Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-17
EDUCATION MEETING TONIGHT.

EDUCATION MEETING IO-NlGlll.
We are much pleased TO observe the notice
given for the Education meeting TO be held this
evening al the Concert Room of the Exchange
Hotel We hail in the persevering zeal and
systematic efforts Of the friends OF Education the
dawnng OF new era in The history OF Virginia.
Heretofore, (and, alas! too long,) the action OF
the people ofthis State upon this all-important
subject has been characterized by zeal as evan
escent as it was ardent, and by efforts as short
lived as they were strenuous. Goaded beyond
endurance BY the humiliatns conviction OF The
mental and moral degradation OF The great mass OF
our population, the friends of rational liberty, the
patriots and philanlhropsts Of our land, have from
time TO time resolved to make one more attempt
to remove this deep disgrace-this fatal disease
from The body Of our Republic. They called up
on the people for their aid and the call was each
time cordially responded 10. They assembled IN
Conventions. they delibcrated, resolved, and me-
moralized the Legislaiure-and there their et-
forts ended. No sooner had they separated, each
10 his own home, than they felt that they had
become utterly poweress. Without the means
OF giving or of receiving information, without
concert Of thought or Of actioa, but disconnected
and isolated, each one felt the utter ineficiency OF
his situation, and would ain indulge the deiusive
hone, that others might be and were more useful
in carrying oul their common plans, and pro-
noting The success Of their common cause,
than he knew himself to be-r disappoint
ell in This vain hope, and discouraged by
obstacles and difficulties, which, in such an en-
terprise, must ever be encountered, but which
they were so i'll prepared 10 contend with, they
relapsed into greater inaction, though not apathy,
than before. Many attributed this 10 fckleness
and want of perseverance, which they unjustly
considered as a characteristic of our people; but
a more probable and more adequate cause may
be found in the want Of permanent organiza-
ton and systematic cooperation among the more
active friends of Education themselves. Had
such been established, however defective the
particular scheme Of Public Schools adopted
might have been, there would have been in
every county oil the State a thousand minds
and hands engaged in giving it a fair trial;
in subjecting it TO that test by which alone
The test of experience-and in altering or amend
ing it, so as TO adapt il to The wants and circum-
stances OF each section OF the country. To be-
gin this work Of State organization, SO necessary
10 the successful execution of the most perfect
scheme-could such one be deyised-lhe meet
ing for this evening has been called. This
movement will be quickly followed up by similar
meetings in the different counties Of The Stale
In few days The Slate Central Committee will
have completed and will publish their list of The
several County Committees, charged with The
duty, under the resolutions OF the Convention, OF
establishing similar Education Associations in
each county. BY these bodies information will
be generally dihused throughout The Stale, public
meetings will be held, and public speakers en-
gagged to address The people on every suitable
occasion, defending The cause of Popular Educa-
lion from The assaults Of demagogues and the
prejudices of the ignorant-and every proper
means be used TO improve and promote the sue
cessiul operation Of Public Schools.
Never was there time so favorable for UNDER
taking this work as the present After long de-
lay and frequent disappoinlments the legislature
have, at last passed law for the establishment Of
system OF public schools which, though 1t may
be defective in some respects, and obnoxious in
the opinion OF different persons TO different obec-
tons, yet contains many excellent features, fur
nishes at leas. good foundation 10 build upon,
and is, perhaps, better than the system oil any
other State was at ii, commencement. The ex-
citing canvass OF the State Convention question
has been indefinitely postponed, and that Of The
next Presidential election has not begun. The
minds of the people Of the State have been 10
great extent awakened to this their most impor.
liant interest, and they are an1iously looking for
some practical results Of the lale Convention
How inexcusable, then, should we be, il we let
slip this, it may be the last, as it is probably the
most favorable opportunity We shall ever enjoy,
Of realizing the anxious wishes and hopes OF The
patriots and sages Of The past generation and the
earnest expectations Of the present.
In local point OF view, the foundation OF the
proposed Association here Is Of grea, importance,
or the purpose of ievisiDg, recommending and
carrying into successful execution system OF
public schools in our city. It's woful deficiency
in that respect, is but too we'll known to every one
who walks through its suburbs, or visits either
Sabbath school or the Lancasierian school, the
ouly public school in the city, almost as lille VI
,i,ed as The public Jail, next 10 which ii stands
We cannot conclude these remarks without
expressing our extreme resre, at learning that
many misrepresentation and misconceptions
nave prevailed, respecting the former movements
IN this city upon this subject, and Of The motives
II those engaged in it. Although in other places,
md by some few sven here, We have heard them