei! organized schools. Al present, the
Iormer class may be said To be wholly une
| provided for, consisting OF small lsnCihoiiers,
and oihars, whose inconsidcrabie incomes
| will not admit OF their, taking upon them
selves the whole charge of Ihir chiIdren's
education but who are ye; able, and migh,
lie relied upon, Cheerfully 10 contribute 10
the support OF Judicious and COmpIehen-
sive system. Schools established aud main
tanned hy private and public contributions
would he better managed and better attend
ed, than il they were exclusively on Stale
account; and their advantages would no, be
declined 10y any from reluctance 10 appear
az applicants for assistance. The system
which propose, for The Inefficient one now
in use, Is recommended by the experience
other countries that have tried il with dis.
| tinguIshed succcss.-ii would require not
more than eight thousand schools, IN order
10 place one in every convenient and proper
| lOcalion-the locations TO lie selected wi
reference 10 the accommodations of The grea>
test number OF schools, 10 be allotted Ia the
counties and The sizes hiCh .hey should CT
copy, 10 be referred To The respective Coun.
~ Courts, under such restrictions and di-
reciiCns us 10 territorial extent and popula-
ton, That shall be entitled 10 one school, as
may be ordained 10y law. Ii is rresun. cd
that such plan would not involve the re-
cessIIy OF putting up any buildings for the
purpose al the charge OF the State-as each
! District would CONSENT or might be required
! TO provide one at lis own charge For this
| number OF schools four thousand teachers
would probably be sufficient in the com
mencemcnt, each under taking The Charge oil
( two schools, and dividing his time hctN ecu
them as may be directed by Law The coul>
pensaioD OF The teachers, which would con.
stiiute The material part OF The charge OF
such plan, 10 be made up by tie united
contributions Of the public and Of tie dis.
ificis within which the schools were situ-
atcd The first by an allowance from the in
come Of the Literary Fund !; tic latter. ihai
-, the share which each district Shall con
tribute, by levy-on the inhabitants, ascer,
tanned and distributed among them as IL,
law shall appoint, and made payable direct
ly TO the teachers. TO ensure the seuuisi!,
qualifications in The teachers, their Giligepc,
and fidelity in office, the systematic Sllnn
dance OF the children, and for other point
OF police and regulation, local or count,