Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-29
ALBANY, January 20, 1916.

EQltOT FARMER Library.
ALBANY, January 90 1916.
Mr.. J. S. Skinner:
Dear Sir-Pressng official engagements have
prevented an earlier reply 10 your kind note ofihe
10Th instant in which, after abiding TO the grail
ticalion you experienced in your brief visit 10 The
Normal School in this city, during the last sum-
mer, and TO the paramount importance, III an edu-
catona point Of view, of such nursery oil
teachers" you reques, M views, founded on OBJ
seIvation and reflection, OF The general workings
OF our Common School System. cannot better
answer this inquiry than by simple reference 10
few well authenticated facts, which, in my
Judgment, cannot tau TO carry conviction 10 every
impartial mind In 1915, the period OF The or
ganzalion Of our existing system, The num-
Der Of school districts in the State, was less
than three thousand, and the whole number OF
children taught one hundred and forty thousand
In 1915, after The lapse Of thirty years, we have
upwars OF clcren thousand organized districts, in
which more than erenhnn4rcd thousand children
arc annually receiving The rudiments OF a sound
and practical education. During this period OF
thirty years the acreage annual increase in the
number OF children thus brought into our COM
mon schools has exceeded ticenty thousand; while
during the four years, which have elapsed since
The admirable principle OF county supervision
was cngrafed upon our system, this average an
nua increase has exceeded fortp-fve thousand.
The average annual cost Of tuition during
period Of eight months in each year by duly
qualified teacher, does mol exceed 81 % Of which
IS cents is furnished from the public funds re-
ceived from the State and county treasures,
and the remaining fifty cents raised on rate bills
No teacher is permted TO have charge Of any
school for period exceeding one month in any
year, who does not hold full certificate OF qua
LITIGATION from The Stale, county or town superin-
lendent; and in the greater portion OF The coun-
Ties, the several teachers employed in The schools,
prior to the commencement OF their Spring and
Fall TERMS respectively organize, al their own
expense, county institute, where, under The se-
neral supervision OF the county superintendent,
they are instructed, for periods varying from two
10 four weeks, By competent instructors, in the va
rious branches apperaining 10 Common School
Education, and in the best and most successful
modes OF teaching During the school terms
each teacher is visited by the county and town
superintendent, and such of the inhabitants OF the
district as feel an interest in its progress and adj
vancement, and generally, al the close Of The
term, public exhibition Of the results which
have been attained is afforded. Annually on
the fourth of July, The several schools of many
of the towns are collected together for gene
raj school celebration and exhibition. II is i'm
possible adequately 10 estimate the vast i'm
provement which, within few years past, has
taken the place of the former prevailing lislless-
ness and Indifference in these nurseries OF know
ledge and virtue. The district school is now, for
the first lime fulfilling the great mission for
which it was misunderstanding TO the children
OF the rich and The poor, indiscrimina,ely, the
avenues 10 science-developing and directing the
expanding faculties OF the yonng mind, in ac-
cordance with The soundest principles of mental
and moral philosophy-and diIusing throughout
The social atmosphere of this great Republic, the
inyigorating elements Of an enighed and har.
monizing Christian culture. This cheering and
encouraging state OF things We owe, under Prov-
dence, chiefly 10 our admirable local organization
and supervision. Before the adoption OF This sys.
lem, each of our districts occupied an isolated
position-wilh no communication or intercourse
with olheIs-no standard OF comparison-no in
ducement TO improveinent-no connection, in
short. with The world around and about ii. Now
our eleven thousand districts are bound together
by golden chain OF interdependence- acting
from common motive, TOR The attainment Of a
common end-muiualy striving for excellence,
constantly coming in contact with the wholesome
influences OF public sentiment, and causing The
evidences and desert places" OF ignorance and
error 10 "bud and blossom as The rose" The ei-
fects oil such a Gordon santtai1e of intellectual
and moral advancement and Improvement,
cannot fail OF being felt through every artery
OF the body polite and social-and God grant,
that no malisn influences, originating in ig.
norance and delusion, and propagated by sin
ister and unworthy efforts, may, at any lime,
have power TO shake The confidence ofuur fellow.
citizens in the efficacy and priceless value Of
this noble and most admirable structure Of popu-
lar education. With fund consecrated by the
Constitution Of The State exclusively 10 this OBJ
ject, the annual revenue Of which amounts 10
$4,000, coupled with an equal amount de-
rived from local taxalion with library averag-
ing from one hundred TO one hundred and fifty
well selected volumes, in each of the eleven
thousand school districts OF the Stale; with an
adequate and most effective inspection and su-
pervision peryadng every section of this vas,
organization; with Normal School, second 10
none in Europe or America, literally endowed,
and ably seconded by Teachers Institutes in near.
ly every county OF the Sla,e-and public senri-
meni awake 10 the importance OF preserving and
perpelnang, at every hazard, this vital interest,
why should we limit orr views, aspirations and
hopes in regard TO the future welfare OF our nsli-
lutions7
rejoice most sincerely, my dear sir, al the
manifestations OF movement, in Virginia look.
ing forward 10 the ultimate adoption OF an orsa.