Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-06

gffte uHd,rlsUs'. chssN5 n me Central part II Tr
P0n.g. ~. Mssuty Get ~ Common ScLssis
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA


Your memOrltIlsts represent to your honorab lie
body dat 100 their opinion the present state Of our
Common Schools and the provision for the educa
ton OF poor cha .iren, are unsatisfactory, und require
legislative acIon TO render them more efficient for
The grel, purpose oi general education.
We have no legal provision tor the proper Ioca
ton and construction of srhUJ. -hDuses-fOT sur
ins we, OIIIfCd ieIchors, or for TESTING ne q9aI-
fci,Igns Of such as profess 10 te--''-ho bupehG-
tendance of schools, nor g"--'a regulations Tor lhe
urprcr 7ragrurat ~ -ncn, or the proper selection
and .,,r,,r, az r.,Uol .books-a'I ol which ore con
dti,rs r,-.ssary to good system Of popular edu.
ca'an.
Gre1t evils result from these defeats. Many or
cur youth receive no schooling; many more are
BADLY 'Juclied, tie pub I- Intelligence and the pub.
Doc morals suffer great dstrimsnl; and every citizen
lives less securely and less prOsf efOusy under our
ropl1Hr institution.
The ilUd appropriated TO the education Of poor
children b. not only deficient IN amount, and often
n'c gently and IrJudcuu.y administered; but
without well organized schOO. system, Il must,
though DO werc doubled or trpcd IN amount, still
FOIL 20 acc mprh i's great and charitable Object
We HprrohCul iHlt much u this precious fund mas
been hitherto vested loo paying for sbOrtiye scraps
Oi tuition, resulting in no useful degree Of scholar
slip. Md sO % must always be, while teachers Of
Huy sJI .,a D#.I Tho DAILY fee Of 4 or s cents
iyr their charity scholars, without accounting for the
manner uuI tfs results Of 'a'.r Insir. ction uud
While poor frrpuuf u0rrUtr send their children 50
IrrggHf.y fp school n' 'aC pubic expense and with.
oct .ru,fl @, rae CHILDREN themselves. a general
end vel regulated sgboD. system would contribute
much towards me removed of these defects by fur.
nismng brHcr instruction, and inducing poor parents
% uyal. hens Ives more generally end regularly of
the bsu'h.s Of o. good scHoo system.
Your memoir 'ss therefore pr,y that you, hon.
ouba body would altCr due de'iberauon snsct n
well dy,s.,i gcd efficient system Of common
. arhDo. iar THE Commonwealth ucy desire that
thc plan Should yl comprehensive and complete In
every tuU. rgsulU. tI make 10 operate cTe-,uaIIy
/ For tHe diffusion Of kIOw.ldge and good morals
among i.. rising generation.
Ll..C funds vI| De rfgJisI'c fJr The support Of
ssrH S. .ru of .cDDy.s For the accomplishment
q b1 'UH sI important To- 90 our best interests, the
resource. OF o.. Commonwealth ought 10 he put
. 900 rgII.u"u iyta necessary extent. Besides the
| prrssn' Lrcuy Fond and tho share Of virginia in
/ 'hf proceeds of 'hs pub l8njs, a fund should be
/ russn by t.H 0u prorcny, fur the purpose Of re
dJsng tuition ices 10 rate 50 oyy. tf,t sU srsspt
H1npcrs end iCw Others r1gh, be able 10 educate
."r nwes without calling fJr special aid from The
public oulu.y.
. We h1'1 DO 20 be mauf5'Iy Just and proper ihot
INC people should uI contribute according to then
, N"Hy %" i1o gea. o.Irct Of dIlirsrg The blessing,
OF l''c Non lhfDugn a classes ct our or zens tina
l"y may -t'1fe To- thcr country higher degree O
Intelligence .ud virtue, 1ud 10 rhem,clvss and q en-
p'seuY ne only safeguard under heaven for Nh,
IPsip.iu1io0 md benehca. administration Of on
popular system of government.
I'll WIN ths expression ~ heir sentiments vou
f. mcuWipsie submit the subject l., the wisdom !
De- the Lg liurc trusting that The session NJ Isfi
- "i.l not hc suffered 10 pass away without the ndop
d, ton OF p.'pualyry measures at least for tboroug
800 revision und Improvement Of our system Of com
mon schools.