Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-11-04
MEMORIAL.
Ofhs undersigned, Citizens of the Central
part Of Vrginia, on the subject Of Common
Schools 10 The LeyiSIaf,tre of Ya

Och00tS, 10 me Legislature OF va.
Your memorialis,s represent to your honorable
body that in their opinion the present state Of
Common Schools and the provision for the cdu-
cation Of poor children, are unsatisfactory, and
require legislative action to rende: them more eff
icient for the great purpose of general education.
We have no legal provision for the proper loca-
ton and construction of school-houses-tor SUP
plying well Qualified teachers, or for testing the
qualifications of such profess to teach no
superintendence of schools, nor general rcgula-
tons Tor the proper management Of them, or the
proper selection and supply Of school books -
all OF which are conditions necessary to a good
system of popular education.
Great evils result from these defects. Many
OF our youth receive no schooling; many more
are badly educated; the public intelligence and
the public morals suffer great detriment; and
every citizen lives less securely and less prosper
ously under our republican institutions.
The fund appropriated to the education of poor
children is not only deficient in amount, and often
negligently and njudiciously administered; but
without well organized school system, it must,
though lit were doubled or trpled in amount still
fail to accomplish its great and charitable object.
We apprehend that much of this precious fund
has been hitherto wasted in paying for abortive
scraps of tuition, resulting in no useful degree
of scholarship. And SO it must always be,
while teachers Of any sort allowed the daily
fee Of or S cents for their charity scholars,
without accounting for the manner and the re-
suits of their instruction, and while poor ignor-
ant parents send their children so irreguarly to
school at the public expense and without benefit
to the children themselves. A general and well
regulated school system would contribute much
towards the removal Of these defects, by furnish
ing better instruction, and inducing poor parents
to avail themselves more generally and regular
ly OF the benefits of good school system.
Your memOrialists therefore pray that your
honorable body would after due deliberation en-
act well digested and efficient system of COM
mon schools for this Commonwealth: they desire
that the plan should be comprehensive and COM
plete in every thing neediul to make 1t operate
eliectually for the diffusion Of knowledge and
good morals among the rising generation.
Large funds will be requisite for the support
of such a system of schools. For the accom-
plishment of an end important TO- all our best
interests, the resources of the Commonwealth
ought to be put in requistion to the necessary eX
tent. Besides the present Literary Fund and the
share OF Virginia in the proceeds of the public
lands, fund should be raised by a tax on proper
ty, for the purpose Of reducing tuition fees to a
rate so low, that all except paupers and few
others might be able to educate their families
without calling for special aid from the public
charity.
We hold it 10 be manifestly just and proper
that the people should all contribute according to
their ability to the great object of dil1using the
blessings of education through all classes of our
citizens, that they may secure to their country a
higher degree Of intelligence and virtue, and to
themselves and their posterity the only safeguard
under heaven for the perpetuation and beneficial
administration of our popular system Of govern
ment.
With this expression of their sentiments, your
memorlaisis submit the subject to the wisdom of
the Legislature, trusting that the session OF
lS4l-2, will not be suffered to pass away without
the adoption of preparatory measures at least, for
thorough revision and Improvement of our sys-
ten OF common schools.