Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-03-11
sYAUNTON, ~ THURSDAY MARCW a. 1sA7

aua west, and yet so far from producing an cstab
ilshiaent, by the very intelligence it creates, it i
constituting the strongest bulwark of defence
could tell "Syntax" that in some of our large towns
the most determined foes of this SYSTEM one o
whom said he nightly wet his pillow, weeping
over 1t, have been found among those who for cen
turles have been the most efficient tyrants of the
rights OF conscience
ord 1t is objected, that this system will afford q
ground ut contention to religious denominations
answer such has not been its effect except in n York
Philadelphia, and Cincinnati, and then owing to
PecuiIarltes In the system OF those cities, which are
by no means necessary features Of the system
Should think that we would hear of some such diff
hculties now, for with or without the "system," our
schools necessarily sustained by yarious relipi
GUS denominations. They do not contend now a.
bout the Teacher, and | see no reason, especially
with the experience of other States and parts OF our
own, to fear that they would But again. the same
objection may lie against having any State Ia
stitutlons for Literary and Philanthropo purposes
as well object to the establishment of the Institutions
already referred TO. Indeed apprehend there is more
danger They are managed by Boards appointed
by the Government, irresponsible to the people and
beyond the reach of popular opinion. These
schools would be managed by Trustees appointed by
their neghbors and responsible every year. to those
appointing them.
And after all, for one I fear more from leaving
matters as they are. If the public generally will
not take up this subject, portions of it will There
is a growing conviction that we need change. and
If religious bodies take it up, and each goes on TO
establish It's own popular Schools, we shall have
greater expense and more sectarian feeling than on
the plan advocated
Syntax says the system will not answer in prac-
tice. What says experience to its operation Ac-
cording to Gov. Morehead of n. c. the system
there introduced Is increasingly popular. 1t was
adopted last August by the only two counties which
had hitherto refused it. 1t provides rateabe part
OF the Literary Fund for each county, which is obi
ged to raise half of an equal amount by taxation
The county school fund thus acquired is appfopria
ted to the district free schools and though this sys
tenn serves to keep open school only month or
two, yet 1t secures good central school house. and
by the good moral rs well real influence il eXerts
the people are led to diligent efforts and often
by voluntary contributions, keep it up all the year.
And even when this is not the case, the Teacher
and school house there, and he proceeds on his
own responsibility to keep school for such rs pay
tuition fees. Now | do not endorse this rs best
But n Carolina is pursuing wiser policy than
Virginia. She is doing the best she can, ard we
are doing nothing because we cannot at once. iump
to state Of things, which elsewhere is the result
oil long experience, and patient contention with OBJ
stacles.
But in some parts of oar Slate this system has
been successfully tried. In Washington county,
the Law Of 1919 has been for l6years in operation
IL provides for the erection Of school houses on the
two iiths principle-the State giving two dollars
for three by the people and then for the schools by
approprlatng TO each District, annually, its proper
ton of the fund provided the people raise vounta-
rily an equal or greater sum, and make the school
open TO all Gov. Campbell says the system has
far exceeded the old PLAN and he has been Commits
sioner under both. He finds but one fault with it
and that is the voluntary principle" that many
VIII contribute nothing and he thinks if the fea-
ture of taxation the sole basis of support, were
substituted, even it would be far better | design
edly say nothing of the experience in other States
whose population is denser. The population of n
&. is very much like ours, and in Washington
county IN this State, the social condition Of the peo
pie is entirely similar TO own.
One of these writers expressly disclaims any spe-
cial partality for present plan. II dissatisfied
with 1t let HIM propose better. We profess to be
welded to peculiar detail of the District system
But verify believe we have tried free trade in Ed
ucation" long enough. If ever it could produce
''sharp contention and good schools, certainly, we
ought to be in the enjoyment of the great blessing
Of such schools. What, however, the facts are
every man knows Yours, SC.
LANCASTER