Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-22

by Tile act OF 23th February 1920, providing for IS in
PRODUCTION OF district free schools, would be neil
candid nor Jnst Advantage has been taken o the pro
VISIONS oil Tins act in only four counties of the Common
wealth, and III some ofthese To only very limited ex
tent In The county Of Washington, where il has Deer
most extensively introduced and longest used, strong
testimony is annually borne its benefits by the srhoo
commissioners Of thai county, and their favorcbe OPT
mon IS corroboated by the actual results While tie OLE
plan educaies as has been shewn but little thar
o!ie-hall oi The INDECENT children Of the Commols 2alt
this county has, To lis great honor, afforded by
oil this Iidcious innovation, schooling 10 3i7 on # ar
aggregate of00 poor childien III greatly edns
The usual proportion But the ten years cxpcri~1ce
this County las bs,ught to light in the last annual repor
Of is school commissioners, the lurking and Iad;ca
error Of this law IL consists in having made provision
only Tor voluntary contributions although tie schools
established thereby TO be free TO all. The conse
queEce has ensued that some, though able yet refusing
to contribute, found sending their children w,hou
charge 10 schools, which others, Of perhaps slendere
means, support This is OF course ug 10 the inhi
bition of compulsory assessment and naturally forces
these commissioners to appeal, they do IN their las
report TO the Legislature for the grant Of thu power,
for other remedy. Such imposition is vexa
tous and nloerable, and would prove in practice su
iicent to break down SYSTEM though perfect in all
other respects. 1t is also pertinent in this connection
to note the striking commentary which this fact affords
upon the necessity Of comforting power Of taxation in
the support of free schools, wherever introduced.
| To this cnrsory examination Of the prominen,
defects Of the present plan Of schools, your
committee have been prompted by the belief that full
knowledge and appreciation OF the mscliies, would
naturally and best suggest the appropriate correctves
| They not nsensb!e of the with which even
coed systems may be decried md specious theories
| framed for their amendment But when they conlem-
plate the difficulty of discovering the more hidden
though not less active vices OF such structure,
and the skill which is requisite 10 adjust The al.
teratons 10 the diversified wants and conditions OF
n wide spread community, they admonished TO
enter with cautious and mlsrustful spirit, upon
| the proposal of any organic changes. How such
reforms may be most neatly fitted into the general
frame work Of society, TO disturb no portion Of It's
complicated machinery, nor obsruct the Tree acton OF
It's inbred energies, task which demands tor lis per-
Torrance lie union of experience with much thought
Jul saracy Arbitrary Governments, whose entire
functions organized and directed By single will,
have with singular facility and speed, fashioned an in
iroduced successful and comprehensive plans of pub
lie instruction they have carefully ordained the
whole structure, down TO the daily routine Of the minu
test tasks mat the des would seem to be to compress
the rr'nds of their subjects into common mould oi
christian faith, secular learning, and loyal subsection
But any attempt here 10 emulate such examples, would
be rebuked by the genius of our institutions We
sincerely consult, in such enterprises the varied
conditions, pursuits, opinions, habits and character OF
our people system which shall forfeit their favor, or
be denied their cooperation bears the seeds OF It's own
dissolution. The public sytDpathes are needed TO sus-
III,
down and overwhelmed in the unequal contest But
TO secure this end, all prudent innovations must be
50 assnlilated 10 the common interests and settled
feelings of society. to facilitate the rev move.
which is sought TO be given TO the public ener.
yies All that is desirable muy not he consummated
al once. Much must be necessarily left to the plastic
hand If time, which i'll lis progress accumulates the
experience that is destined perpetualiy 10 contvc iu-
tnrc authorizations. Ionr committee have therefore
aimed more At deysiug n scheme which might carry
..,r,. md nc n
nucleus for future reforms than at the consummatlon o!
any project with the deusive appearance OF full and
perfected proportions.
L. The hrst recommendation which they beg leave to
offer, !. .eemed Fundamental to any new organization,
and has bceen adopted will: great unanmity by the
friends ofeducation II consists in The proposal TO Gre
ate new department, bureau cthe public service TO
he charge with the general care, direction and snperln
endence Of public instruction. Ii IS designed by his
means to give greater relief 10 these important interests
among the other concerns oil The State ana 10 secure
for them a more undivided attention and exclusive adj
ministration This cause hns come on with
the Stale administration, except through the manage
men the Literary Fund, which is devoyed upon the
% Auditor The other duties oflhs officer in conduct
inc the transactions which grow out ofhe Fnnd for in
erna Improvement of cngrossng nature and ne
cessarily occupy large share Of his attention. IL
il said that since the late increase OF public works,
and The accumulation Of public debt, consequent upon
their prosecution, that the administrative functions
touching lis transfers, ana Inc puyIeHl vi Hieles
nin well give occupation tn separate bureau. II is
manifest therefore, that the interests ut education must
suffer from this association with other overshadowing
and complicated concerns othe State The effect also OF
The present arrangement is to Cypress nerilorous OIL
fcer with an undue accumulation Vi pubic business; and
it is not seen upon what rIgbu principle these varied
concerns are combined in one department. AjudcloIs
distribution of abonr demands tins separation; the ei-
cacy of The general administration is dependent upon IT.
and above ALL but just to rescue the great interests
Of learning from this unmerted subordnation, and as
sion il becoming prominence among the chief and
onoropriac functions of the State. BY step OF this
sort the system OF Prussia was materially improved
according TO the testimony OF most competent ana
philosophical Observer who has signalized being
among the most important authorizations OF 1917, the
change by which this branch OF the public service, from
constituting part of the ministry of the interior, OBJ
tanned a special ministry under Baron d'Atenstein
The probability of realizing the same good effects from
similar course in this State, is farther fortified by the
example of other States of the Union, who have adopt
cd this obvious policy IL involves no departure from
lie motives Of convenience or unity, regulating the
orronism of State authorities If TO secure TO the
riuL wants Of the State, proper official care and re.
pulaon il is right establish separate executive oil
fees to conduct the respective administrations, just
estimate Of the true dignity and Importance OF learn
IN would forbid that the intellectual concerns OF So
~ should alone be without its appropriate depart
r,ant in the State. Such n change would also hap
ply inspire public zeal, by displaying the esteem IN
" ich the State holds the public care OF educatlon.-
The sphere Of duties to be assigned to such DE-
partment, would be large enough to employ and to
stimulate the energies of its chief. Besides the
usual duties of general supernt ndence, he should
be required to study its operations with the view
of correcting its defects wherever he may possess the
power else, of suggesting the remedy to The compe-
tent authority; he should prescribe the course oil stu
dies 10 be pursued in the elementary schools and the
textbooks be used he should exert vgant super.
vision over his subordinate agents and stimulate their
fidelity by all the appliances Of official influence, and
all the urgency of direct personal appeals he should
use all practicable means of directing The public mind
TO the interests of his department, and invoking ITS
sympa.hies in lis BEHALF he should spare no occasion OF
awakening discussion upon his plans, and elIcl'ng the
sentiments Of the people; in fine, his great business
to be agitation, until the waters of "Me great deep be-
meath which the allabsorbng and exasperaied faction
of party has submerged much ohe noble zeal TOR edu
cation, shall have been broken up and the almost HE
less sumber of the people, shall have yielded 10 the
healthful irritation Of an active enthusiasm
H. To foster the system by the aid of popular inter-
est, it is proposed TO transfer the appointment OF school
aCtlu IN The