Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-12-14

IS conSluercn also that there is one In eV.
cry twelve of our grown up white popu-
lation who can neither read nor write !;
that out of $1,000 poor children. for whom
fhls scheme is designed. only %, 600 have
been taught any thing at all, and that
these have beenstaught an average period
of but sixty days during the past year !;
when these things are considered, will it
be said that the result is satisfactory p
That it demonstrates condition in this
branch of public interest, and in the
means appropriated to sustain it, with
which the Legislature and the country
ought to be contented IF sixty DAYS
tuition to one half of the 'indisent' chil-
dren of the State is the grand result that
our present system IS able to accomplish,
alter so many years OF perseverinS efforts
to eaiar9e and perfect It's capacities. it is
little more than costly and deIusive
nuIllty which ought to be abolished. and
another and better one established in its
place. Surprising it entirely improbable
that the Legislature, paitaking in all re-
spects in the hopes and interests Of the
public. will regard it as a duty to CONT
nue. system which operates in such man
liest subverslon OF both, they are earnest
~ invoked to enter at once upon the work
of preparing a better, and Of preparing
it with the ultimate and comprehensive
purpose of extending the rudments of a
cheap, II not free education to every child
in the state. With tie hope of aiding them
in this object, respectfully submit to their
consideration, whether it is not possible
to obtain it by constru citing a system up
on the basis Of our joint stock incorpara-
tons The principle of these incorpo
rations has already been adopted to some
extent in the establishment Of our dis
trict schools, and there is 10 reason
whatsoever, either speculative or practi-
cal, why it may not be just as we'll APP
piled to the support of schools generally
as to The support of any other purpose of
public concern. No other purpose brings
public and private interests into a more
absolute union with each other than that
Of primary education, or-could better JUS
tify. on that ground, union of their
means for It's support. In all ordinary
cases of joint stock associations, individ-
uais are the partners Of the State, and to
them the larger interest, and of course
the controlling power is assigned. In
this case. it IS suggested that counties
shall take TIE place of individuals, and
that the will of these counties, in all OF
the material points of the partnership re.
lation, should be declared by the per.
sons residing III them who are tax-p PAYERS
to the revenues of the State. Let these
persons determine by general vote, whe
Their they will agree to any joint stock CO.
operation with the State for such pur.
pose, aid after agreeing. let it be their
right to polons or to discontinue the ar
rangement at their pleasure. Let the
State, on its Part, and in the first place.
determine upon the sum which it is will
ing, upon this plan, to appropriate annu-
ally for common education let it fix the
fractional share Of two-ftths, or any 9th
er which it is willing to give, and allot
the whole to. the counties, respectively,
according to their white population. -
When this is done, let the county tax
payers of the State revenue decide, under
authority of law for that purpose, vheth-
er they will unite with the State upon the
terms and for the objects proposed, and
will agree to raise by separate tax up
on themselves their share Of the funds
required. Should all, or any of the
counties agree to do so, authority should
be given for the election by general vote,
Or for the appointment in some other
form OF several persons who, with others
appointed on behalf Of the State, should
constitute local directory, with full 90,
wer to take charge of the joint funds, and
to carry into affect, under the supervis-
ion of sumo general board or superinten-
dent, the whole plan and object for which
these funds were intended. TO the coan-
ties who decline this plan Of cooperation,
the quota OF the literary fund now allot-
ted to them should be continued as usual.
With these general elements, it is b,'s
Iieyei that a system upon this subject
can be formed which will be far more &C.
cept lble and more comprehensive thar
the existing one, ard formed under in.
ternal checks Which will effectualy pro
teet it against harshness abuse and wan
of local adaptation. BY associatlng th'
people of tie several counties, as it i:
proposed to do, responsibly and intimate
iy with the Government in the support
and administration of their own schools
not only will the general subject Of edu
cation be kept alive at its proper ant
fountain head, but the actual education
OF every one, resting no longer upon TIN
( footing of a parental duty alone, vii
come to be claimed and commended for a:
legal right. Should the Legislature
regard the plan suggested as worthy o
any attempt on its part to elaborate Il
into system, a principle recommends
ton Of IT is the ease with which 1t can be
converted into one for free education:
and it is earnestly hoped, that whatever
the scale on which it may be thought
best TO begin, that nothing less wise, pa
trlotlc and perfect than this will be
thought of for lis final and browning re-
suit. Let your system OF primary edu-
cation, which is supported by the finds
| ~, In xY,oitopnA IF oil Ia