Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-12-04
roR THE viRoiNiAN.
REMARKS ON POPULAR EDUCATION.
No,H

REMARKS ON POPULAR EDUCATION.
Having had my attention fully directed 10 the In.
vesgaion and settlement Of any subject, worthy of al
'enllon, scarcely have power Ia Withdraw II, until that
subject has been finally disp, scd Of
The subject al education In, ot late hriievc, Begin
ming seriously engage The attention Of all ranks Vi So
cle,y Strong men are beginning 10 s,if east many of
Them have. Oh III Il subject just walked up. and there 10
reason 10 lear, that others only suppose themselves be
awake. Action will b- had thu, ia cefain but their de-
monslraiibs viii be fraught with dagger whether decis
sIve moi. The Consequences III failure are much /.
he dreaded. know the broad ss eulaiive medium,
Though which men oi general talents view those sub
lecls which have never particularly engaged their
thoughts and which their faculties have never been
exerled. u m,ssessrd the power 10 ofef any asss>
lance. am not lgnorant Of the gulf which lies between
he the public ear, aud the pen o mn auont writer,
Or p"e whose name Il R'ste he y f- rI name.
would pass current with many persons, than truth.
wi,hou, nane. Many prrsons there arr, Who could
give oplnon about the firm value IT h0tse with
on, knowing tho owner. and some WIN ARE willing II
ADM, the correciness OF an oplnon are not willing u
,dop, il from inirrior source. But this 10 mt The
case with ell. Wise mcn readily recognize AMI hduft
truth by whomsoever II may be presented. And those
who not blessed with such powers Of
should al least remember, that there must b. sna
agy between the kind Of information suWght, and tho
ources from which u mus. necessarily No in part des
lived.
have no motives for concealment. ! frankly ace
know ledge myself an humble. and hopa an unassus
ming individual never enjoyed the advantages o, y
regular educa ton Neither my friends nor my govern
meni. would bring within my reach the proper psris
I'd Of he, those cheap crumblrs Of knowledge which
might pps.ibly have given me strength 10 hew my way
into the vaults of the dune. ! have no earthly desire
10 dgn- IN any public capacity Whatever. and nihing
pdi The hope Of being remotely useful IN what regard
10 be Of the u.mos, consequence, stimulated by the
icaiiohs Of friends. could have induced me ID appear
'eiore the public WRITE M, for the SAX. u writing,
hui with nnbiassed and dsnlerescd motives.
In my last humber laid down as the basis VI 4 avs.
TEN Of common school instruction., several mprtant
principles. which thodsh thrown together rather hastily
and contrary 10 previous intentions. were nevert .ss'
HE rcsul, Of much debeatIon and comps e''ceo
by the observation aud painful expe, e o. '."y yes:
And though may probably Gel, ~ some oeg'ee, mo
nfue nee o., that princ;,1 common to met men, which
prompts Their sustain position once taken yet would
no, only ",,ney bu, gladly retract any thing have
od. il could believe, the sric'est scrutiny that
ii would in any way prejudice the cause which SO kfs
IDENTIFY desire should he emneny prosperous But On
The contrary further reheclon has only served 10 con
firm in The soundness Of all Of the principal features
Of my plan. and have not weakened my confidence ID
any, except lha, which elaes 10 the progressive meth
I'd vi laying #, The districts chilled for This would
some coD'usloh and lrreguhrityr
have just glanced a, an extract Of Mr. Lyonss bill
of SAP. given in the Virginno of the tenth utlf
this txfact be correct and understand II correctly,
viii stake my character, il have any, rs .'praclcsl
man." that II coild be brought into any ole:abe
degree Of partial operation. You not, 5ou cannot,
with IMMUNITY tax people. Except vrry limited ex,
ienD Tor the support oi schools beyond their reach; and
this would be the sI0aOnu sonb in almost every COINS
y from their insulated situation. independently this
consideration, why pay sheriff to collect money from,
side Of county aud Toll II over 10 the support OF
school on The olhf, md vice versa. Why rot draw
he principal support every school close around III and
thus encourage lis supporters; whether directly int ares
IL.
district. The CITIZENS Of district would then consider
II their och school, and many wealthy men Nho have
children would exert their ability and influence ID
make II as good as any other Such persons will sbS
init 10 reasonable taxation for The support Of school IN
their own neighbohood, il you will ask their colsens
and leave them 10 settle with their neighbours OF ths
teacher. but any thing in the form Of shsfi's coIrcs
non vii meet with strong oppostlun; more particularly
when levied Tor the support Of schOOs every where ard
any where. Under such circumstances all nvalty
would be lost, and we should have heavy drag A.
best.
II cannot be too often reerated that the first asss-
lance we need ia sttct CONCENTRATION and qrdtd sys.
tenn Of contribution TO the support Of the school, With
out these. we are completely at With them, must
of our difficulties are at overcome and the retain;
der brought into tangible position. Where ihe!a
be school, its neighbors should he made ID shpport
by the help of the State. IL they agree 10 du sol spd
where there cannot b. school, the inhabitants shOuld bS
left unframed, nearly so. The pill TAX, the tuun
fees, and the per deim charges. should. repeai be uni
orm and moderae.--The property should be len 10
vary in each district according " time and circhtsah
res, ,ha discretion of small committee cufnpsseu ~
The principal o. the district. into whose hands tho
management Of the school Mna fall, order 10 make il
prosperous. They should be assisted however, by 4
highly practical and intelligent ia all their GRANGE
nenis. One such, could serve as member OF twenty
or thirty different committees, and ds member VI Tho
county board, thus linking comparing and keeping on
The alert all the schoos in cun5 6t Ia two CT three
counties. if they were small az ht government system
hui parsly adopted. ifhe different authorities could az
upon the individual tie should b. tie Rrst Gune.
onsry appointed or eected IN his services would -
necessary al the ouiseih should Be cunsulted II nv,
81" HE districts. ascertain and qualify HE aaaOsisis
connllee men. assist in planning The bulldogs. Wait
and regulate all the schoos they ia,o operation.
carry ou' supplies Of stationary and lake psts oscssoa
ally IN teaching. have power sasslson The eesasy
commissioners and commit,es plsssuse- ny b.
fore them any business tina. nigh, require ,asir s,,se