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

tenn The utility of such minute accounts LOT Tue
purposes specified, and for the further objects OF To-
mentinp profitable rivares, has been demonstrated oy
the of Massachusetts, whose success IN ne
noble care OF learning, aitesied BY me evidences "
advancement, which may be ga,hereo from hei a"
nual abstracts of school returns. ,
VII For such duties, performed IN his own neish
bo,bood and not nconvenienty perhaps taing I'D win
his common pursuits the school mss'oner heeos no
remu,:.raton. But to require man TO auehu d us
lance and upon expenses, the sessions Oh ms ooa'u'
nos.s the necessity ot most unjust saefihce l" QUO"
r. nnw,se and false economy has doubtless arisen
Tho indifference with which these officers careessy
shuttle off their business Those en'erPTshg anu a'
,;ve men who would conscehtously perform thef ou-
ties do not choose these unreasonable LOSSES
and hence these places are often ABANDONED " 'io
who content themselves with mere nominal ohserV-
apce of their parts. This multiplication OF g,a'u',
ton. functions properly belongs TO different ORDER o.
governments and the reason why SO many ''a' :; ~,
prevail here than in other Safes may be found m me
i;noer;nu Influences of colonial history ana man
ners A persistence in such policy would eventually
lend 10 the conce ntation OF such ohces IN the hanos
of the wealthy; however capable and worthy the poor
NAV be- they cannot afford to occupy these expensive
stations where empty bubbles OF honor are prcked
and exploded by the stings OF pehury- FOR 'hese
causes il is insisted that the school commissioners
shall be allowed moderate compensation lot tneir
actual services in the board. Such change, though
seemingly of uncomfortable value, would produce ei
fects in this part of the administration, that coud
scarcely be anticipated by any hut those practically &C
with the neglect Wnicn the SENSE VI gro
tuitous labors had served great measure 10 INTRO
duce.
VIII. A system of annual inspection, unconnected
with the boards of echoo but originating
from the chief department ITSELF ought also to be organ
lied for each county For this purpose let the supen
tendent be required invite given number of persons
not exceeding three for any county or borough re-
narkable for their intelligence and zeal in the cause oi
education inspect the conduct OF the school IN point
of instruction and discipline, and report fully their views
of condition together
suggestions may have occurred to them tor their I'M
provement The apprehension Of ntasing into the sys
TEN official esprit dc corps, or of encouraging
its subordination 10 secaran Influences forciby admo
njsbes TO the adoption Of such ibera:ing mode
of inspection. The readiness with which the public spi
rted advocates Of this cause would undertake such
transient and interesting services would prevent the
obvious advantages of this proposal from being sub.
iect to any deduction account of encumberng the
resources of the schools Called by their duties into
the neighborhoods of the county, these nspec
tors would not be permitted by the Inequalities OF the
people, incur the expenses borne BY the school com
mssoners in attending the sessions of their boards ut
their respective county towns.
TX In aid Of this system of annual inspection, the
superintendent should also himself visit each year
many Of the counties he convinenty can, TO ascer
tain the conditions Of the schools, and to convoke the
friends Of education, for consulting of the best means
of nusng public interest in the system and imParing
TO the highest degree Of usefulness and eitciency-
like practice other States has been attended b. the
most signal benefits in drawing the attention and rally
ing the affections of the people TO tins most invaluable
concern Of free States II may be well imagined that
the public addresses of able and Jealous superin
tendent, would inspire interest on this subject
would arouse the careless and nlalne the lukewarm-
would create juster estimate OF IT'S claims upon the
consideration Of the patriotand IN line, would give
wonderful impetus to this movement of REFORM
How else the public mind Of Virginia may BE- recalled
from its prnverbal engrossment with party politics. 10
wise and studous OF these shamefuy neglected
interests, question that will find in the ma,urest
Election the greatest difficulty of solution.
X. But all this organization may prove fruitless, il
no step be taken procure adequate supply of com
peent teachers 1t is not epprehended that under the
proposed reform, the difficulty of employing capable in
srucors will be experienced to The same deporabe ex
tent to which il now prevails under the countless dis
courapement of the present system On the contrary,
il is thought that growing demand for teachers, and
the more liberal remuneration which The new plan
might furnish would attract to these usfu! empoymens
talents and that seek other theatres
of action. Nevertheless, il is the part of prudence
make arrange to secure this end for without
it the most wisely constructed system must be
demnej to melancholy failure for want Of agents 10
work out its appropriate results With this view re-
course might be had to the county organization Let
each board OF school commissioners be authorized,
der the direction OF tine superintendent, 10 establish at
some central position OF their county school Of higher
grade be conducted Normal school prepare the
more deserving ofthe INDECENT scholars TO become BY
their own pledge, teachers for a period The
common school Of that particular district should be
nected with This teachers seminary, model school,
where the best modes of instruction could be daily
empl6ed and practised The gradual introduction OF
this pap the OF the several boards might
admit Of would assist rather than Interfere with the
ordinary management IF their transactions The pros
pect Of being transferred account Of extraordinary
merit from the school 10 this higher seminary,
would be strong incentive with the poor scholars to
ention industry and If found 10 answer
good purpose, is expected, not only in The prepare
ton Of teachers but in offering higher grade of IN
siructon, they might be advantugeousy multiplied, US
the school funds should warrant and made to occupy
our organization the distinctive position Of the vau
able np;dde schools e,nittcschuen of Germany. In
aid of these establishments for the supply Of teachers
the suggestion deemed important and valuable TO i'm
pose upon all youths educated atthe poblc expense
the present Military institute other of like cha
racter that may be hereafter created pledge to teach
in the schools for certain number Of years a
ter the completion Of their academic term While this
requirement would bring return TO the State for
her munfcent policy, it would tend 10 confer rec
procal advantage upon the young men themselves, IN
rendering their knowledge more readily available
through the necessity Of communicating It 10 others
and also through the general habits and discipline Of
mind acquired in the tasks of instruction.
Such are briefly the outlines of plan of primary
education which for the most part in conformity
with the present state of society, aud entirely
ceptible Of being adapted in future to lis probable
changes. Its essential features correspond in the main
with the recommendations which have reached thus as
sembly from such respectable quarters for the revision
and reformation of the existing system. 1t also com
promises most Of the amelorations which have been
tested and approved by the experience of other States
But if perchance its future operations should disclose
any secret incongruty with any portion Of our civil
polity entire amenablity to public sentiment will
leave difficulty in retracing any false steps which
may be taken in this needful reform. If it may not
with the facility, be introduced in oil The coun-
ties Of the commonwealth, let it be submitted, it has
been proposed, TO the separate adoption Of the people
in each county, making its existence Depend the
sanction Of certain number. II would be thus
submitted TO the people the result of sincere
effort the part of the Assembly to meet their just
expectations and to contrve suitable provision
for these pressing exgencies of the State.-Tha,
it would in many instances receive their favorable
consideration and acceptance, is guaranteed by the
prevailing unanimty and awakened zeal of the advo
Gates Of this cause, we'll by irusfu reliance