Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-09-03

| which she has been largely endowed
patience that never tires, faith that car
remove mountains, and love that brigh
tens in the hour of trial.
In confirmation Of these views,
will quote the language of Emma Will
;, lard, the distinguished Principal of the
Troy Female Academy. In an ad'
dress prepared by her and read before
a Convention of the county and town
superintendent of common schools fol
the state of n. York, she says: els
there not in the education, the influence.
the time, and the pecuniary means, Of
the patriotic and pious women of this
country, power which if turned into
this channel of effort and skilfully d.
rected is sufficient to ensure degree
of success to the common school sys-
tenn heretofore unknown to the word?''
In order to show how this aid may be
rendered, she gives two instances
where voluntary associations of females
were formed 70: the purpose of aiding
the cause of common schools. One of
these was in the east district of Ken
sington, Connecticut; where "the ia
dies association appointed commit
tee whose business it was to report the
location and condition of every child
ofproper age within its precincts, so
that no one through neglect of parents
or poverty should be kept from school;
as in the one case they would endeav-
or to persuade, and in the other would
assist with their needles, their family
stores, or their purses"
The other association was formed by
the ladies of Hartford, "and they being
more wealthy, raised by taxing them
selves a sum sufficient to pay among
other things the salary of a second
teacher; these mothers being led to see
that one teacher was not sufficient to
do Justice to their children. From
some of these ladies, | heard the wor-
thy sentiment, that the house at home
must wait for some desirable embellish-
ments: till the necessities of the school
were first supplied.'' Are not the wo-
men of Virginia fully capable of taking
a share in such works Of benevolence,
and would they not be found engaged
in SO |audable service, if invited to
come forward, and then sustained and
encouraged by the men? 1t has been
found by experience in many places
that female teachers are more suitable
than males for the instruction of the
smaller pupils of both sexes; some of
them are fully competent to finish the
education ofthose oftheir own sex;and
| have no doubt the time will come
when their aid will be requested in
concerning and carrying forward meas
ures for the improvement of common
schools.
Since the district free school system
has been adopted in the cities of Phila-
delphia and Baltimore, the interest that
is felt by the public in the cause of ed
ucation has been greatly augmented,
and the stranger who visits those cities
and manifests the least interest in the
subject will be conducted through the
schools with an alacrity which shows
that they are subject of joy and pride
Of the citizens. While passing thro'
those noble institutions, the pleasure |
enjoyed in witnessing their perfect Or
der and skilful arrangements was only
marred by the reflection, that, ir Vir-
ginia, the land of my birth ard the
home of my affections, there are no in
situations that can be compared with
them, no adequate means provided to
rescue from ignorance and vice the
thousands of children who are born to
an inheritance of penury and toll.
Permit me to appeal once more to
the influential and talented members of
this community, to come forward and
lend your aid in the great work of rem
ovating Virginia by means of popular
education. This work cannot succeed,
unless the schools to be established
shall enjoy popular favor; this they
cannot obtain unless you lend them
your countenance and active support,
they must not be regarded as chart
ty schools for the education of the
poor, but as institutions designed for
the benefit Of all classes, taught by
the best instructors, inspected by the
most worthy citizens, patronlzed by
the most respectable families; then will
they certainly succeed, and become an
honor and blessing to the community.
In conclusion, let me recommend that
we carry out in practice the declaration
made hv Daniel Webster at a public