The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-27

lst. The fact appears that of the whole number Of
free white persons nearly oneeigh, cannot read and
write.
ID. That of the whole number of free white per-
sons over 20 years OF age more than fou N can
not read and write.
3D. That you have bu, II academies and I0l pri-
mary schools, making lls in ALL when YOU ought to
maintain at least 259, leaving deficiency Of l4l
common schools.
4th. That you have but 2,62S scholars in your pr-
mary schools and but COS scholars in them at public
charge; when you ought to have at least 44S chill
dren, at from TO IS years Of age, all at public
charge in free schools leaving 4l75 children Of that
age unaccouptcd for.
9Th. That this number Of LIS children of that
age, presumed not sent to school, is nearly the
precise number Of adults 4,5l4 who in this genera
ton have grown up ignorant OF letters.
9th That this number OF adults, ASIA, who can
not read and write, exceeds even the number Of
voters, 1879, in the District.
7th That, allowing Sl2 90 cts. to each scholar
you are now expendng but S3S, SAC per annum for
common schools, when you ought to expend the sum
OF S59 1916, leaving deficiency Of funds amounting
to $50, 1870 per apnum.
9Th Tia, this sum OF $50, 100 must be raised and
expend, IN some way 10 make the rising generation
more learned than their fathers
This Is lamcntable condition Of education among
us. would never have exp, sed IT to the scof or
the pity Of the world but own censustakers have
already made report thereof to the Department of
State Of the United States and Congress has printed
these facts at public expense. ! know that very
large body OF our people is among the most intelli-
gent, and some Of them among the most learned Of
the country | know how much credit and honor is
due to some OF our parents, who have only rubbed
n atures rust on their sons at common schools but
have polished their minds bright not only at our own
colleges and universities but the universities OF Eu-
rope. ] know what a body of well instructed gen
cmen we have, who would do honor TO any society OF
any Athens IN the land; how gracefully they live in all
the the ltght oil learning. what ahle
alma mater OF great men we have in old William and
Mary Colleges what select corps Of professors and
teachers become seminories and academies what
fine body of young graduates yearly come out from
and the Northern schools what an eminent
profess onal corps both IN law and medicine, minis
tiers to cur minds as well as to physical and pccu
psry cases; what active industry enterprise
and intelligence there is among the great body
OF our farmers and planters and mechanics
] know how TO account for much of the want
Of learning among people from their geo
graphical location--living, many Of them do,
on islands and long pcnnsuas inconvenicp to schools
and how much ignorance Is to be attributed to the
valuable labor Of poor children whose poor parents
cannot spare their time nj school, precious as il is
TO procure FOR them their daily bread. know all
these consong excuses, but still the fact sarcs us
righfully in the face, that moro than 1000 poor chill
dren in our dstrc, arc growing up In the night Of
ignorance. Most Of these doubtless are female chill.
dren, and the touching fact is presented that many
mothers Of the generation to follow will not be able
TO teach their sons and daughters how TO read and
write. We cannot mend the present generation Of
fathers and mothers but may provide teIiectua
food enough, and TO spare, for the health and happ-
ness Of those who TO come after us.
The question is how is that TO be done Look here
IT this next table and sec howbou abound in wealth.
and see what small portion Of your annual income
$4,000 s, or what a small per cent it is on your
fixed capital.