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

1852 was reported ct The larger amount of 35 1924 !.
ne ADDITION TO these sums of the undrawn school quo
..s, untlng Tor the three last years 10 the
5000 ~, exhibits amount OF une expended appro
pr'ations That compes 10 seek for the cause Of tes
lnaaeqnale results other source than The insult
fceucy Of the fund
Again, may be asked if the force of these facts cal
pe orokeh ny the language Of indifferent eulogy which
.ie ss"oo commissioners sometimes bestow IN the
reports upon THIS system, You have only To confront
lneir loose commentators with the stubborn figures
GspaynS IN their respective counties the contrast
Tore indicated of the number actually taught with the
"hole number Of INDECENT claimants upon this fund
ahd lheIr praise to be converted into disguised
SATIRE Wore than sufficient indeed TO nenlralize The
highest encomiums one page are these stastica dis
closures on The other; and but little weight can be- al
laced TO such laudatory notices when accompanied b,
such a'rsGt proof 10 the contrary. Whatever may be
Inc nas7fa predispos;on 10 The adoption of these "A
vorabe opinions, II IS than coun.crvaed by tu.
authentic exhibition of its actual operations and hi,
general effect instead Of being lessened is greatly
hahced by minnter examination, which slews in FORTY
ood counties o. the Commonwealth, out Of the whole
aggregate OF those for whose benefit the system wa.
instituted, not one-ha within the sphere Of lis dis
pensntions
But inadequate 10 the public wants as this system
asproTedto be, has Incidental advantag re which
ought not IN candour TO he overlooked In many parts
Of the Commonwealth where tie popualions sparse and
The means ct rearing family exceedingly limited, the
To secure The establishment and continuance of schools
where otherwise they could not be founded by private
contributions alone. That partic alay in the Western
poIohs 81 Tie Stale where the inhabitants are segregated
by intervening and narabe mounians into parate and
small communities whose humble and isolated occu.
rations leave them almost without the common me.
dunn Of exchange, and compel them to provide the
wages Of their teacher at least in tart by barter Of
commodities, the small annual allowance from the Lii
'erary fund.- have thus accidentally SUBSCRIBED the &c.
neral purposes OF education 10 beneficial extent can
not be denied But assinilaed as this particular opera
ton seems 10 Nc to the ordinary workngsofa district free
system this admission should also5e coupled with
the proper Inference TO be drawn from it, of the
and proprley with which the best features of this lat.
ter system could be grated on the existing plan
ii now from these practical results OF Public Schools
we turn 10 examine the general structure an ordi
nary sagacy cannot fail 10 discern inherent faults nse.
parable from the system, and RENE dess save N tho
rough reorganization. First in this catalogue is the
radical error of combining The duty of the State over
the cause of primary education, to providing only for
The instruction Of the poor 1t is not see b, what
safe reasoning may be justified that principle sf ey.
cusion by which the first wants of education anone
all other classes of society treated as without the
sphere oil state concern obligation The existence OF
free Sateis far too dependent upon the enlightenment
os cilzns TO abandon that paramount interest 10 the
indifferent guardianship of individual perversity
or caprice The people, without distinction Of classes
elementary education. IL no doubt has yet arisen,
or can ever hereafter arise Of the power and duty Of
State TO defend herself, BY compulsory enl;s.mcn,s,
against foreign aggressions intestine mun;es-she
would seem IL possess right not less clear expe from
the choice domain Of her mind and morals, by sort
intellectual ccnscrpton, the deadest foes of her peace
publ: ignorance and vice. But though this sentiment,
hy which the coercve policy OF the European States
this respect has been justified be deemed just the ub
s'racf, lis application 10 our people through the in
strumentaiy Of penal sanctions neither be approx
cd nor thought practicable. No such suggeson, how
ever, is now offered to the jealous spirit of Free
dom. The objection that has been taken, rests upon
the absence Of all laws whatsoever, provide ndscri
TnatclY Tor The primary instruc. OF all the children
Of the Commonwealth Ii is insisted that there a real
abiding obligation upon the Stale 10 aakc such
general proyision and then sound public opinion,
stead ot actual legal penalties, may be invoked 10 adj.
monish rather than coerce the people to the improve
ment Of these nesimahle advantages. The policy,
TOO, Of g.ctng the general demands Of all classes
for common schools 10 foster and maintain these cxcu-
siye charities, does not appear either consistent or
compatible with the liberal endowment by tie Stale of
higher scmnarlcs, accessible, for the most part only 10
the wealthy II, in the more advanced grades Of learn
ing Legislative aid has been properly afforded in the
erection and support Of institutions to impart know
ledge to those who able To pay for their tuition il
would seem that sound could be assigned for
negiectng TO extend TO the class, upon like TERMS
the means OF an elementary cducatiOn But as yet no
thought has been taken, care eyincrd, for educing
from the present system any hopeful materials for
equally disseminating among all conditions The neces
sary elements Of human knowledge
Next in the order ofihS enumeration. may he reckon
ed the most familiar ground Of objectionable otiouS
discrimination which e9azes among classes whose
common boast is political equality. Tosecc from such
an homogeneous community particular order. AMI
make il the subject oidiSlincrc legislation, matter
how beneficial, is all times offensive 10 Republican
tastes. But when such division is drawn account of
poverty the proposed bcneciacS The first 10 resent
i-their pride Snlenly rejects the proiercd bounty
and their free spirit TO he subjected 10 the odm OF
50 diSagrccaL,c and intrusive distinction Instead Of
their support and affections being conciia,cd for the Sys
cm they infinitely prefer that their offspring should grow
up in unciicrcd rudeneSS rather than endure the sup
posed shame al being poor and Spritless dependents
upon the public bounty Far from welcoming the school
commissioner in his prescribed missions Of charity
among them, they receive him with GOODNESS aver
sion, as official spy upon their misery and pauper
ISM They shrink from The notorieiy which is thus
attached to the misfortune the crime which deprves
them of the ability 10 furnish their children with the
bread of intellectual life, in a country where
industry and good conduct easily and certainly
for family The means of education Ii cannot have
escaped the observation Of any practical man, that il
has been this feeliag--nether TO be suppressed
wholly condemned--which has frustrated, rs before
sewn The employment of The public funds appropriated
exclusively to The instruction of the poor.
In the third place, this system suffers throughout all
its parts peculiar lehargy and debility, arising from
purely cemosynnry character. lhas none Of that
vitality which is impaired by private contrl
buttons, whether Voluntarily made or legally exacied
Mankind vii lightly regard what costs them nothing.
There is no share OF public inieres, felt for IL and it
vain To EXPECT 10 niuse in It's operations the energy
sprnging from war popular excitement in its behalf.
No cordial favor grateful Acknowledgements arc even
extended 10 this public charity by its reluctant recp;-
ents; and it is matter of common remark, with what
egcct and indifference lis official dispensers within
the different counties conduct their transactions. In
vain does the superintendent with singular mnuteness,
prescribe TO his subordnues the extent of their duties;
in vain does he, with anxious importantly, urge upon
them increased attention and fidelity; in vain does he
attempt, by searching interrogutories, to probe and
quicken their consciousness his labors and his chdinss
are alike lost upon uusalaried officers who deem them
selves bound 10 mere nominal observance Of certain
leading functions; and annually do the county courts
renew the appointments as a mere empty formally,
without making enquiry rs to the past fidelity and
activity of the commissioners.
But if in spite of these inrmes, this plan may yet
drag out langud existence for few years longer,
;ts ultimate and rapd decay ma be safely predcotcd OF