Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-18
EDUCATION CONVENTION,
ACADEMIES

EDUCATION CONVENTION.
ACADEMIES.
Judge Clopton from the Committee on Academies
made the following Report, which was adopted with
slight amendment
The Committee to whom referred tic subject Of
Academies beg leave to report:
That in performing the duty required Of them they
have experienced some difficulty in considering the
question of Academies separately from that of Primary
Schools, which has been referred to another committee
for in the view which they have taken, no system OF
education such the wants OF! the people call for can be
efficient without both Primary Schools and Academies;
and neither of these without the other and proper adap
taon of the the other They constitute the basis
upon which the whole column must rest. Endeavor-
ing however, far possible to separate the subjects,
and combining their consideration TO their appropriate du
w. the Committee Of opinion, that the Academies al
ready Incorporated al different points in the State, have
failed to produce the benefits expected from them, prnci-
oay from two causes-frst the want of patronage In
most instances they have been favored and endowed by
private donation and individual occasional subscription,
without any aid support from the Government, eS-
cept the act 81 MISREPRESENTATION inadeqndcy
of MEANS they have fingered through years Of preca
rous existence and disappointed hopes by failing to at
tain the highly important objects of;heir institutions and
when legislative bounty has been occasionally extended,
has been tardy and meagre, and granted too, with
out system view to any general plan, that but little
good could reasonably be expected to result; and in
point Of fact, IN the opinion OF the Committee but little
benefit has been received from them. Secondly, the
Committee believe the chief cause Of Tie failure is to be
found in the fact that the boards of Executive officers
who have been entrusted with their control and drec
tiop are too numerous, While the committee knew that
the mana ueren of agents must lie invoked, and feel
the force of the truth that without a.e faithful and ef
fcient agents every system, however good IN ITSELF
must il; they of opinion that the prospect of
cess is greater from small than large board of con-
iro!. The responsibility resting n large board is so
divided that The portion Of each must be iceby felt,
and unity Of purpose and concentration Of effort can
scarcely be expected. In addition to well organised
system of primary schools and academies, the COM
mttee are OF opnion that the great evil under which
the community labors IS the want Of teachers. To
The success of any system, however well organised,
however bountnlly endowed, teachers, Of moral cha
sacter of proper habits and manners, possessed them
selves Of knowledge and Of the capacity to impart
il TO others, Indispensable. in the opinion Of the
Committee il should be principal object ofeyery sys-
TEN of general education, TO provide after lis
practical organization possible an adequate number
especially for the Primary Schools OF competent teach
ers reared among ourselves, accustomed TO our habits
and manners educated at our own institutions, and
known 10 those whose children arc be conded their
care while II shond be forgotten that in order to
render It accessible 10 ALL and TO give the evident DIFF
fusion benefits, the principle of free schools should,
30 far practicable bc adopted, and carried out, and
where this principle departed from, that the expenses
OF education should be diminished; that providing
sufficient number OF proper teachers TO supply the wants
of the community, and including all within the pTacti.
10 the teachers reasonable compensation Upon these
general views and retaining from any attempt TO deye
ope minute Details the committee respectfully suggest
that
The Academies already established at many points
in the State together with others 10 be established at
proper locations where necessary, should constitute
part Of the general system, that they should lie put
far practicable, and the wants OF the people shall m
dictate. upon co uaty Of endowment by the bounty
of the State combined with their present funds ndivi-
ayafia n tla nIp cbn1l
and subjected to uniformity of control and manage
mcnt to general principles, that the tuition fees
should be moderate and fixed by law, that certain Num-
beers of young gentlemen should be educated Mt them
free Of cost with view Of fitting them 10 become teach
ers in the Primary Schools and binding them by some
mode to be devised OF deyong themselves at least for
certain number OF years, to that object Tor reason
able and moderate compensation, that The Legislature
extend this patronage 10 the Academies now incorporate
cd, that each Senatorial District such may
be appropriated circumstances may require, upon
condition that for every twenty dollars so contributed,
scholar shall be educated free of tuition fees, If he
shall offer his 10 those having control OF the
District Schools or Primary Schools Of the county
district if there be demand for his services, to engage
in the employ Of teaching for number Of years
equal to the time he has enjoyed the bounty Of the
State; that each Academy, whose Trustee shall agree
10 his condition. shall elect Of their body from
wear 10 year. who shall he the Superintendent OF the
Academy and 10 whom the Instructor shall be respon
sibe after he is chosen by the Trustees, which Super
nendent shall report annually 10 the "a auailor Inc
proceedings in relation the instruction OF teachers
and the disbursement of the public bounty.
COLLEGES.
The following Report, introduced BY Mr. Nathaniel
T.. yenable, from the Committee on Colleges, was
adopted by the Convention. We invite attention 10
the concluding part Of the Report which relates TO our
Medical College: |
The Committee on Colleges have according to order
of The Convention, proceeded to consider The SUBJECT
10 them referred, and beg leave through their Char
man to presen, the following Report:
The Committee, having unanimously concurred IN
the opinion that appropriation ough, 10 be made
10 the Colleges of the State by the Legislature, have
vet endcavoted 10 avoid pressing the claims Of these In
s,tu,ons TO the exclusion of other parts Of liberal and
JUS, system of public education ,hey believe that no
system be good profitable or Just one, that does
NOT make some provision for The different grades ofedu
cation, as we'll as for the different classes that must
list in every community The founders Of the Literary
Fund contemplated and marked out BY acts Of legis'a
lion, system made up of University, Colleges and
Academies and Primary Schools. liberal provision
was made for the University, and the allowance TO that
naliiution has been paid with punciuali,y and g0odta
Large annual distributions from the Treasury nave