Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-01-30
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
EDuCATIoN-.Reform !. SCHOOLS.
THURSDAY MORNING. JANUARY 10. is.s.

We comply with pleasure, with the request Of worthy
citizen and FRIEND transfer his second No. on this grave
SUBJECT to our columns.
Next in importance after the duty his Maker
sunques,ionaby that Of the educaon of his poeerty;
duty postponed to hundred Others aud almost ever
every crse, made subordinate pursuit. Of gain
Yet upon his attention neglect in this respect depend
the individual happiness othis child the maintenance
degeneracy vi national honor and character the future
glory OF the couny, aud the pcmancnce public Lber.
y-au indeed which render life desirable. temper
| the seventies OF probationary existence.
We have often invoked public attention the r.nscen.
dent importance Ut education but immersed the
SAINT conflicts OF party, which lever beginning end
iug, are destined. at last lay low the fair fabric Of
Government. the Public has been slow heed the call
We have often proposed ourselves the agreeable duty
systematic attempt excite public upon this great
subject but have neglected il. compelled
the storm OF politics Would that there could be party
prceiae the magnitude OF the subject survey the
ul negec, with which has been eated and resolve
that matter so inestmsbly dear ALL shall longer be
sacrificed to party politics and President making.
To every Virgnian, who is indeed virgnian in at
aehmen well as by BIRTH the wish the foul
stigma liked upon her by the OF $780, ought OF
self to be unconquerabc stimulus That prov.
ed the dgraceui truth that there 900 white adults
in the Commonwealth who could neither read
and from the imbcciiy Of the present system of primary
education that ratio doubted TO be on the
increase The mother of Statesmcn-he State which nj
the period Of the Revolution the first in diused in
formation well all other respects now not only
trails nj the tail Of her daughter Onio but barely
keeps with other daughters, aud is the Banner
State OF ignorance. Shame. shsme This in part,
and IN no small part from the annual and absurd attempts
OF the Legislature here, control and instruct Congess in
stead OF minding affairs OF Virginia. At very time
yesterday, the day before, and doubt again to-day this
wise policy is being acted over again! would be better
have devoted the time and attention reforming
system OF public educaoni Have these annual
OF federal measures in the General Assembly Virginia
ever been productive OF the smallest good produced any
other effect in the Union than bring Virgins rdicue
and TO subject her doctrines the Of the Union-
Suppose the Texas resolutions passed rejected What
will the difference bel How will the resa in the Senate
OF the U. States be affected by either contngencyi Not in
the slightest deeee Not TO the weight OF ehcsgers eye
The session fast advancing, aud OF time and
OF treasure TO devote them 10 distractions.
To return 10 the article OF .Parens," invite public
attention TO as he requests II is certainly emitted TO
consideration. ReAs.oad believe favoured BY
more and better schools Than any community the Com
mouwealth the qualifications the teachers in many case,
eminent, and their fidelity 10 their responsible trust
uudoubted Reformation may be needed here in schools
and here where the eve of enlightened Is
constantly liked upon them, how much in the coun-
Try, where the teacher too often ignorant pumpkin
and his school farce. Rut our General Assembly, seem
10 think this subject OF supremest Importance one least
OF all entitled TO Its aitenuonfar less than abstraction
about Tex's or some rigmarole about State Rights.
"Paens," in our opinion, omits notice prime abuse
in the practice Of the schools OF the whole county, which
ought be reformed without delay: mean obseryiu.
Saturday holiday The period Of education is about
fourteen years. The loss then, by Saturdays alone,
in that space OF time, is two years. None are more
opposed to the close confinement OF children. than
and We dees' the whole theory OF infant confinement
under the OF Frequent pay,mes and plenty of
exercise, promote the activity Of the ui children
Long vsesous, besides promoting habits denes. dis
gust them with study when they II. We speak
not nj random but from memory OF "o,her days"
From the Richmond Star
REFORM IN SCHOOLS.
Mr.. STeefer.-The subject OF radical reform in our
schools ought not cannot, must not sleep promised that
you might hear from ain IN my last communication
remarks, and the plain article yeu called pub
lie attention 10 the subject. have frequently eaId this
subject o late in daily walks, freely eanyassed and the
teachers in our city how very generally their
hours aud times of study, and their destructive vacations
are condemned The return daily sessions rs sug.
gesied IN my former must be had makea better use
OF time, aud To improve the habits and give tone TO the in
cinauons Of our boys What parent no does not
deeply regret the waste of every afternoon by his child and
the idle and vicious Popensities which u
mongst the groups o Oungrrs OF that description
streets daily present The teachers they Ia be use
FOL. and 10 he greafuiy remembered should themselves
make this move. My life upon 1t, that he who frs, does
will the cord al appreciation of his patrons and
tie lasting gratitude Of his pupils.
Still more mischIevOus tho cations of summer in
The waste OF lime aud ENCOURAGEMENT OF Ideness and
mere Is no good reason Tor IT. Compare the value
aeason for the regular and useful duties Of School with
the uses 10 which put by the children and does not
every one see how ridiculous u the What folly
then 10 throw away this precious 10 the yuung
Again. months be wasted in the twelve lei II
be the winter months, which cold and and
contain many days unsuitable for the children to 20 TO
school, say, they TO Oe thrown away, which they
ought not 10 be, why let them be January and February
made up 4" very short days and bad weather Then instead
OF the children rudging through the mud and ran and
crouchlng about the fires unsuitable feeling for study
they would the fine weather OF summer and the long
days, aifofding much time useful atiainments Ii
Is all humbug about leaving for health summer
mOhs. " Is notorious that ia all Eastern Virginia, the
cities are the healthest places during summer and au
tumn Look over the past autumn, and does not every
'ne KNOW That whilst fever the State like tor
nado, we had Of III Richmond and i,t whilst our
suburbs suffered smaty. had 1t in the town
This has been the idly nduRed some excuse
or the long summer vacations and that and children
therefore ~ town IL - not few Of wealthe,t
citizens do eaye for mountain Excursions but they
are but 1.-THE Of the real industrial population Of our city
VINO wish Their children brought up industry and useful.
ness who have the greatest interest in this matter no
ought control 1t. This practice La. grown I'd in every ,
tie Grammar SceDo. by AIDING the necessity that 1i,s for
IT IN large Colleges and Universities 1t catering To the
luxurious ndugences and notions Of few rich %, ope AT
too great cost To- the general community
Sir. say, let January, February and March be quar-
ter; April. May aud June quarter; July. August and Sep
TENDER quarter and October November aud Dec ernsr
quarter hnd my head for football " does prove true
that the teacher who adopts the reforms suggested will
have the best behaved School, the boys
and will turn ont the best educated and useful
Inc boys would learn IN year than they do
m two aud Just IN the prop rion, when the years ap
proptad Tor education, soy from the age 10 twenty
are considered they would school fourteen yoas m
stead O seven or eight, according 20 the present
Do parents not the force Of these views and will they
longer tolerate system Which practically deprses bcf oil
splng Of nearly haf the years allotted educafon1
trust MI Strooer, ~ the power u truth and set hope
that some ono IT Ouf very respectable, Influential and jus
teachers. will load ii m this matter IIs will At l. sst have
the thanks and high respect Of PAEtvs"
MORE DEFALCATIONs,
The decline Of the American character eonspieu ou. IN