Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-31
MILITARY fNsTrTr,Tr

ii, MILITARY INSTITUTE
| The noble experiment which has been made at Lex
nEton satisfies that ought TO introduce simla,
institution into the city of Richmond We ought "a
change the Public Guard into Corps Of Cadets The
public property would be well and more cheapy
guarded.--And in the place of company of soldiers
who are adding little strength 10 the Intellectual and
moral improvement of the community we shall ia re
corps of young men, who urc drawn from the INDECENT
classes through the intervention of primary schools,
who constantly improving into useful and enlight-
ened members OF Society and bound to return to the
State some OF the benefits which they have received
from her mnnifcence. They will be bound, to become
for certain period, the teachers Of her elementary
schools
We al recollect with what enthusiasm the whole
proposition hailed by The Education Convention of
lS4l, and with what impressive terms it recon.
tnended to the General Assembly 1t is again before
the House, and again forward TO express our
undmnIshed and confirmed convictions of the value OF
the proposition. We of the feelings 1t has
encounter and of the preludices it has overcome
We are told that il IL scheme, even though the
Military Institute be before our eyes. We are told
that il will be more expensive than the Public Guard
when the contrary statement may be demonstrated =
Some gentlemen are alarmed by the expenditures
which may be necessary to convert the Public armofy
into Military Institute. We are satisfied that THIS
item has been much exaggerated, and that whist The
annual expense will be less than that of the Public
Guard the appropriation which may be necessary Tor
fitting the Armory to it's purposes Will scarcely, II al
all, exceed the present contribution from the ifea
sury. But if gentlemen have any doubts upon TIC
matter why do they not apply TO the Second Auditor,
one of The best and abIest officers OF the common.
wealth, for some report upon the subject With the
view of calling the attention of The General Assembly
to the value of the propostion lay before them The
following cation from late lIynchourg var
rinian." It's author speaks TO the purpose
"PR1uARY EpucA1ioy-As the subject of general
education will probably be amongst the most prominent
before the next Legislature IT behoves the press TO be
making some exertions commensurate with the great
Importance OF the subject That 1t has hitherto been
most cupably supnc, IN matter OF such vital interest,"
cannot be deued. Ii our newspapers had gwen tilhe
ne The lime which they have devoted 10 party politics. TO
the great concern of education, We should probably
have been spared the modification of being exhibited
n. we are IN the late census us amongst the most g
norsnt States in the Union. But it is too late
TO amend our faults though We may not regain thereby
all tina, we have lost In the hope then that the press
NAV be awakened sense OF It's duty in this case,
address these remarks 10 you 10 contribute your AID 10
advance the cause of general education,-not by de.
tnched efforts few and far between, but by strong
pull. steady pull, and long pull. In this way only
can we ever hope for in any of undertakings
NV object being TO stimulate the best talents 10
the performance Of Their duty, than to propose any
scheme myself 10 which do not think feel myself
competen) | shall attempt nothing more than few
general remarks upon the subject.
Gone of the most striking defects, in all the plans
heretofore adopted for the establishment of primary
schools has been the admitted apacty Of the teach
ers for the most part, employed. This may probably
ha We arisen part from the nadequacy of the salaries
generally given but there can be doubt from the
very low state of education exhibited in State by
the late census that great OF the paucity OF
good teachers, is the deporabe ignorance with which
we are Justly chargeabe. II would seem then, that,
adopt what system may, indispensable feature in
it should be provide the means of securing efficient
teachers This has been partially attempted by regu'
at,on applied the military sshool al Lexington, which
requires, that all the State cadets shall teach for TWO
wears after graduating, some school in their district
As far as goes better expeden could not have been
adopted secure, not only able and efficient teachers
but men we'll educated 10 perform all the practical duties
OF life and GRAINED themselves in habits of self control
system and Industry TO impart such TO their pupils
This however it must be admitted, is provision far
short of what the large number of primary schools 10
be established will require, there being but 80 State
cadets admitted at the Lexington school, 1t this, then,
be good plan for the supply of teachers for primary
schoos-which | think will not be denied by any one,
having knowledge OF the thorough manner in which
the cadets are taught in this school, and the very
parv moral and business habits they acquire in the
course Of their educatlon-it is the obvious duty of
the Legislature TO enlarge the capacity of the lnsttu
ton to furnish the teachers that will be wanted and 10
establish others upon the principle for hs II for
no other object 1t is, however, foreign TO my purpose
10 enter large upon the advantages of military schools
and the great superiority of military discipline any
othe, system for the management of schools, which so
strongly commend themselves TO the public patronage
But am persuaded, that not only better teachers ca n
be furnished through this medium, but that It will cost
the public less supply them from this source, than
any other Take, for instance, the case OF the pubic
guard at Richmond, which could be easily converted
into military SCHOOL all the services which they now
form land for which return made 10 the State,
but those services,) might be well performed by
this guard and the amount expended on them be Up.
> piled to thepurroses OF education. Such change in
The organization ofihe Richmond guard, would not cost
the State beyond the present cost Of this corps,
and al! that would Thus accrue TO The of education
might be considered as much clear gain; and gain,
too which cannot be we'll estimated IN dollars and cents
"But, as have said, my SUBJECT is not much to pro-
pose plans 10 elicit the aid OF others, and particularly
the press which trust will atone, by lis future zeal
in the cause Of education, for lis past neglect Upon
such an occasion good citizen should withhold his
aid let his contribution be inconsiderabe. We
require that the subject should be generally discussed
that public attention should be fully aroused to our
deplorable wants. that the people should force their
agents into the performance Of duties which they have
SO long and SO shamefully neglected. Without some
decisive step the part of the people, there is just
room to fear that the next Legs1ture ike the last Will
give the subject Of education sho,ct rcrds, instead
of acton Il has been subjected TO this treatment long
to exhaust patience, and to exhibit its effects,
in degree of ignorance exceeded if recoect aright,
by but one State in the Union Let the PRESS then,
Virginia. with one accord come to the rescue, and en-
deavor to wipe up this foul blot upon escutcheon.
"a yIRGISIAs
"P s. Just as had finished this communication,
my attention was arrested by the very complimentary,
rnd doubt not, just account of an examination at the
Academy under the superintendent Of Mr.. w L. Fair,
a graduate Of The Military school al Lexington, which
strongly corroboraes all here SAID of the skill and
e ficiency of teachers educated Mr. Fair has been,
and of the great advantage Of the mode Of discipline he
has introduced after the example ofthe school in which
he was educated that would desire better illusta-
ton Of the great benefit to be derived from teachers
trained to such valuable habits, and the obvious duty
of the State 10 multiply the number Of SUCH.
4 Word to the legislature.
The Wing press is making clamor about your waste