Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-12-05
Fer TIE yIRGiNIAN
PRIMARY EDUCATION.

" " soo 'o "coih Piauteu oy lheif hai1s, grow to
be giant oak.
PRIMARY EDUCATION.
As the subject of general education will nrob,hv he
amongst the most prominent befe the mex, ,rsaore
u oeHoVes The press To he making exertuns com
mehsuraie WIN tie great importance of the subject
lhl' IL has hitherto been most culpaby supine in
matter OF such vital interest," be denied II orr
newspapers had given 1.-THE of the time which they
have devoted To party politics, to the great concern Of
education. should probably have been sparcd the m
hscaion Of being exhibited as we are in the late con
ss, as Amongst the most ignorant States in the Union
6u II Is never too late amend our faults ,houob VIZ
may ~ regain thereby all that have lost. In the
hope then, that the press in,y be awakened to sense
OF It's duty IN this case, address these remarks to YOU
to contribute your aid Ia advance the cause vi zen raj
education. not by detached efforts. few and Tar be-
t~ee" bat BY strong pull, a steady pull and a long
pull IN THIS way only can hope for success in
any OF our undertakings. My object being rather 10
stimulate the best talents 10 the performance of their d
iy, than to propose any scheme myself Ito whcl, do
not think ieelmyselt competent shall attempt nothing
more than few general remarks upon the sui Jet.
Oae OF the most striking defects in all the plans here
ioore adopted Tor the establishment of primary Schools
has been the admitted ncapao,y 81 he ieacheIs for the
ns>si part. employed This may pr)baby have arisen
in pas from the inade4aacy ei the salaries generally
given; but there can be no t.9t. from the very low
state OF education exhibited in ont State BY the late
census that one great cause Of the paucy vd teach
ers is the theploabe Ignorance with which we are lust
y chargeable. 1t would seem then, that, adopt what
system we may, All indispensable feature in il should be
to provide the meats OF securing efficient teachers This
has been partially attempted by regulation, applied to
the military schhoo at Lexington which requires that
all the State cadets shall teach for years AMER prd
uang. in school in their district As far as it s,4s
better expedient could have been adopted TO Sc
cure, not only able and efficient ,tscAet but men well
educated to perform all the practical dnteSW Gh and
Grained themselves in habits OF self CONTROL system aud
industry. to mpar such to their pupils. This, how
ever il must be admitted, is provision far short of
what the large number OF primary schools be esish
tshsi will renire there beinr but 80 State cadets admit
ted at the Lexington School lr,his them good plan
for the supply Of teachers for primary schnh-which
think will not be denied by any one. hsvinu a know
ledge OF the thorough manner in which tho cadets are
taught in this school. and the very exemplary oial ard
business habits they acquire in tho OF their edns-
tion.-h Is the obvious duty Of tho Legislature To en-
large the capacity ofthe Institutions furnish be teachers
thai Viii be wanted, and to establish others upon the
same principle fur this if for other object. Il is
however. foreign h my MrfUss 10 enter al largo upon
the advantages OF mil ry schools and the great superior
l,y of military discipline any other syssln for the
management Of schools, which so strongly commend
themselves to the public patronage. But am persua
ded. that not only better teachers be furnished
through this medium. hut that it will cost the public
less to supply them from this source. than from any 9TH
e Take, Tor instance, the OF the public guard at
Rchmond. which could be easily converted into mill
tafY school; all the services which they now perform
and fF Which no setura Ia made To the State. but
those a~gvces) might be as well netorsned IA by this
guard, aud the amount expended on them be apue. IA
the purposes Of education. Such change in the uroan
zaiion o the Rchmond guard, woHh Q es :, the State
cont beyond the presot of this cops and all that
wound tha accrue to the of education might be
considered rs 81 much clear gain; and gain too which
cannot be well oS'iaa.ed in dollars and cents
Bat, as | have said, my object is not SO much TO PRO
pose plans as to eo the aid Of others, and particularly
the press, which t'as wiIlasoae BY in. future zeal in
the 'lse OF education. for It's neglect pom such an
occasion grod citizen should wiiha1,d hi. aid let his
contribution inconsideabe We require tina, The
subject should be generally dscussed that public atten
ton should be fully aroused TO dcporaie wants. that
the people should force their agents into the performance
OF duties which they have long and 50 shamefuy
neglected Without decisive step on the mart of
the poope, there is just fear that the next Lee
gslaure, like the last. will give the subject Of educa-
lion ao,eer Of cords instead of aciion 1t has been
subjected to this treatment long enough 10 exhaust our
patience. and 10 exhibit its effects degree of ig,p-
rance, exceeded. II recoec Alright by but ono State
IN the Unon Let the press, then, in Virginia. with
one accord come To the rescue, and endeavor TO WING off
, this foul but upon escutcieon.
A vIRelNIAN,
L. ,. just as ] had finished this communication
my attention arrested by the very COMPLIMENTARY
and dnaht not. just account efan examination at Me
Academy under the superniendence of MI w L. Fair.
graduate of the military school Lexispt,n which
SO strongly corroboraes all herein said Of the sk and
efficiency Of teachers, educated as Mr. Fair has been
and of the great advantage Of the mode of discip-
line he has introduced after the exanple of he school in
which he was educated thai would desire no better H.
iustaton ofhe great benefit tt, be derived from teachers
trained to such valuable habits ard the obvious duty of
the State to multiply the number ofsuch
.4aother drop On the 18th is.s special elecon
tor member Of The Alabama Legislature, To fill the va
cancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Puyear
held IN Monroe county;-and John Mogrise,t. (vvhir
was elected, over Judge Roach Ooco.)
Nh Cay-I'he eNng,on (Ky) Ia,eligencer Of
the I'd inst states that Mr. Clay was to leave ,la. city
on the following day for New Orleans We observe. by
the papers, that at Memphis, Naichez Viekshurv, PA
quemlne, and nearly all the other towns on the Missis
sippi' arrangements are in pmsssa for giving him an
enthusiastic reception.
Hogs.-The I.ewi,auss Wig Of the 2sah ul,. states
that large numh.r ofdroves had passed through that
place. castw'rdy. and that there we're then some ar
lo'o sull behind, between Iewisburg and GuyanIote
l"f' al '"s.i'ase was Ealing 'r,,n 81 sza