Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-10-16

This being acknowledged, men OF all part
les, prejudices, sects, and sections, owe il,
as solemn duty 10 themselves, to their
country, to their God, to unite in the mosi
strenuous efforts to remove the dark stain
which rests not only upon the reputation
Of their State, bat which, it cannot be de-
MED, is foul blot upon humanity itself.
! But while we are not willing to trace
these humiliating results to their proper
causes. We do not hesitate to express our
lopirion, that much Of the evil has been
produced by the total inadequacy of the
present system of public instruction. The
defects OF that system are numerous and
palpable. We would beg leave briefly to
ienumerate the following--that by IFS OPP
Grafton, at least TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
of the poor children Of the State--as ex.
hibited by the annual report Of the Audi
tor-are totally unprovided with all means
of education whatever; while, those who
are enabled 10 partake Of its advantages,
receive instruction for period so limited
the average attendance Of each child
being only .fffy-nine days during the en-
tire year--as to render its benefits almost
unavailing-that the compensation of
teachers--the average cost of tuition being
only four cents for each days INSULT
cient. thus rendering it impossible, at all
times, to employ persons possessed OF the
requisite moral and mental qualifications
that, in addition to the insufficency Of
compensation, no adequate provision ex-
lists for regular supply of competent in
structors-that the officers composing the
Board of Education consisting of the Gov
ernor of the State, the Treasurer, and first
and second Auditors are prevented by
their official duties, whatever may be their
zeal, from bestowing the proper attention
upon so difficult and complicated SUBJ
jject-that the board of Commissioners, APP
poiated to direct the schools in each coun-
ty, receiving no compensation, cannot be
expected to exercise that vigilant superin-
tendance which is 50 essential to success
and surprising all in importance. that
the fund provided for instruction, as be-
fore suggested, is totally inadequate TO the
purpose, being so small as 10 leave al least
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND children with
on. any means of education whatever.
Such we consider among the prominent
defects of the present system Of public in
struction, which, although ii has conferred
many acknowledged benefits, is not suffi-
GENTLY comprehensive in its scope, or lib
eral in its expenditure, to accomplish the
important end of educating the masses,
and is, therefore, unworthy the character
and fame of the great State of Virginia.
We, therefore, think that the exigencies Of
the occasion, call for the establishment of
a New System, upon principles of more
liberal expenditure. TO be effected, if me-
cessary, bv moderate addition to the bur-
dens of taxation, which we declare our
selves willing to meet, believing as we do,
that the small amount thus expended, will
come back to US with ten-fold interest in
the grateful reflections alone, that must
ever attend the recollection of having aid
ed in redeeming the minds of our brothers
from the odious and detestible tyranny of
ignorance and vice.
To our fellow citizens of Berkeley, we
would say, that this is subject Of the
most vital importance. The position of
our county is one of high and merited res
pectablity, and yet, we regret to say, with
all her advantages, she has her full pro-
portion in the general aggregate OF igno-
rance. A reference TO facts will present
this matter in its true light. The county
of Berkeley, with population of only
IL 900 souls, yet contains, according to
the Census, sir hundred and fifty eight free
white persons above the age of 20-being
about one sirteenth of her population,
black and white who are unable to read
or write That the magnitude of this
proportion may be more clearly perceived,
we would beg leave to refer to the north
ern state of Connecticut, which, with a
population of 800. 900, contained in 1910,
only 526 persons who were unnstructed
in the rudiments of learning! Thus it
appears, the county of Berkeley, being
one of lis, of which the state of Virgin
ia is composed, contains within its narrow
limits, alone, greater number of persons
who cannot read and write than the popu-
ous state of Connecticut! And we would
further remark, while we have seen it
stated upon reliable authority, that, at the
present time, not single male or female,
above the age Of ten, is to be found in the
state of Connecticut who has not receiv-
ed the common rudiments Of Education,
we have no reason to believe that the num-
Der Of uneducated persons in the county
of Berkeley has diminished since the taxi
ing of the Census in 1910.
But, while we lament and 5ewail this
melancholy state of things, we think
we can perceive the approach of a
new and better era in the history of our
state and county. We hail, then, with
great pleasure the dawn Of improved feel
ings in relation to this momentous subject,
and now raise our voices to join the loud
call, which is heard from all parts of Vir-
ginia, for the establishment Of a new and
more efficient system of public instruc-
ton. We believe that the work has been
already too long postponed, and that the
approaching session of the Legislature will
present favorable opportunity to accom-
plsh it, and thus retrieve, though some
what tardily, the furnished honor of our
o.