Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-19
afoIopESS

ing of the 9th"
ADDRESS
OffEc slate C.nrci Coasmdtcs 10 ~ ft'''"S =
Popnlar Ee!ucat.oM ~ I"giaa.
Follow Citizens: Al The Education CohVeh'i''
held in Richmond lasl December, The following
rsso,n,;ons were unanimously adopted
=. p,,o,,,,J Tha, his Convention deem The
,n;,ed and systematic, and continued support and
care Of the friend. of Popular Education CT the
mos, vital importance 10 The preservation or sue
cess of any system which the Legislature may
adopt, and Tor the purpose OF securing IL anu o
awakening and keeping alive the interest OF inc
people in the subject;
ol. Resoired, That ,liis Convention do appoint
a Central Committee OF thirteen, resident al 'he
seal NJ government, whose duty shall be 10 collect
and dit,use information upon the subject oil pop
plar Education ana by correspondence ana CO.
operation with the several county anu Town "a
suciations, hereinafter recommehdcu 10 ""'cn
Ger and promote The success oi shch system d
NAV be adopted nv The Legislature, aSceflaih'hs
both IFS advantages and defects, for The purpose OF
recommending such measures as may Improve
the former. and remedy The latter.
"a P,wi,.ed Tha, this Convention do respect
fully and most earnestly recommend 10 The people
OF every comfy and town in The State, the carry
formation OF manent associations oil The lrienas
of Education. Tor The purpose OF protecting lis
interests, promoting the success Of Inc STATE sys
TEN and Of observing its operation ana suggest
inc amendments. That il be recommended 10
such Associations 10 keep up a correspondence
with the Central Committee and State Superln-
,endept obtaining from them and dihuslns such
information as they may afford, and 10 lose no
opportunity Of exciting and preserving The inle-
rest of the people in the cause OF Popular EAU
cation by frequent public addresses lectures ana
discussions.
a,h B(solrsd That The Central Committee be
empowered Ia appoint committees IN each coun
10 and borough, with power 10 add 10 their num-
bers, in this Commonwealth, who shall be charg-
ed with the duty OF urging upon The people IN
their respective districts the organization propos.
ed in The 81 resolution, and who shall perform Inc
dulies of such Associations until The same shall
be formed.
9Th. Resolred, That the delegations from the coun-
ties and borouehs represented in this Convention,
be requested 10 deposiie with The chairman OF The
Central Committee the names OF suitable persons
10 compose the committees in their respective
counties AMI towns
9Th. Respl,ed. That the members OF this Con
veDlion'pledse themselves 10 use al proper exer-
iionS TO carry ont the objects proposed IN the fore
going resolutions. :
In discharsing The duty assigned Us, we deem
il proper 10 invite your attention 10 Inc lihPoi-
lance OF the measure proposed by The 81 Iesou-
ton.
History, not less than common experience, I'M
presses upon US the utility OF permanent orsanl-
cations in all general efforts to repress evil or es-
tablish GOOD. Wherever public wrong, DANCE
rous 10 the liberties Of the people, or 10 the we'll
being of society. has found an eXiStence-wh where
ever a polilica! or a moral revolution, demanded
by the patriots OF the land, has been meditated or
attempted there The conviction that individual
efforts avail but little in 50 great work, has led
them, as one important means OF efficiency, 10
form themselves into permanent societies. by
such means information has been received and
ditiused, calculated 10 stimulate, guide aud con-
lrol their action, and united strength obtained
sufficient 10 remove the most formidable ob>la-
ces, and often 10 secure the happiest success.
To the want Of such a permanent union OF The
friends OF Popular Education is 10 be attributed,
no doubt, in some degree, the barren result OF The
frequent efforts which have been made by them
in Virginia. From The period wnen Mr.Jefter-
son devised his system OF general education 10
The present day, many of our wisest and best pa
iCois, deploring The deep disgrace which the is-
nolance ofso large portion OF our people brought
Il etlace this blot from her otherwise fair fame.
With that view, popular assemblies have
been appealed 10, conventions have been
held resolutions adopted, plans proposed. But
no sooner had those assemblies dissolved, those
conventions separated, than each member felt
that dispersed and isolated, they were powerless
% accomplish their object. Without The means
Of mutually communicating information, IN
less al great labor and representations
union Of thought or action, their strength
was gone, either 10 give authority 10 their
or 10 execute their plans. Had the
best system OF public schools ever known or
which could be devised, been proposed by them
and enacted by the Legislature, il could never
nave been put into successful operation, without
he visilant, united well-iniormed and wedliecl-
d efforts OF its friends, 10 protect II from mlsun'
ierstanding, prejudice and cavli. The experience
md practice OF other States attest The importance
II such associations, and fully ccntlrm The views
We express In The States of New York, Mas
achusels. Connecticut and Rhode Island, which
AVE brought their school systems To higher de-
rec of perfection than have any other OIL Inc states
II our Union, an organization oil Inc iriehos OF
.ducalon. similar 10 that proposed by US, mas
,een found eminently conducive TO the admirable
success they have there attained.
The Convention TO which we have referred,
leeply impressed with the importance Oh lhis uled
sure as one means OF ensuring permanent
success devolved upon their Central commune
he dury OF appointing in each town ana county
Of the Stale, committee VINO m'Sh' Plocuie =.
heir seyeral towns and counties The establishment
~ a ssoc;a,ions in connection with the Central
Committee. and Intimately allied with each
other In performing this duty, difficulties nave
I,.en ernpriepced, which will al once suggest
themselves 10 every mind. Some have been APP
no;n,e1 of whose sentiments we were not well IN
tfnrmad Others have doubtless been omitted,
whose ability, zeal and influence would resaef
Them most desirable members oil such committees
We hone therefore, that while none who may be
indisposed 10 serve on these committees, VIII re-
ceiye unfavorabIy This testimonial OF our desire
IN have their cooperation, all who would have
heen willing 10 do 50, but nave beea omitted, will
consider themselves authorized by higher au-
thoriry than our appoin,ment-their own patriot
ism and the promp,in@s OF duty-lo aid IN esa-
blishins and maintaining permanent Education
Associations.
The benefits TO The cause Of Education, result
inc from such bodies, can scarcely be fully esti-
mated. By their in.,rumentaty, public meet
inos will be held and public speakers engaged,
10 interest The great body of the community, on
whose support Public Schools muStdepend. I'm
fortunately, even in the few counties in which
the experiment has been made, experience mas
shown that faithful service on the pau of The
friends of this cause is necessary 10 give il Just
projection. Ii is not 10 be denied that many good
ard practical men are opposed 10 general sys-
tenn of Public Schools al This time in Virginia.
as many perhaps are warmly attached te the exist
ing .ysem-o others find objection 10 the particular
schemes which have been sent out by the Legis-
laure for the adoption OF The people, But, othei :
again through ignorance, or prejudice, or inter
esi have loaded the cause Of Public Schools with
MISREPRESENTATION. The most unworthy motives
have been ascribed TO those who advocate it
The requisite amount OF taxation has been mag
niGed-,he object and character OF The schools
themselves have been distorted. Such attacks
will be be-, met BY discussion 10 be had in The
manner we propose.
Ii is not our purpose or desire 10 urge any one
particular system OF schools. A chief benefit de-
rivable from the contemplated organization, con-
siss in The facilities il affords for collecting and
difu.ing information, not only concerning the
school sysem. OF other States, from which we
may choose good and rejectevl; but also concern
ing the actual condition and peculiar wants OF
every portion of our State, TO which we may
IN, onr own system From the mutual COM