Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-01-29
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..a4i, '.Nd t.e Legislature WUu;u give
20 ii the sanction Of a law. He did
not coHcar with the Convention as 10
he proplieiy OF permitting the majori-
y in each county to tax the minority.
TINS plan would not succeed. 1t
should require al least two-ihiids Of
lie qualified voters Ola county to adopt
ANY plan with Ike Prospect Of s, GEES.
E.e Wished 10 i.ear BE views Of gentle
tnen Vita Fe>pec, 10 the various sys-
tens proposed.
Mr., Ee.gingion regretted that lids
position prevented him from doing JUS
lice 10 the attitude in which he was
placed. He was The advocate of the
plan proposed BY the Education Con-
vention. Fer some time past the pub
lie mind had been deeply interested in
the all important subject of education
1t had been discussed in the pablo
prints and in primary assemblies. A
convention was at length assembled in
this city, composed Of most distinguish
ed individuals from every portion of
the Commonwealth, for the purpose of
desising better system han the one
now in operation. The subject was
discussed in all It's various ramifca-
tons. Different plans were consider
ed by the Convention, and the result
WAS a report which had been presen-
ted to the Legislature. Ii any subject
ever had been fully discussed, it was
the system of general education and
primary schools. The results of the
system, as exhibited in the las, census,
were ,.iSgraceiul to the State. What
ever the present system might be in
i.eo1y, lnpractice it had utterly failed
In ORDER to compromise the differing
opinions on this subject, the Conven-
ton had proposed the introduction Of a
system that would not initiate against
the one at present in operation. In
lS43, the Board Of the Literary Fund
had been called npon by the Legisla-
ture to report plan of general educa-
ton, and there was no essential differ
ence in principle between TIE Board
and the Convention in their respective
reports. The Convention proposed
that the district system, and the old
system as at present existing, or as "a
mended, be submitted TO the qualified
voters of each county at the approach
ing Spring elections. He would not
discuss the question as TO the propriety
of the distinction at present existing
between The rich and the poor. Ma
ny had been deprived of the benefits
of the present system by false pride
1t was not proposed to take from the
Treasury more than was at present APP
propriated from the Literary Fund, but
TO authorize each county to add to this
amount what they might think proper.
Could it be expected that any system
would meet with the appreciation of
every voter Objections had not been
stated to the details, bat to the intro
duc;ion Of the system. The Conven-
ton had been censured, as designing
TO dictate to the Legislature. Their
report was merely in The form. of a re-
commentator. 1t had been said that
eight or nine hundred thousand dollars
would be required for the proposed
system. The school quotas support
the present system, and he could show
that his plan would require a less a.
meant. II was proposed by a Con-
vention composed Of practical men, of
teachers, and it was presented alone
upon its merits. Il was at war with
30 other system, and only required
the sanction OF a law to give it the me-
cessary validity, and to authorize the
erection oi school houses, and The em-
pioymeut Ct teachers. Let tie gentle
man from Albemails present his own
plan, ansl he would promise 10 give it
all due consideration. He moved to
amend tie FIRST resolution Of The Com
'n:itee, y Substituting The term "expe-
dien'," III lieu of the word s'inexpedi-
en-"
MIR. Southal said, If he understood
the gentlemen, there was but narrow
isthmus between them. He desired TO
present a system Of primary education
70 thepeople. aud they are required to
select tais OF nothing.
Dir. Eigington was misunderstood.
He had said that the plan proposed by
him, i rejected, would not interfere
With The existing system.
Mr.. Southall thought the Legislature
owed its thanks 10 the meMbefs Of the
Convention for Observation-Disclosures
in the cause Of educa;ioD. Their sug-
gesiions should he considered
This pan, among many others, was