Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-28

.duSuSf0, ncid IN Sldunf0n, Sept. III, lSll.-
concluded.
8. What remedy should be applied to supply
deficiencies and imperfcctions in common school
education in Virginia!
One of the clearest induces of ignorance or in
capacity relative to subjects of difficulty, is the
professed familiarity or ability with which some
persons treat them. To them, the mere mention
OF the matter in hand, is sufficient at once TO sup-
gest some scheme which shall at once remove all
difficulties. On the other hand, you may find
some so confident in the perfection of ''whatever
is" and SO wise on the entire propositions of
what ought to be, that they unhesita,inely affirm
the rectitude of what exsts-and the impractica-
bility of every thing else. II is the part of true
wisdom, rightly to appreciate difficulties; of true
courage to approach their resolution with an un-
daunted spirit; and of true patriotism to reject
defective schemes however sanctioned by GUS
tom, and enshrined in the affections of those who
admire all that is national because it is so and
to receive novel plans, from whatever source de-
rived, on their intrinsic merits and obvious adj
vantages.
IL VIII readily be conceded, that our present
plan Tor educating the poor does not provide for
all the poor children; does not fully provide for
the portion which it partially aids and does not
offer, even to such as it most benefits, such an
Elementary Education, as a Virginia citizen
should have. The authentic documents of State
fully establish the first and second propositions
ana the law itself proves the third. Nor does it
appear, however adequate some are disposed to
think, the provision for the poor, that this plan
has conferred any material benefit on others.
which was and is one great argument in its IA
vor; for after we have made every due allowance
for the instances related, of the establishment of
schools, by aid derived from the tuition of the
poor paid by the State, still when we remember
how precarious is the support thus offered TO the
Teacher, we are constrained to deny that the ben
eft arises which contemplated nay more,
there Is great reason to believe, that in many ca
scs, the necessity of embracing snch uncertain
patronage in the support of school, has operated
uniavorably on competent teachers, and left such
neghborhoods dependent on the labors of sadly
unqualified men,
But even apart from such considerations, il is
obvious such plan must leave unaffected great
number of children, whose parents are averse to
It's provisions, or who, while unable TO pay, are
yet out of the pale of provisions designed for the
INDECENT.
To secure any amelioration then, of the con-
dtion of that large portion of the really INDECENT
| according to the official documents, nearly one
| half) who are now excluded, and of that large
number who are equally inheritors of the msfor-
| tune OF ignorance, the plan should be so amended
as to secure to the state the disposal, and to the
counties the appropriation, of much larger sum
| tha II ha
| 1t, if we would supply such rate of tuition as
would be a real reward to teachers, and five would
also extend the meaning of the term INDECENT,
and yet we would have difficulty of no slight
importance with which to contend as now, there
would still be many who would not avail them
selves of the provision. Could we avoid the e.
wills of ignorance by abundant provisions-and
repose on our sofas, speak in senate cham
bers, and puff in editorials, with tho sef-com-
placency of men, who could boast of perfect
system of state Legislation on this momentous
topic, all the difficulties might be removed, pro-
vided money could be raised. But we see proui.
sion is not all. Something must be done to rem.
der it efficient. If we confine that provision tc
the poor and design to enforce its operation, we
should never succeed. We cannot lay burdens
on one class and leave others free. Even suppo
sing all the INDECENT taught, there still remains
large class, for whom no provision is made, and
hence no compassion (supposing it proper to use
1T, and surprising it successfully used in the case
of paupers) can be applied, and the evil must be
perpetuated.
see not how the present plan, revised and a
mended, can answer the demands of the case.
might be better, but it's improvement would in
volve recourse to the identical features in wha
we conceive better scheme, which objection
able with some, and of whose difficulties in prac
tco none are better aware than the writer. al
lude TO taxation and compuisio ion, and | may sa,
in advance that there would be more objectona
able resorted to- in order to amend the present plan
than in order to provide for another. This will
presently be explained.
, have no favorite scheme to urge public
attention. There are peculiarities in our physica
and social condition as State which must ever
render any scheme, one of difficulty, and one toe
which cannot be at once perfected and fall to tin
people from the Legislature, like the tabled pro
geny of the God, fully supplied with the endow
ments and furnished with the abilities Of matu
rjty.
In all those states in our own and foreign lands
? In which state systems Of education are in sue
cessfnl operation. we observe uniformity in on
leading principle. The state assumes the posi-
ton, and exercises on this subject, the control