Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-09
PRIMARY EDUCATION.

We intend to hammer away at this subject, unit
We succeed in awakening the pubic mind to its I'M
portancc, os prove the task to be utterly hopeless
With this view, we subjon ar article from the Alb
'nsdon Virgnian. Such is our persuasion Of the vi
tai Importance Of n moro efici.nt system Of educa
ton to the liberty and happiness and prosperity o.
the People, that shall deem that man their great
est beneiactor-not excepting George Washington
who shall devise plan to educate every child in the
Commonwealth.
Gould not the present Legislature be persuaded
to cover itself with the glory of making the entering
wedge TO the attainment Of this great object
would not the appointment OF two or three well
quahhed gentlemen to prepare a well digcstcd sys.
TEN, to be submitted to the next Legislature, be
better than nothing7 The first step taken, future
ones will become more easy.
From the abingdon Virginian.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
II rs most gratifying circumstances TO preceivo
thet the subject OF Common Schools is exciting
some interest in the country, Just at this time But
shen, does extend farther than to the Editors Of
lew newspapers And is il not with them rather a
eyanesccnt excitement In what is it to result 2
we lear IN nothing but woras.-who will step for.
ward with plan-a plan that will fully meet the
wants OF the community and propose to carry il in
TO execution We doubt whether the patriotic in
divldual, both able and willing, is to be found.
The wealthy suppose they have no interest in
tins matter-the poor do not see its necessity and
tne great body ofthc people are in a state of SUI
pineness This is literally true, surprising as il NAV
seem TO all men Of reflection and is conclusive proof
how little public attention the subject commands
one would suppose that every father and mother
VINO mad good health and hands to work, would
feel the deepest remorse when they reflected on the
charge which God had committed TO them and
often the great blessing he had bestowed in giving
them children with the finest capacities, and yet
that they should permit these children, in civiz-
cd land, TO grow up without common education
without the ability to read HIS WORD What a re
hectlon! We have long looked with anna cement on
the lethargy OF our countrymen in regard TO this
vitality important subject to them and to their chill
dren.
Blu, to come at once directly up to a main oue,.
ton, what difficulty can there be in estabshins n
system OF Common Schools We should suppose
none at ALL The people have the means!and
nothing is wanting but the will to apply them.
AND IN very few words, we will show how il can
be done.
IL would be n very simple matter to divide each
county in the State into School Districts Of proper
extent, so as to accommodate the inha The
next step would be TO provide site for the school,
house. This would generally be given by some |
hberal-miDded farmer. The inhabitants of the |
school district could, with great ease build their
own school house, and this ;hey should be required
to do. The next thing would be to procure a good
teacher. This, in the commencement Of the svstem
would be the most difhcult-but money will com. |
mand good teachers. This we know practically
The teacher being found the mode of raising the SAL
ery would be the next consideration This has |
been made great stumbling block, and without !
reason. Why should it be7 When so great an OBJ |
Ject is TO be attained would any reasonable man
hesitate one moment TO increase the taxes one-thrd
or one-half, and you have the money! Who can |
objec: TO this. Ought the great body of the peo- |
pie TO object, or would they, If the question was
iarly presented to them, when in the education of
their children they would receive ten.fold for all
they pay! The wealthy ought not to object-they |
would be benehtted at least TO the value of their
taxes, IN the Improvement of society and the in |
creased security of our social institutions.
This Is one mode, and, If not approved, then au-
thorize each school district 10 tax themselves We |
prefer the first plant is the phnest simplest, fair
est and one which the people of the State should |
adopt without a moments hesitation.
Besides the income OF the Literary Fund appl- |
cable to Common Schools, there would be reouir- |
ed about 100000 TO establish schools throughout |
the State.
IT'S shewn Ivy the report of the Deputy Marshal |
who took the census OF this county, that its white
population Is lO,T3l, and that the number of white
persons over the age of who cannot read or write
Is ,539 In the adjoining county of Smyth, the |
white population is little upward Of 1000 and the |
number OF white persons over 81 who cannot read |
or write, IS 64S We believe that the reports OF the |
Deputy Marshais do not fully reveal the neglect Of
education within our limits, however astounding
may be the facts which they bring to light. There
arc persons Of our acquaintance, who hold so much
property, and make respectable an appearance in
society, that no one would ever suppose that thew
were wholly destitute Of even the elements of an
edueaton, and OF many such, enquiry on the
suolect, we dare say, was made by the Marshals
ana mus they have been omitted IN their returns.