Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-02-24
POPULAR EDUCATION

w "cie iaVoIeo, week or TWO sllce, by
ALEXANDER RIvEs, Esq, Chairman of the
Committee of the House of Delegates on
Schools and Colleges, with copy of the Re-
port of that Committee, Understood to be
from has pen,) on so much of the Governors
Message us relates to Education, and the Me-
mortal of the Education Convention, recently
held at Richmond. The Report is long one
quite too unwicldy for the columns of
ncwspaper-but its interest and ability are
such that we determined, on reading it, to pre-
pare all outline of the views presented by il,
Tor the satisfaction of our readers. The task.
however, has been performed so satisfactorily
by the Petersburg lntellgeneer, and in a ma.a-
ner 30 suited TO our present circumscribcd
limits, that we gladly avail ourselves of its
labors.
The lntelligtncer remarks
'rhe Report is we'll written, and makes some
valuable suggestions to the Legislature.
A1tcr showing the ineficienc' Of the system of
primary education at present in force i'm Vir-
ginia' the Report proposes to substitute for it a
pians containing in substance the following pro-
visions:
- P'opooCo " CREATE Z new department
Oafean OF the public service, which is to be
charged with the general care and superinten-
dence OF public instruction.
ne report argues that the subject Of eduea-
lion is OF sufficient importance TO give full em-
pioynent othls department, and shows that under
me management of the I'd Auditor as at present.
this subject is overshadowod by other and more
pressing concerns.
I'd. Ii is proposed to transfer the appointment
OF School Commissioners from the County
Courts to the People Of the several counties.
ny this change the Committee believe that
pubic attention will be more awakened to the
subject, as the people will naturally feel an in
terest In the conduct of those who hold office i'm
nediatc!y at their hands.
so. lie report suggests, that the funds to be
raised by each county for purposes of education.
be assessed by the Commissioners instead of by
me Ioun'y Courts, as was proposed by the Edu-
cation Convention.
1t rs argued by the report. that, as the Com
iAlssioners are dependent on the people for their
continuation IN Office, they filter to levy the
taxes than the members Of the County Courts
who are not thus dependent on The popular will
4ti. ii Is proposed that, in order 10 lessen the
amount OF taxes, the boards Of Commissioners
should DO authorized to require moderate tut
ton lee Of such parents as are able to pay it.
9th. AS d necessary means of imparting viror
to all the parts of the plan, it is proposed that
commissioner for each of the wards into which
the county is laid off, shall be required frequently
to visit the several schools therein, and inspect
their condition and make report thereof to his
board OF commissioners.
9th. In order TO secure the attendance of mem
bers at the board Of commissioners, the Com
mit!re propose 10 give to them moderate conf
pensation while actually in attendance on the
boards.
7t The Committee advise that system of
annual Inspection be organized i'll each county
originating from the chief department.
FOR this purpose the superintendent of educa-
ZION VIII be required TO invite given number Of
persons, not exceeding three in each county or
town, who are remarkable for their zeal in the
cause OF education, to inspect the schools and re-
port their views of their actual condition and
wants.
S'h In aid OF this system Of inspection, is
proposed that the superintendent Of education
shall himself visit each year as many of the
schools as he conveniently car, and report :heir
conoii!on, while at the same time he may con-
suit with the friends Of education on the best
means of promoting their great object.
On tie subject OF the provision of competent
It0chcrS, The Committee advise that each board
OF school commissioners "be authorized. under
The direction of the superintendent, TO establish,
at some central position in their county school
of higher grade, to DO conducted as Normal
school to prepare the more deserving of the indi-
gent scholars, TO become, by their own pledge,
teachers for certain period. The common
school OF that particular district should be con-
nected with this teachers seminary, as A model
school, where the best modes of Instruction
could be daily exemplifed and practised. The
gradual Introduction Of this plan, as the resources
oil the several boards might admit of it, would as
sist rather than interfere with the ordinary man
agement OF their transactions. The prospect of
being transferred account Of extraordinary
merit, from the common school 10 this higher
seminary, would be strong incentive with the
poor scholars to attention, industry and perseve-
rance. If found TO answer good purpose, as is
expected not only in the preparation of teachers.
but in offering higher grade of instruction, they
might be advantagoously multiplied, as the school
funds should warrant, and made to occupv in our
organization the distinctive position of the yalua
bic ''middie schoois' or "miieLschulen'' of Germa
ny. In aid of these establishments for the SUD-
ply Of teachers, the suggestion is deemed impor-
tant and valuable to impose upon all Youths edu-
Gated at the public expense in the present Militia
ry Institute, or any other Of like character that
may be hereafter created, pledge TO teach in
the common schools for a certain number Of
years after the completion Of their academic
tsrm.'