Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-01-13
Itterat'p.
MEMORIAL. az TIE EDl CATION con
NFNlID\.


r. The General lss,n,big of irgiH,a.
The memorial ii the undersigned respectfully rpn
sen,s: That MANY d the good p~T@e oi tins Oonllnon
wealth. feeling deep aud ahtdng interest IN an eli
eent aud general oaauzailpn oi more perfect and eie
waited Sy,t,m 81 general instruction than nov CNisls
have IN the tsst Summer aud Autumn. assembled 10
rr,hsr in their respective cnmes aud corporations, and
appointed delegate, to Convention to CONSIDER and re
enntnond tni their sanction aud Your legal raratlon
such measures ~ Ingl; their Judgment, best secuf.
TIN. great and nestimahl, pur~Sr lb' delegates thus
sppas,~i. ,sanug as they did, :r'm every great geo
graphical division Il the tonnnuwcal'h. irom the sea
SIDE to the Ohio e. o. the Potomac 10 the IL sneke met
IN Convention the city Of Richmond the naih
day u last ninth. and. after mature del~rsiion.
sP,ct nsay important recommendations, and d,pu,ed
VIZ Il, cnlsl, and submit them fur your approval IN the
firm Of memorial. 1'hs duty We rsspcciinll, ask
leave 10 perform. To the wisdom. patriotism and
e,paencc ii the General Assembly, ,aur nenaalists
deem Ia make any appeal ar the lrpuse
al convincing them ui the high claims g, the SUBJECT 81
Education. then grayoei consideration II one,
which all admit. stands foremost amnng the matters
demanding the attention ot every leo satuf \ gene raj
and wei ordered ~ stem ol public INSTRUCTION. embracing
in its details proper provision ir primary schous.
academies. colleges and a unlsorsii, las been shad
owed forth by the rr~odlngs aud resolutions oi TIN
Convention,
IN connection with these institutions. and ole from
which confidently believed great gad All flow. the
Convention recommended the establishment IL military
school a, tho arIuory the city al Richmond. and the
substituted oi corI~ u cadets iH the existing public
guard.
Taking mp the dil.rcntparts II this plan IN The
der u their Importance. the subject # PRIMARY school
rtruetrn, nscc-sarl, and appropriately claimed FIST III,
attention ol tho Convention.
II has been justly affirmed by that body, that IN cNrr
nation under tho government u Republican institutions.
Spap,r regard TO national prosperity and m,' lua vel
tre. requires that citizen shund p.s such ed
u-airm as will cnabc him To know aud apprcclai, hts
rights. to persuc his search Tor know ledge lar his
circumstances IN hi, may permit, and to dl,charg" IN
his appropriate sphere the duties oi . ritzcn.
We're such an cducaun - those wants, Who's,
demands. according Ia well known pnncle Of political
economy, would create supply, might saicl, he lett
10 the osratin OF that principle hut unfortunately thu
mac aggravated the want the more enhanced is thu
difficulty ei supplying the remedy. And mist come
from without. 10 the Coz eminent Of State belongs
the duty Of providing for every child the
ar, tins great blessing The State oi Virgin
N. long since impressed with the almost obvlns truth
81 these POSITIONS, has in part attempted iii" iuhlment
OF the solemn obligations II rcc,@nlzrs But while We
readily concs, the character Of snccrc patriotism and
great wisnn To the founders "l The e,lsn. plan. for
educating the indiecnt children Of the Commonwealth
and rcad, admit that the operation OF this plan has
tccn productive OF benefits and while We admit tha, the
ocalies OF parts of thu State and the sparsoncss
oi the population may, iur the present, impede the
duct'n Of the district system into ever, quarter o
the Commonwealth and We are unwilling 10 change III,
system at once, wihou, appealing Ia the wisdom and
wishes OF the people vet think II duty Ia make thai
apl~al, toprcp,rc SYSTEM OF general education which
Is calculated. under such circumstances ts,orah,
~ lts Introduction, 10 teach the white children of IA,
commonwealth IN more efficient manner \ system
which derives its forts susionancc from the
grsgated contributions OF all classes the Commonwealth
and shall dispense handed lis blessings To all tn,
children Of the country.
Asysom Of general primary education should embrace
the following PLAN
Dr.. Tia, ysimary schools accessible wlthon, fee 1,
every child Of proper age, should be maintained at tn
public charge.
E, 2td. That il is indispensable to procure compctcn
teachers, and is necessary provide or their propsa
ton for the office.
Bid. That ,gilan, and supervision is ali
s,a,esy accessory to maintain the vlgour OF any sys
We leave il for the wisdom Of the Legislature and q
the people at the pills. to decide whether circumstance,
may not demand modification o the fits principle.
~ 10 require tuition fee for each child. small
have but few unable 10 afford H. who might be admit
tod gratGtvaIsly
county organization would probably be more deslra
tle than general and might he left In the
counties and corP,rations 10 adop, it not, a, the
dtsciehon. at the ensuing OF any future spring eleo
ton.
The proposed Law to contain the following loadn
provisions
lst That every county corporation adopting th
law, shall he immediately laid of under the direction
Tvs court, into districts suitable each Tor school, la
wing regard conjoltly 10 territory and population
each Of these districts there shall be school COMM,
soncr The legal title of the schoohouses and the land
on whieh they built, and school property, shall
vested in the President and Directors Of the Literar
Fsnd. And the present provisions relative to scho,
commissioners should be preserved under such moifcs
tons as may improve their vigilance and efficiency.
2nd The board Of commissioners shall ascertain yea
" ~hat sum Is necessary, including the State conrbt
tons from the Literary Fund and the local funds any
70 allow eae district in the country corporation,
less than two hundred and fifty dollars year, towards
'eachers salary ard the expenses Of inspection sationa
~ fuel, &c. They shall report the sums ascertalne
'obe necessary FOR the foregoing purpose To the court
whose duty II shall be, 10 impose property and poll a>
toprcduce the required amount. This SUN shall he dis
trbucd amongst the districts in the proportions heor
designated soon the districts commissioner shall
port tho board OF commissioners that the district la
erected, or purchased o'hegwse acquired. school
house and appuftinaRcss. and the in good
pair and that school has been KEEP, by qualified teach
or Al least four months The board of commissioner
shall appoint a committee of examination of the teachers
and shall report annually the president aud director
q ttse Literary Fund.
3Id. The Of instruction should be elevate
~ Possible, aad ought y embrace:
It, heading eoIsecsly-we.
"a. Writing well.
Sd. Arithmetic applied practically.
IN. English gTsI,nay and geography.
9Th. The outlines OF general history. and the his'or
Of Virginia aud the u. $.
9TH. The constitution, Of Virginia ard ii the l. 5.
5ih. The elements VI physical acence