Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-02-11
PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

eenuepen-The Legislature OF Virginia. during the
session Il fs4t5. passed submitting the People
OF the Stsse System Of Education the public charge
ne chief principle OF the that each County
In the State should be eonv neny snbdvd.d and that
each subdivision should he supplied by the public with
Tesehsr, To whom mantle rich and the poor
should be permitted send his children without charge
Til, proposition greatly interesting and important tho
whole county: ls because II proposes to facilitate and
extend the education OF tho people and 2dy Because
proposes undisnguhing that purpose upon
whole tar paying population The advantages Of learning
being admitted by almost every man, Is considered
important discuss them here but the I'd branch Of
proposition. to tar the people without Distinction for the
The free OF Virginia. Of their own free will and
accord, make themselves be the fathers OF children
What s the eecti It's that they thereby become those
children the auhe Of various wsnts-physcs and
intellectual. viz the wants OF maintenance, protection,
and education. Now these evils-evils suffered
by the children who citizens OF the country they
evils not caused by themselves, but BY Others their
Upon whom. then, rests the obligation OF renewing these
evilsi Certainly upon those who produced ihemihe pa
rents of the children. This is in all other cases of
the wul production OF evil upon the citizens Of the
try, and il ought to be- and is here This the
voice OF nature and and 10 the voice Of the law
the common law-ihe sunmd ratio-very improperly aud
unhsppy dsregarded. Judge Blackstone declares educa
the most in porant duty OF parent to his child
The total want of education makes a but little
for society than wild beast; and lin civil point
at vew should not he permitted introduce such crea-
tires into society They should be required first
them and to train them the imbecty OF YOUTH that they
may do mischief when they attain the strength Of
permit
ted only gradually to acquire their What would
be thought OF who should let loose n wild tiger
the streets OF Richmond lie would be murderer Yet
II would be acceptable labor should he introduce
strongly and safely garrsoned by iron cage. II would
be the same animal in each case-but his visit would be
acceptable or not according to the safety Of the people in
receiving him. Just 50 IL IL in the introduction Of
into society uneducaed he is tiger a, large educated
he /. tiger Gagged Thu, It is evident that every man
bound to educate his children.
but what shall become OF those children whose parents
them is n is IA,
duty and the interest OF the State educate them Hu
manly dictates II: and just regard to security
requires The State should do choice OF evils IL
6ur'hen, to be sure-butis less than that of totally
uneducaed pauper population scattered every where
through the country IL is cheaper hunt and kill the fox
than TO suffer him TO rob Of poultry Then, when
man cannot educate his children, he debt which he
cannot pay and the State in scdeence is bound pay
IL for him.
men who have no chldrcn, and who, therefore.
debt OF education, Except far paupcr cbilden)
should be compelled To contribute this suggest
ed by the Legislature proposes TO the education OF the
children OF otner able themselves, and often
more And If it is that the childess should
educate the son Of his richer neghborhen by similar
reasoning, he should feed him too-which would be an
anomaly absurd beyond comparison. would be, indeed
making one pay the debts Of another and often the
po"r pay the debts Of the rch IL would be a system at
once irrational, and attended with manifest practical in
justice. There compel a man 10
educate the children Of who is able do il himself
than TO compel him to pay other debt he may
very striking. Suppose there should be living in given
school district under this SYSTEM 10 men, each having
an equal estate: Suppose each contribute the school
fund IN proportion TO his PROPERTY proposed and sup
pose OF the 10 have five child each, that have 9
children each, and that the remaining two have no chill
dren nj all: what would be the effect OF the awi Those
with only two children, would have pay much for
their instruction. those who have S: and those who
have children, would have pay much towards the
education oil their neighbours children. either of them
system OF glazing and obvious injustice recev-
Nir0 m
IL IS presumahe that It must not pass Tor logic Vrg
MIA as has elsewhere, that something the
State Tor having children. IL fully reasonable
that the State something him for his having no
WIFE The probability it, that it is the fault OF the
bachelor IN general but his misfortune he has neither
wife nor children.
Every should be compelled educate his children
or TO good account TOR his failure do So Some
may suppose It rather arbitrary aud dctatorN compel
man TO educate his children. Bat (wsiying all other
reasons WHY he should be compelled TO do so)-whch
the more dctaorial, command individual under a
mere pecunlary penalty educate his children which he
ought to door to compel man To pay for the education
OF anoher's children, which he and JUS
uce bound 10 do child may decide this.
Again, It may be supposed that such system these
remarks point TO- would be found insufficient effect that
general diffusion OF education that the country
generally To desire. But whyl Tho rich and the poor
commngled this country that would be hard TO
Ind whole neighbOhood composed Of paupers solely:
and 1t seems not improbable that IN the great msorty
cases, If not always the efforts Of private individuals
and the officers appointed supernlend the education of
the poor could succeed procuring teachers This how
ever upon the suPposon that the teachers be properly
paid by the Government, they by a very
large amount Persons Of experience in these
appreciate what is here said. The probability Is, thst
mush, VI not ALL OF the obstruction in the path II poor chill
den TO the school house. the reckessness the
oveseers OF the the neglect Of the parents Of poor
children TO provide for their tuition, aud the contemplate
wages paid 10 the teschers The conditions laid upon
teschers also IN order be allowed their accounts are at
once extremely rigid aud troublesome and below the dgni
~ OF man not upon the parish himself. The Of
the poor should be sworn do their duty and then should
settle with teachers as parents of children ordinarily do
Establish asysem that will these land may
be done) and the objections the present character Of
general learning may be wholly removed. Is
sonabe to suppose sol IL has been suggested that under
the present system Of educating the poor there an evil
ie IN the humliating Fiction Of the SCHOLAR that
he Is taught at the public charge. But how would he feel
better under the system proposed by the Leg stature -
would there not be the same substantial between
the ch and the poor boy beiorel Would the father
OF the one pay largely TO the support Of the school, while
me father OF the other would pay nothngl And would
the children Of both know IN II they should not children
would not have much they used have That
alteration would promise small advantage- any. Instead
OF its being disadvantage for the poor boy TO
That he indebted TO his country for all he knows
not improbable that might have a contrary effect. The
thought might reasonably inspire him with patriotism un
ielt by ohers, and night make him better and moro
valuable man,
Then let there he established system (which my east
y and cheapy be done whereby every OF family sha
be held responsible under penalty for his chdrens ability
TO read wrte ETC. the age of l6 years unless hee be
good reason 10 the contrary extend the duties aud powers
OF the superntendens Of the poor-piy teacher com
pensaton Tor his services that 10 worthy the consideration
OF gentleman III Tor the occupation Of teacher. and IL
Is not improbable that the present condition Of learning
among the would be improved the general sasfsc-
lion Of the country. BUCKINGHAM
a veg OF an aPoihecary OF Washington on being ap-
Piled to or an emelic for member Of Congress- sent him
phia laboed-"CompOundoK uactof Oregon spec
At late anniversary diuuor Of the Baltimore Typo
graphical Society, Typo gave in the devotion Of his
craft 10 the ladies, IN the following toast;
10. Woman
The sweetest fyDs upon the earth
The prettiest JOTmS-the flirest Jaess-
Tbet aItagfN A.. a.. -. -