Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-07

weanej,and time, temper and talents thrown away
by long course of unn,oros,ing spelling, or the
mere dry details Of cypheriag byea ru&e, perhaps
as well understood by pupil as 4nas,er, and by .
neither well enough to give an explanation of the
principles involved in it's statements. The limit
cd time and means OF the pupil are exhausted
long ere any sufficient and accurate instruction
has been impaired. Were all the children in Tho
commonwealth taught in this manner to read and
write, the aversion to literary subjects, and tho
imperGcction of the accomplishments impaired.
might well justify the expectation that but little
II any use would be made of the ability to read
and write, and in few years it would be lost by
disuse, or so impaired TO result in no practical
benefit to the possessor.
In the mean time, other causes have conspired
10 relard the progress of improvement in our COM
mon schools. We are doomed to a succession IF
iheiiicienttr unnstructed teachers, by two-fold
cause either portion of which is competent to
Produce the result. Like begets like, and tho
wonderful iecundity of apparently useless or per-
ncious animals, or rather aninalculw is notor;-
Gus. But while teachers are so poorly rewarded.
can we expect that young men, conscious ofmer-
ting greater re ward than squeezed salary of
hily or seventy dollars per annum, with board.
VIII devote their time to teaching Unloss
'here Is reformation in the state Of public opin-
ion' ana Education becomes more appreciated, it
Is vain to expect better teachers. STRANGE il
should be so. mean teacher is only onno,o,,L
cheap. Like mean mechanic. he costs NOR.
than good one. You pay half price and the
lo;,,
better be we'll done at once Ifthc child is ill., il
Is cheaper to employ an accomplished physician,
10 say nothing OF the safety. If your carriage
needs repairs, it is cheaper to employ a good
coachmaker. If the child needs instruction. then
employ good teacher, rather than lose the mon
ely paid an unskilful teacher, and in addition to
this, risk the mental character and perhaps NOR
all with the future prosperity of the child Be-
tore leaving this part of the subject may antci-
pate somewhat, by observing, that the low rate of
tuition, liked by the State law, has greatly tended
tofoster the sentiment, that choapnoss is the best
qualification of u teacher. -Four or FIVE cents per
diem, subject to deduction for time lost bv the
pupil, is amere apology for tuition fee, and who
can De expected to accept it, if he has any proper
sense OF the requisite qualification Of a teacher,
unless drlven to such course by dire necessity 2
Another fruitful source of the evils of ionoranco
which so sadly overcast the prospects Of our
State, may be found in the inadequate provision
made by the state for the unfortunate. AS This
subject Will receive attention in its proper place,
under the next general topic, dismiss it for the
present, by the observation, that even supposing
the pecuniary provision most abundant, it could
never be benefcially expended under the present
plan. Sparse population in some places, an aris-
tocrac spirit debating separate schools as proper
Tor the rich and poor, and similar causes, have all
had weight In aggravatng from year to year tho
evils oSour condition, and while other states are
yearly diminishing the number OF their untaught.
and some OF even despotic governments securing
the blessings of Education to every child; while
the tendency of the influences operating through
out our country is to elevate the standard of Edu-
cation in every department, cur own beloved Vir-
ginia with her immense resources, her proverbi
al pride, her ancient renown, her political impor-
lance, has remained stationary, and in some re-
specs, even presented the appearance of retro
erosion IN all pertaining to this subject SO vital
ly important to her fundamental interests.
To be conanued.)