Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-02-15


Of the youth Of Virginia, who have received education
extensive that which they afford. There are those
who asse tina, the demands for collegiate education with
IN the state OF Virginia, fully met by the establishment
and liberal endowment OF the University The facts in
the case do not this assertion. For in the fret
place. all the colleges with the exception Of three have
been brought into existence and sustained by the bera
" OF the public, since the establishment of the Univer
sty, which would have been done unless they were
required BY the wants Of the people. In the second
place, during the year ending July 4h, ls43 were
but l2s matrcusuons at the University, (sce last Re-
port Of Rector and vstors) while the number at the
Colleges represented in the late Convention was about
5oo But TO make the comparison just professional
students ought to be substacied The ratio Of marcus
tons then would be al 450 We owe Il TO the
justice OF the application which We prefer in behalf Of the
colleges TO make these statements They made, how
ever in no spirit Of unkndness towards the University Of
virginia Asthc representatives, Of the colleges Of the state
avail ourselves with pleasure OF this occasion TO DIS
card upon the part Of them all any jealousy o. any pre-
JUDGE towards that institution We claim share in the
PRIDE OF whatever Of usefulness and Of reputation has
tended its operations We hail coadlutcr the &C.
complishment OF tho noble object we a have in yiew
namely, the elevation Of the intellectual aud moral
ter OF our species and wish tina, prosperity may be
multiplied upon IL hundred fold.
But colleges not only supply nine cnhs Of the demand
Tor collegiate instruction they the from which
sh larger proportion Of the well qualified teachers Of the
State derived This arises from the cheapness OF the
education which they furnish having their expenses
80 low as TO bring them within the reach Ut those
IN moderate circumstances. The wealthy youth OF
country seldom devote themselves the business
OF instruction. They either live upon their patrimones
lock TO the professions for their support Our instructors
are derived chiefly from the middle classes Of society and
as they are almost entirely dependent upon colleges
Tor their preparation, these appear OF meal
cuabc Importance the educational OF the
monwenth.
Furthermore by the fourth provision Of the proposed act
the colleges will hold very peculiar ard interesting res-
uon TO the primary school system. The experience
only OF Virginia, but Of oil her States. which have
adopted systems OF primary education, proves that
SYSTEM however well devised, be- useful to any grea,
extent unless it be skfuly and faithfully executed The
greatest Obstacles with which such have
tend arise chiefly from two witt first. from the
want OF public interest in their successful operations;
condy, irom desti,uion Of competent and permanent
teachcsS NO system OF education for the poor
pe,ent OF itself these difficulties. They
be removed, If removed all, by other agencies more
eiiectual in giving character and force public sen.
men, and among such the colleges occupy a very pro-
minent place. They greatly multiply throughout the
State the number Of literally educated and well in.
formed men; aud through their fundamentally let
interest upon tue subject of education be begotten
and widely difased-et the and objects OF edu.
cation be rightly undcrstood-et the Of you'll
becoms to be considered the honorable and sacred
duty hch the public commit the hands of
dvdus and which requires the highest intellectual and
moral cndowmeLts ia him VINO would discharge rightu
y and fahiuylei the cou1try, in short, be stocked
with competent teachers, and the primary school system
OF Virgins susceptible II is OF adaptation 10 he local
wishes anG preferences % the people will be found,
The extent OF ITS means, fulfil the expectation OF Its
m 5, sanguine friends. And until ali this be accom-
plshed. at least to considerable bare pecun
appropriation however liberal. will the OBJ
sent system exchanged Tor some other. These difficult
es arising from the sources, in the free school
systems OF the Northern States their published reports
shaw Whatever the system be- necessary
into execution. only o pecuniary but OF
intellectual and moral kind aud 1t these be wanting the
ceency OF the system point OF theory signifies but e
With view 10 aid more eectualy in promoting the objects
OF the primary school system aud pay back the
muny in the valuable form the support they now
ict the colleges have voluntarily offered your honorable
body educate free Of all charges young men,
them according the direction the general assembly
In what way, or at what lower price, could offer cole
giae education the poov provide for efficient ins,-yc
ZION in the primary schoosl Such Of those young
should be deemed competent would doubt be brought
under obligation devote themselves, least for a
term of year, 10 the business OF teaching. il the
with the State cadets OF the Lexington military school,
And thus in few years the restitution OF good teachers
which is so heavily complained of in Virginia. might be in
great measure ii wholly supplied. This immediate
influence which the colleges may be made upon
the interests OF the primary school system will trust be
regarded very weshy consideration with your honouI
able body granting them appropriation which
your memorialists pray
Your nemoras aware. that, besides the colleges
there are other institutions namely the academies and
in ermcds;a schools, which have by the of 1891
chin upon the benefit OF the Literary Fund.
