Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-02-25
ngusta Democrat please copy.
DISTRICT SCHOOL SYSTEM

Mr.. EDIToR,-I am against this measure.-I
go Tor change In our system, but cannot approve
the one proposed. My objections are two-fold LIST,
1t will cost too much money and End don't think
1t will work well in practice
, ISL as 10 the Xpense.-Suppose you lay Off YOUR
districts into squares Of four miles each way or six
teen square miles, this will make in Augusta.
which has about 900 square miles, So districts
/ make no deductions for the mountainous region,
tor In the densely populated parts OF the county
you must have many more than one school to is
square miles, and this will least compensate for
the mountainous regions where there will be none
Inc cost OF DO school houses, at 5000 each, will
be Isl ,2OO, or rather more than two dollars for
each tltheable. This expense must be incurred i'm
medlatey, and think the people are not prepared
iOr IT, some may say my estimate is 100 high
nat Is a matter of opinion. | think it is not and
L nave had some experience in such matters
linen we must employ So teachers. 1t will be
impossible to obtain men worth having at less than
S3OO piece per annum. We might possibly get
teachers for less, but they must be very unsuitable
to undertake the great work of educating the rsinr
generation If they can be had for less than $500.
Any young lady Of olerable qualifications can make
that much by teaching an infant school,
Inns VIII make an aggregate of $l6,S0O! per
annum, or between three and four dollars per 1.-THE
aoie more! Are the people prepared for that a
mount OF taxation annually? A farmer who has
three or four grown sons and many negroes, will
nave to pay about $50 per annum to support
school, when he has no children to send to it
2nd But bad it is on the score of expense,
there are other objections still stronger.
what stimulus will there be to a teacher when
MS compensation does not depend upon his manner
OF dischargng his duties? He gets his salary whe-
ther the boy girl learns well or i'll, and whether
the master is negligent attentive Again how
are you to manage with the boys and the girls
the big ones and the little ones Are YOU to ium
Die them all together? What is to be done in re-
-hn i'll
studies Are all to be taught alike without refer
ence 10 what their pursuits to be in after life
suppose you don't like the teacher-you think
MN knave or an ass-what are you to do then
fou may take your child away it is true, but you
cant Withdraw your money.-That still poes into
'ne district school teachers pocket. You may en-
ploy another teacher at your own expense. but at
the same time you have to support the man whose
system you dsapproye, and whose principles you
may abhor
III may happen, too, that you may find there are
some very bad boys or girls at school, and you may
u'ihh 'hat evil communication may corrupt good
manners" and, therefore, be unwilling to let your
chlldren associate with them, you can't send them
10 more suitable school, except by bearing the
double burthen of supporting two schools
90 also some parents may prefer sending their
children 10 a Presbyterian Stockholders to n Me-
thodst-others 10 an Episcopal-others to Lutbe-
to United Brethren-otbers I'm n
Campbelte-aud Others to a Roman Catholic
How is this difficulty to be gotten over2 Let the
teacher be of either denomination the others will boz
almost sure to be dissatisfied. We shall have
str'es and contentious about the choice of teachers,
ana tne whole community will be in an uproar.
gu mug III almost as well think of having an es
taohshed religion, as an established system Of
SCHOOLS SCHOOLS and doubt very much if one would not
very soon have tendency TO run into the other.
60 Tor free trade in religion and education. Let
US all worship our God after our own fashion, and
educate our children as we think best. Let the
teacher be dependent on his employers, aud feel
that his patronage will be proportoned to his mer-
lis. Then we shall have sharp competition and
good schools.
know there are defects in the present laws
But my object now is not to suggest remedies for
Them, but to show that we ought not to adopt the
law which is proposed FOR our sanction.
SYNTAA.