Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-12-01


many respects! We confess, it has done SON
and it its advocates please, much good. We q
the first to pay our tribute of gratitude 10 its fou
ders. We confess, that owing to the localiti
and sparseness Of population in some parts Of Il
State, much more effective system cannot DO II
simultaneously introduced into those sections-b,
: do these present any considerations why we shoul
not energetcaly attempt to dilfuse, Far as prat
tlcabe, moro efficient and perfect system of Ed
ucatlon Why, we repeat, has the present sys
! tenn failed in many respects. The reasons are in
/ telligiblc enough. The system has faled as &
the poor, for it has been unfortunately considerec
. by too many of them to be a charity, and pride
forbids too many Of the poor to avail themselves
oil It's provisions. 1t is represented as gratuity
and men are not accustomed to value much, what
ia cheap. Its pay is s.ntcd, and well qualified
persons Will not teach for the emoument offered.
Schools, too, already established, are not found
willing to take INDECENT scholars in many neigh
Eoorloods. And, lastly, as it seldom Happens
that amy but the poor and ignorant are interested In
tho schools that do take the INDECENT scholars.
they must be badly conducted, and the instruction
is necessarily imperfect. The system has failed
as TO those who are able to pay, because the pop
uiatlon Is often too sparse to support school by
individual liberaliy. in consequence of the ca
! price or pride OF lew citizens, and because no
adequate contribution Is made from the INDECENT
or on their account towards tho support Of schools
And finally, because for The foregoing reasons,
the schools being Indifferent are not patronised by
the well informed, and they fall into the hands Of
persons who are grossly incomplete to their man
ayement. The system has failed as TO all, for the
want OF regular, systematic and proper superin-
tendence, and frequent visitation Of the schools,
and for the want Of the careful selection of teach
ers by competent persons, and the standard of in
struction is deplorably too low, and the teachers
often unqualified even for that standard. Could
you expect any system 20 prosper, which s bur
dened and oppressed with such defects in its prn-
ciples, and which is at war with the established
laws OF our naiurel The Education Convention,
profoundly impressed with its nsuficiency anx-
iously sought for another, based on principles
more consistent with reason, better adapted to
wants, and therefore better calculated to sue
coed. Those principles were, after an anxious
consideration Of the subject agreed to be:
LIST. That primary schools, accessible without
fee to every white child of proper age, ought to
be maintained, at all practicable points, at the
public charge.
end. That it is indispensable to procure COM
Petent teachers, and if necessary to provide for
their obstruction and preparation for the Office.
Bird. That vigant aud constant supervision Of
the schools IS absolutely necessary to maintain
tho vgor Of any system.
The first principle was adopted as tho only
practicable one--because, primary education be-
ing common benefit, ought to constitute COM
mon burden-and, in apopulaton sparse as
ours, in many parts Of the State, the aid of all Cit
liens mus, be called into reQuision, or else the
burden would become so oppressive, as TO endan-
adequate provision for the education ofthe young
and by subjec,ing all toscme contribution the
Grafton ofall udicious and intelligent citizens will
be better secured for the wise management of tho
schools, since these would become the semnaries
10 impart the elements Of education 10 their own,
as well as their neighbours children. Under the
practical application Of the principle, every ono
within its influence would feel, that having pur-
chased by his contributions the advantages Of the
schools, he owes 1t 20 himself to avail himself Of
th,,,r LA, o. II Il 4
supported by public tax voluntarily imposed by
the people of each county, could he regulated, as
regards Inspection and studies, by public authori-
Ty legally exercised, in aid Of the sautary watch
fuIness and interests Of the parents. According
y, In all countries where common schools hays
been successfully and permanently provided, the
principle of taxation has been adopted and adj
hered 10. Prussia, France, and some Of the prov
inces of Germany, have particularly and success
fully observed this principle; and, notwi,hstand-
ing some of their defects, these countries are pre-
eminent for the superiority Of their schools. The
experience OF our own country sustains these
views. In those States of the Union, where
system of popular education has been best sus-
tanned, the schools receive large contributions
from taxes imposed by the voluntary action of the
People-on the contrary, all the countries in Eu-
rope and America, which have chosen 10 rely on
private benevoence and enterprise. or govern
mental aid alone, to maintain their schools have
signally failed in impartng education 10 their
people. England with her vastly superior pri-
yate wealth. and individual and national energy,
is greatly behind Prussia. So, too, Massa-
chusetts Connecticut, New Hampshire and even
young Michigan axe greatly in advance Of Viz
g;nia. .,
The subject of proper superintendent cannot
be too strongly urged your attention. With
out supervision, active, jealous and unremitted,
any system will gradully decline and finally cease
| to benefit the people. The machine W i'll not long
perform It's appropriate functions, unless the me-
wing power be perpetually and vigilantly applied.
As for the great importance of SELF citing good
teachers, and even preparing them for the Office,
you cannot fail to be- satisfied that no pecunary
consideration, no laborlOUs examination, should
outweigh 1t. 10 secure such iTs tTuctoIs, trained
among us, accustomed TO our ha bits, informed IL
regard to our institutions, and sym paihising with
tho people, whose children they are to instruct
and tain Tor future usefulness, every effort should
be made. The jndcio;is selection OF such will.
however, mainly depend Upon these 10 whom tho
suPerintendence OF the system shall be confded.
The organization Of that superintendent will en-
sure success, or produce further Disappointment
and failure. The employment Of some general
superintendent Of schools, if made, of an able,
intelligent Jealous and faithful citizen, who, as
snming and feeling the deep responsibility Of his
trust, shall constantly pasa from county 70 county,
inspect the schools, recommend improvements,
address the people and rouse up our citizens to
action would impart great energy to the system,
| and dlliuse general benefit among the community
! The county superintendent, Sele cted as they
should be, Tor their devotion to The cause of edu-
cation, and their virtues' and intelligence would
become, under the counsels Of the general super
lntende'lt, rivals in the urea. work of repeuera-