Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-11-26

LNcso fHaRpShtrE-5U Academies. Sniy l,1uN pu-
pils-ls,240 IN District Schools
Mas.sckusetts-A Stale in which Il greatcs proportion
of the people receive a liberal education THAI IN any
other State in the Union, has sd Academies and inter.
mediate Schools, attended by 27,.Jb scholars-@,'iS
District Schools l6n, es5 pupils.
Pennsylvania Previous to 1886, hal TWO tn'vet'
sites, eight Colleges, and ~dfty-ivc Academies, all H.
berally endowed by The State, TO an extent when great
ly exceeds any thing which Virginia c"'ld do WIN
"Such spare funds" as is likely to come into hr urea
sury also, u system for the instruction OF lhc pho''
similar to ours. Indeed her system was Y nt'caiiy the
same which "E" thinks the Convention should urge
upon the Legislature. What was tue result STUPID
ignorance continually increased. Dot OF 100000
children Of The proper age to be at school, only i'u,uuV
were ut school. The District School System ~as es-
tablished, and in two years, (wh,lsi tue system was ou'
partially in operation, 1913, 10 children were attending
the District Schools. Let US look a. the Academies,
Colleges, &c, of this State. In 1859, these insiitu-
lions received donations from The State amounting to
S5I ass aud the number taught IN that year was only
3,692. The average expenses of each pupil in the
.qeademies were SID s6. What proportion of the
.creat mass OF society" could afford to seEd their sons
and daughters ut that cost? Could The liable bodied
or the ..two hogshead' men of Virginia afford it
Look at the effects Of The District School System in
New York. The system was inlroducc4iD 1916, and
its usefulness has constantly increased. In ls4O, ou'
of 600, 1000 children between the ages 81 five and six
teen years, $4,000 were attending Dhorict Schools
Those who did not attend, are believed to be chiefly
of Catholic parents, who could not conscieDtiously
permit their children to attend the District Schools
les, they should imbibe tenels repugnnnt To The Catho
lc Faith. Were the principles OF religious federation
better understood in New York, her District Schools
would embrace all the children Of the State. The in
luence of a good system Of Common Schools, on in
stilulions of a higher grade, is exemplified in New
York. Only 1851 are expended on these by The
State, and they ore attended by "a SOB students. Con
t.ast this with what has been done in Pennsylvania
MIR. Editor, and 'note the diversitie." will men
ton a fact in relation TO Dickinson College, IN PennsYl
vania, which shows how difficult it is TO support q Col
lere when no provision is made for the education o.
the great mass of society. That institution, at diiier
emit times, received from the State donations in money
amounting 10 SOL 500, and 0,0O0 acres of land-bu'
it languished-suspended operations several times, and
was finally transferred 10 the Methodists. The truth
OF the matter is, the most effectual means Of promoting
the prosperity of Colleges and Academies and adpan
cling the cause %ofliberal education, is to establish a good
system of Common Schools.
1t has been objected BY some, that our population is
too sparse for the district school system, but | think
the DIRECTORS have not duly considered the matter
The friends of the district system propose 10 divide the
counties into districts ofabout 5 miles square, equal Ia
% square miles, but TO be larger or smaller as circum-
stances nigh; require. | think, judging from what has
been done in other States, this plan would be practi.
cable in Virginia.
The population Of North Carolina is less to the
square mile than that Of Virginia and the people of q
large majority of the counties of that State, have
ADOPTED the DISlricl SCnOoi SysleWi, UY Young y ~ d.
the polls. Yes, even "trip Van Winkle' has walked
up.
In New York, there are five District Schools, where
it is proposed to establish one in Virginla. The Tree
white population in the country, in tirginia, Is about
eleven to the square mile. In New York II IS about
81. So, with about three times the population, New
York has five times as many schools that il is proposed
to establish in Virginia. Other comparisons might be
made, showing the practicability of establishing Dis.
tficts Schools in Virginia, but it is unnecessary.
In the District Schools, there should &c taught
spelling, reading, mriting and arithmetic, thoroughly
instruction in these branches should be given 10 at
who attend the schools gratis. If teachers could be
procured, capable of teaching the higher branches, it
should be done ; but all who pursued them should pay
a fee 10 the tearher. But the former branches are U:
much greater importance to the people al large. as they
will qualify them for the ordinary business transactions
If life; besides, they will enable all who have u genius
for it, to acquire IA store of useful knowledge. The
Schools should be supported in part b. tho State,
and by District taration.
circumstances permit, this subject will be resumed.
1t should be KEEP; before the people.
A vlRGlNIAN.
q We shall be happy to hear again from "a Vir-
ginian, or FROM az" or indeed from any Correspond.
ent who understands the great subject on which he
writes, and who will compress his ideas within a rea-
sonable compass. lEdtor.