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


children Of republic. They are no, in the school
sense Tho children Of thsr passnts; but the St,ts 10
Paens PainS, and they sbou all be regarded a. The
suns aud daughters OF Mother Common wealth. The
taxes il /. tue w haze 10 be raised chcdy from the
property Of ths rich tst at last the school rssenus
is distributed the funds OF tho State, and when
with her liberal and equal hand they distributed
mpartialy to ALL there i. eiog of Dependence IN
any. They all alike look up TO the benign State
Mother for the mental bounty, all Praise her only
aud love her supremrIy for H. and thus Is laid oun
dation Of amor patria ever during as the iemini'-
of schoolboy days. ssd ierseDt the ionde.'
recolleciions ofife and gratitude can ever be IN the
human heart. As our system now Is, IN schools
mi xed OF children whose parents pay tor schooling
them and OF those who seat by the School Com
nissioners Of the State the child Vi charity hum
BLEED by the comparison OF tsef with those who pay
The school is not pleasant TO this child and the pride
ofparens reyolt at the Dependence and inequality
in the school, that they often refuse 10 allow their
children to enter. Whilst the school is free OF
charge, still il is not free The true is to make
it free TO ALL make il the school of the Stale and let all
hey children come without money and without price F"
Then no human pride will initiate against education;
but ON The contrary every little checked apron
will be "washed and ironed," and every little fly flap
bonnet will be sfened and Strengthened for the
"schoo parade" Funds and the universal free school
all that are wanting % enlghten every child
among Us. and to array human pride on the side OF
the school,
You need not, my friends, wait for the tardy action
OF our Legislature. Ii wall for that fear will
wait forever. What, then Organize yourselves by
counties and districts that you have need to ask of
the Legislature 10 to pass an act for every county
whichwill adopt system for ITSELF incorporating for it
Board OF Education with powers similar 10 those Of
the county courts for county levies and other pur-
poses. Let lhis Beard be elected biennially by the
votes of al the male parents and guardians, having
member for every hundred voters according to dis
trlcts Ia be laid of by the Board.
Let this Board be required to levy taxes sufficient
to educate every white child between the ages Of 7
and 10 years, at common free schools at the rate of
Sl2 per annum for each child and allowing 80
scholars 10 each teacher and to pay expenses Of
sessment and superlnrendence. Let il lay Of the
county In sIics Of 80 scholars aud teacher 10
each district.
Let II have power to appoint one assessor to take
annual census OF the persons and property to be tax
cd for the school fund of collector of the fund
to give bond and security and superintendent to
visit quarterly each school, to take regular account
oil the system OF teaching, of the number of pupils,
and Of the qualifications and conduct of teachers,
and to make report thereof to the Board; with rea-
sonable compensation to each ofthose officers.
Let this Board have power to fine, and to collect
Zines OF parents and guardians, rich or poor, who fail
and refuse to send their children or wards to some
schools OF their own selection. And let It meet quar-
tery or as often as chooses with power pass by
laws for its own government.
All Tins you can commence for yourselves. Rut
still you must look to the State for some thing more
For every county that will thus tax itself to educate
ITSELF the State should out of the literary fund build
all The additional school houses required. II should
do more, and what is all essenlial- should take upon
Itself TO furnish competen. TEACHERS, in a reasonable
course Of time, TO epery county in the Commonwealth.
And this can easily be done. The university and the
colleges, particularly, must be more literally patron
lied The universities and colleges are the fountains
q teachers he must he hold
ragged, and the most munifcent and benefcent mode
OF doing this, IN my humble opinion is for the State
out of the literary fund and by taxation, if necessary
to support at the respective colleges number Of
own Virginia youths equal to twice the number of
Delegates and Senators in the Legislature and to re-
qure these youths when they have obtained cerlii-
Gates OF competency TO teach in the primary and com
mon Tree schools, at the rate allowed Of Sl2 10 cts
for each scholar, as long as they have been main
tanned at college at Stale charge. Let them enter
INTO dentures to the State, and then they will OBJ
tain their education, and will have worlhily paid for
it. Each youth Of this description viii cost not more
than $3.50 per annum for his board, tuition and Incl
dental expenses.
The number proposed is 1892 and the cost to the
literary fund would be $50, 1000 per annum. This
would give 10 each uniye rsty and college 25 State
students, and distribute to each the patronage Of So
3o5 per annum. This would give to the Sta e in
every term OF years, say, corps OF 322 competent
teachers certain to be engaged in the work Of tuition
for period of Yeas more, and shedding the light
OF their knowledge into every recess Of the State,
and exciting the thirst for mental improve
ment every where by their example, and when
done teaching abiding ornaments of the State.
The State, too, should furnish the books for the
free schools; and should have two general superin.
iendeDts, one for Eastern and for Western Vir.
gina.
and no doubt a much better plan may be devised.
But why cannot something like this be done Why
cannot something on this subject be done' Will
you not hold primary meetings about this momen.
ious, this mighty concern Meet in your neishbor-
hoods meet in your counties, meet in your con-
sressional districts Assemble, and resolve, and act
Petition the Leglslature-knock at its doors -ahaks
them dorn, until you are heard and your wants OF
this mama OF The mind are supplied
My friends see you before mel feel in your
presence see your "up,urned faces" as oft and
oil old have met you md you have heard me-
Your familiar faces so papably before me that
/ am inclined 10 call you by name up TO this good
and glorious enterprise for yourselves Accomack /!
Charles City! Elizabeth Cityi Gloucester! James
CITY Lancaster Mathews New Kent! North
ann ton Northumberland Warwick York. all.
the whole twelve OF you, as last appeal as love
you, call on you no more for my sake, but you,
onn sakes 10 meet in contention al the old Raleigh in
Williamsburg, on The All day Of July merit 10 consider
he "ay' and means u feeding ond filling the minds of
every one Of our children nth The bread Of Knowledge
Zone, send delegates every one Of you, as many as
you choose aud arrange propositions after YOU meet
call upon the learned Professors of William and
Mary, and of the academies and schools-I call
upon the reverend clergy, Of every denomination
call upon my brethren Of the bari call on the
humane faculty ofmed cnc-I call upon our most
excellent farmers aud mechanics call upon pa
rents and guardians call upon woman who would
be The mother OF scholars, philosophers, sages and
great men-l call upon all ages and sexes-I call
upon The rich man and the poor man, and upon men
oil all conditions-to stir, TO live, move and have
iheir being IN this vital subject knowledge is
power IL Is the greatest Of all power. II is the
power winch overcomes all social obstacles IL 10 the
power which prostraies all political inequalities il is
The Po~r which osercomes all physical distractions
IN The way OF usn castles and ranks and grades
bow before 1t; wealth is impotent against it, II sub
dues The earth; and 1t humbles tyrants Ano il