We believe that this fund may be managed ultimate
y all these claims and place various classes
literary institutions upon permanent and basis
Thus, tie prayer Of memoraists be granted il will
require but ID for the surplus capital of the Literary
fund to endow the colleges existing within the limits
OF the commonwealth, aud their sectional distribution and
adaptaont TO the wants OF the people, afford sufficient guar
aniee that their number will be Increased Alter
that time, the fund may be appropriated towards
the accomplishment Sny other object, which the gen.
era assembly may deem Of sufficient importance TO
claim its appropriation. This however, must be gredu
al work. The academies and intermediate schools
numerous, that they 10 share with the colleges
in the benefit of tho proposed appropriation, the amount
received by single institution would be too small TO
be of any service And IL proposed TO enlarge the
fund include the academies and schools, aud yet
ultimately the colleges the necessary sup
port them, the relief would TO several Of them too
tardiIy be eeciual. In the judgment Of your memo
rialis would be nuch the better endow the
colleges BY tins creation OF fund for that exclusive Object
and afterwards to bos,ow sucn appropriation the
denies might be deemed just and proper And as the
question he resolved Of priority OF claim
would respectfully represent TO honorable body,
that the academies do not require assistance ITO the extent
which the eoeges do) IN order TO keep successful ope-
ration. Thi. from their diversity IN organization
In the fret place. cOleglte educstion is greatly
tended than academica The former usually begins where
tins later ends. The qualifications therefore o collegiate
instructors higher and be commanded only by the
payment Of higher salaries.
in the second place, the mode Of instruction in colleges
is more complete and laborious being accompanied by
and illustrations stately given upon ali the subjects
OF the course. These two characteristics Of collegiate
education impose the necessity OF introducing the principle
Of the division OF abOur 10 greater extent in those in
sItuons than in academies The number OF instructors
must be greater proportion to the number Of pupils.
In the IhTd place. the duties to be discharged by col
egc officer the whether the number Of students
great SMALL much abour and time consumed
in ecuring 10 class Of twenty Of fifty pupils; whereas
III elementary instruction the llbouT
formed Is IN proportion 10 the number be instructed
The operation oi college, therefore, be reduced
adapt itself 10 it, number of Students without render
ing its education less complete which would be msnesy
10 those who pa,Tonizs IT, aud destructive Of char.
seier, On tue other hand academies may and they all
practically do, expand their operations suit their pat
ronage Assistants employed generally by the yoar
and attached to the school, according its
dem lnds.
ia the fourth place, much larger s necessary for t
ting cOnege tan academy. L1bofaorie lecture
libraries pubchn'ls aud dormtOries nc be-
erected and furnished in order put college opera
ton the II suitable rom in which
conduct the business he SCHOOL all that Of necessity
| be done 10 establish academy.
This diversity Of organization and operation il noted
with the slightest intention disparage the academies
and Intermediate schools, but Ia set m proper light the
priority of CLAIM winch the colleges have upon libc-
fay Of be general assembly. We could be suspect
cd OF such motive, tho colleges hemsolves have
deep's both the number and character Of
academies drawing from them, they do. the greater part
| OF their pupils.
Notwithstanding tho expenses Of the colleges much
heavier than those the academies and schools
and The education they furnish much extended yethe