Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-19


cor'ing to the auditors report of the present
year, the number oil schools i'm I'D counties is
2o", which il they contain the same average
number, as exhibited by the census of $50,
VIZ: 20 scholars each would make b. 2lS scho-
lars. and estimatuu the cost of tuition at -
% per quarter, would amount 10 sS52 .iS1.
and deduct cost ol proposed plan, shows a sa-
Imc o' s@I1o0, besides educating more than
douoic The number Of children that are now
al school IN the whole State La order 10 illus
trale the subject more fully we will take for
example the county of Albcmarle, which com
pgiSeS an area OF about 200 square milest and
had IN $50, a white population OF lO.5l2, OF
whom 26'2 are children from 10 IL years OF
age.
According to the last census there were in
that county Is academies with 100 scholars
and Fl primary schools with 3S6 rcholars.-
/ Now II we estimate the tuition ian the acadc-
mics at So per quarter, and in the primary
schools at $3.50, the aggregate amount will
be Sl3,i6O. But let the county be divided
INTO IL school districts, containing each l6
square miles and allow $500 per annum for
tuition in each school, would cost $1,000
showing Il saving i'm expense Of $3.50. and al
lordmg education to $500 children instead oil
$50 now receiving instruction. We feel as
suTcd from examination that at least n of the
counties OF the State have white population
suniciently dense TO support system of COM
mon schools without increasing the aggregate
Oh expense incurred by oar present Inefficient
system.
! Perhaps il may b. thought that our cstim
ate of the cost OF tuition is too lows but il will
/ be corroborated by reference to the expenses
incurred IN other States where the distric (
school system has been adopted.
I In Massachusetts,, the average cost in the
country is 81 50 per annum Tor each poor
child at school. In the city of Boston 81 u d.
In New York country schools SO ~. In the
city So In Pennsylvania So Is and in the
city OF Philadelphia Sc OF, including the high
school. We propose for teachi q fixeds
larry OF $500 per annum, which is'higher than
the average compensation in the rnml districts
OF the Northern States, and is found TO be sulIi-
Gent iii the county of Norfolk to secure good
teachers, under the district system lately adop-
ted there, and isnow in state OF successful
operation.
Having examined this question in It's finan-
clal aspect, we now turn To other features OF
the present and proposed systems which we
consider still worthy ofourconsideation.
We consider the present school system OF
Virginia radically defective in several partic.
ulars.
lst. 1t creates a distinction between the
q IIVh ana lnc poor.
ID. 1t makes no provision for the examin.
alton oil teachers as to their moral. characters
and qualifications.
81. 1t coniers no authority on school com.
missioners for the selection OF school books.
4th. ltembraccs no proviason Tor the o,l-
In r? gcls at ihc first Of these defects. we
would remarSthat we consider the selection
oipoor children, and teaching them asesuch at
the publ ceXpense, liable TO the most serious
objections, inasmuch as it impairs their stssn,
ding among their comrades, and their selfFE
sspect, and frequently prevents their parents
I from accepting a boon which athey think is
coupled with odlous distinctions.
The common school system which we would
recommend, by placing all classes ON one lev
, el, is more conductive to that equality of fee
ling whichis peculiarly appropriate TO our re-
publican institutions, and will be instrument
tai III elevadnS the masses of society to that
ate the bl.ssipSs and share the burdens of a
free govGfnnftW
we therefore propose TO the convention the
adoption of the following resolution
Resolved, That the plan OF popular educa-
ton reported by th0 president and directors
OF the Literary fund in the year lSll, to the
Legislature OF Virginia, be recommended 10
the consideration OF the present legislature,
with the following amendments. viz:
i The election of school. commissioners by
the people, and the adoption of the system by
such counties as may agree ttaccep, it by a
majority OF those entitled to- vote for members
OF the Legislature.
! SAML NJ. JANNEY, of Loudoun,
! DANE NJ. EDGlNGTON, oHOhio.
Minority Of Committee.
Mr.. ]. d. Munford continued his arSSnen.
IN favor of this Report, and against that OF
/ the majority
! Mr.. Lyons proposed to refer the substitute
and all other propositions pending, or to be
presented, TO a Select Committee, to report in
the morning
This proposition after some debate, was
negativcd
/, Rev. J. Il. Jcter submitted resolution.
! proposing that a memorial be prcs,ntcNh n the
/ Legislature, praying the enactment of d NOR
perfect sytem of Education. Mr. j. did not
think II proper to present a scheme, already
formed, TO the Legislature, and ask its enact
ment. This wasalso negatived
Mr.. a. w. Mcdonald of Hampshire. also
submitted plan of Education, as substitute
for that OF Mr.. Janney. Mr.. NJ. briefly ex-
planned the purport of his plan, which con
templated an energetic system.
'''i' A'NiNN'u VI iNlh illINHfl lll' HTtN lOilS
question, which was sustained. and the
amendment of Mr.. Mcdonald was nogatived.
| The question then occurred upon MIR. jan
neys substitute, and vote being taken, il
was adopted.
| The vote was then taken upon the accom-
| panying document presented by the Minority
| OF the Committee, being The rRoyECr ron A
DISTRICT School SYSTEM. embraced i'm the
Report OF The President and Directors of th.
Literary Fund to tire General Assembly, call
ed Tor by al act Of Sth March, 1911.
TINS PROJECT was read. and voted upon.
section by section; and after various
amendments proposed by Mr.. p " Daniel.
Mr.. Gregory, Mr.. Janney, and others, was
adopted.
That document will be published as soon
as 1t can bc presented in a correct formO
In the course Of the debate on this subject,
Mr.. Watts Of Norfolk County. gave a state
ment OF the manner in which the act for d
A|sIff tfI &tslf q. ff...N q