Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-13
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Ia Tie GennrnL lsselnLIu

the purport OF their memorial; and without believing
that The present Legislature will have the time the
necessary materials before them for taking any i'm
por,ant step upon the genera! subject of Education,
neVeFiheless deem the present moment not altogether
unreasonable tor Offering few which may
oehoove the Legislature OF the State duly consider
az preparatory 10 action winch should be taken
whenever the proper time shall arrive. The subj ct
of Education is one Of such prime importance to the
welfare and prosperity of our good old Commonwealth
that citizen deserves to be called intelligent or pa
rioc, who feel Indifferent to the character of any
measure affecting IFS condition in any respect there
fore, need apology in appealing t, you as her Re-
representatives., with the confidence, that in far as
may be able to make any judicous hints upon the
subject, your attention will be excited to render them
available.
cannot do better, than to call your attention. in
the list place, to The plan propos, by Mr. Jefferson
for the education of the whole State as the only one
that be adopted at ALL consistently with enphi
ened reason with true economy of forces Of time and
of money and with the successful experience of those
countries, where reasonable plans constantly and
zeaously pursued His plan, If am not msinforned,
opposed that one University and as many Colleges as
would be required, should be eslabl,shed-and that on
these, should depend the Academies and Primary
Schools-the whole being arranged into one organic
and harmonious system, which the course OF in
stuclon, pursued in the inferior institutions would be
mad. 10 conform TO the principles and plans adopted in
the higher NV, ask, did Mr.. Jefferson err in sup
posing that the condition OF Virginia was ripe for the
establishment of University, at the time when one
nominally founded? Or, IS the State now in
rear of the age, in which such Institution, in the
strict aud proper sense of it, high title, is demanded ;
II these questions shall lie answered in the affirmative
then the University of Virginia, so called, should al
once be stripped OF its plumage of its professor
ships be abolished the patronage which receives
be rerenched, and the fund besowe annually upon il
be distributed between and the other Colleges Of the
State But as am persuaded that such decision can
ho sIa kxf lid
est ilberali,y, take it for granted that few will be
found who would advocate such vandalism princ
ple ba! that, the contrary, oil true Virg inians,
who above pre- udice and low egotism, nxiously
desire to restore the fa'her-lund of Washington and
Jefferson TO the degree of distinction among her
sister States, W. among other countries of the
civilized world which II enjoyed in tho golden age OF
is heroes for, to remain stationary is to retrograde-
The point Of pedency being conceded in favor Of
University, should be raised 10 the character of
sne and be pa.ronsd SUCH according TO the scheme
Of its great and phanthropc founder Then, the gp
neral system of Edueation which he proposed. would
follow necessary consequence; and this principle
should be kept steadily in view, and be duly regard
ed whenever the Legislature shall be called upon to
make application of any part Of the fund set apart for
that purpose. Why should the friends of WIN " Mary
be permitted to indulge themselves with the visionary
hope OF raising that insuon TO the dignity and CHAR
acter Of 4 University, of becoming one OF the heads
of two-headed monster, and the other Colleges with
IT this antagnnistcal to them Such feelings,
and the spirit which gives them birth, should be at
once ebuked and suppressed, as beng hostile to true
progress. The present condition Of the State can
scarcely supper, University, and we are complete:
Nv overrun by tie number of our Colleges tor, "
they were ali patronizpd the extent that the most
bounty could afford, il would be impossible
for them to obtain more than seventy-hv students
piece 1t is believed, that reference to their ca,alo
CUES for the last ten years, would not exhibit even
that average but let three hundred students be assumed
The number that would seek the benefits OF these
Colleges, would it not be better, in every point of
view that these should be distributed among those Of
the present Colleges OF this number, probably
one half would complete their education al the Uniyer
sitv.
In consequence of the neglect and inattenon of the
Legislature, and may more justly add, OF our Gov
ernors, in not calling out that attention TO some gene
raj plan for the government and management OF our
institutions of learning, and in not msnIfesiing any in
terest the subject it cannot be otherwise than that
the University Of Virginia must fail 10 render sufficient
services for the patronage which IT receives, and that
all the Colleges INNS, in like manner fall far short Of
supplying their proper complement OF good. lie mol
the Legislature ashamed Of iis' Are you now, for
the first time be informed OF the lamentlble fact,
that of the number OF students who annually pre-
nlselves candidates for graduation in the dill
schools of the University, usually ranging from
seyenty-ye 10 hundred, about one-hif of them
are rejected on account of Inability to correctly
their language, or 10 correct errors in grammar
which schoolboy of twelve years should be ashamed
to commit? Such is the imperfect and superficial state
Of preparation with least hreesouihs Of the young
men who 20 thare, that the professors who fill the
three first schools, compelled in great measure
perform the duties of tutors, and TO divide and
their time and attention between several classes
in teaching those very elements with which the youths
should have been previously imbued; and that other
subjects of equal greater Importance and which pro
perly fu within the sphere Of University studies are
scarcely touched abris prmortbus IL for this rea
that English Literature, Geography, History, Eth
nogsaphy every thing bearing upon the cultivation oil
TASTE ali the branches OF Natural History and other i'm
por,ant subjects required in the plan of University
are altogether excluded. How far these subjects nigh
be thrown uponsthe present Professors, by an IT,
crease of their labors under existing circumstances
aa unable to sGy; but would suppose such thing 10
De impossible. IL admit OF no doubt, however
that system might be easily devised, embracing the
academies ana colleges by which not only the evils
erred TO- but also the prevailing fashionable and anti
republican incidence of our youths, might BIZ rene-
died. and all these subjects be fully taught by the
presen, number of Professors, they cow able 10
attend to minor branches which do not fall within the
range of their duties.
The Legislature might therefore, avail itself with
great advantage of the late of The College,
10 take the whole subject a.o hand and if not pre-
pared definitely at this me to take such preli-
mnary steps, shall finally secure wholesome sys-
education for the entire State, at least 10 pre-
vent its energies and resources from being FILTERED
away aud squandered with suicidal effect among too
many rival institutions, and by ireu fits of hasy or
unadv;sed legislation. wise foresight certainly die
,aes that one University should be established in the
full sense Of that term, and that it should receive IL
beral patonag &c, but strict and constant supervision
from the Legislature 1t should be regarded and con-
s,uted the fountain Of learning for the State, from
which the professors and teachers of all the other nst-
tutions and their courses and modes of instruction,
yhoulG be made 10 emanate. There should likewise
be at least three Colleges, which should be confined
and kept strictly within the true functions OF Col
ege, whose mission, far from consisting in vain
attempts to show empty schemes Of University
courses 10 train the youth in the elements OF know
ledge as we'll as TO inculcate moral principles, and
to form their habits and taste, far otherwise than it is
commonly done These Colleges should receive the
patronage Of the State, and be located in suitable posi-
TONS and on account Of the great number already ex
isng, there bu, little difficulty in making ud'cous
selection William and Mary, Washington COLLEGE,
and Emory and Henry, the three best located for
The and it is probable that by the grant OF ten
Thousand dolrs annually to them, they will be able to
sustain, with their present endowmenis, at least i've
Proessorshps zach. All the others should be abolish
ed or endowed as Academies as they are now poorly
fulfilling only the duties of Academies The Medical
Department Of Hsmpden Sydney, which IS altogether
surrepous and without legal constitution as well Us
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