Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-22
No. 93.---VOLUME XXXvIlI.


islhg popular interest be overbalanced inthe minds of
some, by the greater expedency Of coniding these
appointments, on the of greater competency
more select bodies, should not be forgotten that the
responsibility, when resting upon the people, will nntu
rally bege the capacIty TO meet it, They may not at
once discharge these functions with the judgment and
discretion that they demand but that they will ulti-
nateiy learn their true interests, and be governed
cordngly, ought not to admit of doubt in elective
Government. Were il for this belief despair might
wen seize upon our minds, when consider how
rlonsy and completely all of our interests and rights
whether oil life, liberty property, controlled by
tue suhrages OF the people To prepare them for these
important tasks, is the design of education; when
It's vital concerns are pressed upon their attention by
the necessity oil making these elections they must soon
learn 10 discern It's wantsto cultivate their own capa-
cities, and employ the talents of Others needed
20 accomplish their ends To be compelled TO
i power, often becomes the means by which one is best
i prepared TO exercise it. But if be apprehended that
the people will manifest 10 interest in these appoint,
mens, IS at least scarcely presumable that their neg
/ ligeEce can exceed equal that which gene
rally displayed by the tribunals upon whom the choice
is now devolved by law. The ineiicency Of the pre-
sent system is, IN great measure, ascrbed by its adj
Vocaes TO the failure OF the to bestow any
Gus care upon their discharge of this Duty and TO regu
late their choice by any enquiry the past conduct Of
these officers. il is confidently believed that stricer
scrutiny and greater interest would be elected, by
daInlng popular election of these important agents;
and no fear is entertained that these advantages would
/
H. Tho boards of school commissioners thus chosen
for the respective countless better fitted by their
dependence upon the people, according TO the theory Of
our Government, 10 exercise the powers OF taxation
assessment, with which il has been proposed 10 endue
the county For the introduction of free schools,
which deemed Indispensable to the general diffusion
of elementary instruction, power must exist some
where 10 raise the large necessary to this end i'll
aid of the school quotas, whose present distribution it
seems inexpedent at this time to disturb Before de-
Gliding upon the best seat Of such power it prudent
to enquire into It's probable extent This may be done
Ivy reference the States where such system has been
used, and It's results asceaIned For instance, 1t ap-
pears from report of the superintendent of common
schools in the State of New York, there an aggre
gate expenditure during the year 1899 of Sl,J2l33l,
OF which 81 oll .s73 OF paid TO teachers. In Mas
sachusets, the amount oil taxes for schools including
only wages oteachers board and fuel for the year 1857
40, reached about halt million Of dollars. Taking a.
guide the average instruction for each child
the State Of New York, which is estimated at 80 %,
and reckoning only the number Of children between the
ages of and - years in this State, being 1885, We
ascertain that the annual cost of such system would
reach the sum of SGai,502 -. Even II We assume
the lower estimate Of the Auditors last report Tor
the education Of poor Children viz: 50 62 for each
child, the cost would be found on the same data,
TO be S5l23S5 81. Now, il deduct from these
amounts The States appropriation, and the probable
amount Of tuition fees 10 be paid by those who may
be able 10 meet them, there still remains large
States revenues from taxes Ito be- raised By means
Of levy in the several counties. The policy then Of
augmentng the anomalous powers Of taxuon, already
vested in these sefperpeuating bodies, by authors
ing them 10 impose these large additional burthens up
cn community to whom they bear representative
relations, is 10 shy the least of most questionable pro-
prety. With all Difference for the respectable
from which this suggestion cmanaed, il is not hazard
ing Too much 10 say, that such step would lie regard
ed decided infringement upon the fundamental
prncp pies OF government, and would array such an
ufexib!e hostility against the system that it could not
stand for one moment against the tide OF popular re-
sstancc For these reasons, IL IS thought preferable 10
delegate this power 10 the boards Of school commission
crs combining them within the rate OF certain prcscr
bed sum for each white child between the ages Of ,
and years. according to The last census Of population
To bring many subjects possible within the range
of this assessment measure strongly recommend
ed by Justice towards the ether interests, now mainly
bearing the taxes and county cvcs OF the State, and
by the proprety of making the contributions under 1t
CO extensive with the participation direct and indirect,
Of all classes in the benefits of the system.
" The introduction of schools to be established III
uniform Districts is impracticabe in this State, well
from the character Of its territory the sparseness OF
the population. In the mountainous regions, the settle
ments are small and remote from each other, and al.
everywhere the landed estates Of individuals arc
so extensive area TO make the assignment OF equal
boundaries for school districts, absolutely futile. The
Second Auditor in his report he last Assembly, reck
oned under the of $780, an average only OF two
and three quarters white children, between the OF
five and sixteen in each square MILE aud even less il
the population Of the towns excluded This iaet
renders it nearly impossible in our present condition. 10
provide equally for the wants of the whole population
but yet if we cannot accomplish all that desirable, we
may least great and extensive good lhis obstacle
is by no means decisive Of the failure Of this proposed
reform 1t may be avoided. Release the commission
es from the duty Of establishing schools in certain geo.
graphical limits and require them in their location TO
consult the wants of the population SO as 10 accommo
date the greatest number of those most IN need oil the
opportunities Of education If endued with a liberal
discretion in this respect subject always 10 the control
of the general superintendent they might very nearly
extend TO all, not otherwise provided, the means oil
tuition The abuse OF this discretion cannot feasona-
Div be predcaed of unconares, 50 strictly amenable
10 publc sentiment and subject TO impartial super
in,endence. But this permission should not supersedo
the necessity Of observing uniformity oferrorai area
for the school Districts whensocyer and wheresoevcr
the density OF the population might admit OF it. Con-
nected with the location Of the schools, will be the duty
of prescribing the terms and duration of the schools
and of causing the erection Of suitable schoohouses
all in strict conformity to the direction OF the Chief oil
this department
" In order lessen the amour. OF the proposed as
sessment the boards should be allowed TO require Of
parents able to pay, exceedingly moderate tuition
fee exceed given sum, for each child sent 10
the common school. provision Of this character
would materially augment the resources OF the boards
In New York, whose munifcent appropriations TO her
common schools have reflected so much Just reno~n
upon her policy, the large sum OF $40 l43 q was
paid for the year 1885, by individuals towards teachers
wages Contributions If this sort from men OF aiiiu.
ence would often in securing their patronage 10 these
schools tend TO raise the grade Of instruction, to i'm
prove the discipline to obtain ADLER teachers and pro-
cure more comfortable houses. The happiest effects
upon the system might be expected from thus ensing
in behalf the interest and cooperation oil leading
and influential men in the community common as
ISOLATION of all the youth of the State in these schools
would be the best guarantee of lasting potica! eqna
lity; and while it would not depess the higher might
exat the lower classes in the scale of society AS the
progressive improvement Of these schools will naturally
draw TO themselves numbers of those before receiving
private instruction, this accession CT numerical
strength will, its turn, accelerate their growth and
advance their prosperity. -
vi. As necessary means Of mparng vigor 10 all
the parts Of the administration, tie commissioner Tor
each ward should be required frequently to VISIT ana
examine the several schools therein and to report fully
to his board the result of his enquiries, as to the pro-