Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-11
THE LANCASTERIAN SCHOOL

he LANCAS lERlAN SCHOOL.
AT called meeting of the City Council on Mon
day, October 9th, 1851, the following report was pre-
scented by Mr.. Robinson, from the Select Committee
on the subject; and it was approved and ordered be
published in each of the daily papers:
The Committee to whom was referred the report of
the Trustees OF the Lancasterian School, have read
with pleasure what is stated therein to the number
OF children taught in the school, the nature OF their
tuition and the condition OF the school.
While gratihed at the interest in the subject mani.
tested by this report (made in the name OF the Trus
teesJ the Committee do not find in it any thing to
make them doubt the propriey OF the recent ordinance
passed to provide further Tor the education of INDECENT
children.
1t seems to that the primary schools may be man
aged by Committee of the Council as well when the
persons entrusted with the management are called
Committee, as when they are called a Board Of Trus
leess And we do not deem it a valid objection that
the power OF the Committee is to subscribe to schools
seeing that the power broad TO subscribe schools
in their Ward "for such tuition of INDECENT children as
they shall think proper" Under this power the Com
mittee may subscribe to schools existing or esab-
shed hereafter; subscribe to schools at which none
but INDECENT children taught, or which the ind-
gent are taught with others; subscribe schools gus
tanned in part by "ndvidua benevoence, or sustained
wholly by the Committees subscription in conjunction
with quota from the Literary Fund, Whe the
subscription be school OF the kind or the other
is left by the ordinance to the discretion of the Com
mee; adlscreton to be exercised in their Judgment
the circumstances render proper.
Nor do we perceive that is necessary for the sue
cess of the primary schools contemplated by the recent
ordinance, that the Council should forthwith erect
building Tor school in each or either Ward do
not see why these primary schools may ia present
go in rooms obtained tor the purpose, by renting
| or otherwise
The Tredegar School has been we'll conducted, with.
out aDy building being erected for it. Other schools
like this established in different parts of this city will
enable the children 10 be taught in their immediate
neighborhoods, and be for this reason more accep-
table to The parents ofthe young.
Nevertheless the trustees OF the Lancasteian School
may under the resent ordinance, continue that as a
primary school, and may continue it upon the system
of mutual or monorial instruction (which derives its
name from Joseph Lancaser) they prefer that system
Ii be continued shall be,enabied after year
TWO, tby comparing the results there with the re-
suits the other primary schools to ascertain wheth
er, with the large building and ground under the
management of the Trustees pupils be taught at
the ancasteran School al cheaper rae!han at 9TH
er primary schools So far, comparison on This score
between the Lancasterian school and the Iredepar
School, has suited in favor OF the latter. Yet the
cniet ground which the former rests its claim to favor
is the smalness of the cost at which large number
may be taught; the Lancaseran system being confess
sedIy only adapted to education in very early stage
Upon visiting the Lancasterlan School, we find that
the teachers have increased value by Conducting
enly in part upon the Lancasterlan plan One object
of the recent ordinance u.s. to add to that value by
making this school high school in greater degree
| than it now
When the subscribers to the Lancasteran School
surrendered irrights and privileges, the same WERE
by act OF the Legislature transferred and vested
in the Council with power 10 the Council pass or
dlnaIces for the government OF the school, appoint
teachers and prescribe their powers and duties. The
Council. in the exercise OF It's powers according to
its best Judgment passed the recent ordinance CON
| tempating system to be carried by primary
schools in various parts of the city; by one or more
high schools; and by central Institution called
an Athenaum, but which (f the citizens shall aid in
developing the advantages OF public lecures) may be
| the nucleus of college.
That ordinance should be regarded by The Trustees
of the Lancasterlan School as indicating that in the
Judgment Of the Council the character Of the school
to be elevated, and the building known as the Lam
casterlan School house, used Tor high school, more
and more as the number Of pupils ready for such
school is increased; yet that keeping in view this
purpose, 1t may be used as primary school (accord
ing the Lancasterlan system, or otherwse) for as
many pupils, and to great an extent, as may be
consistent with that purpose.
So far from the lae report of the Trustees beinn
against the expedlency OF high school, the opinion Is
expressed therein that S' is Indispensable necessary
to attach to the school, 10 form reputed and known
part OF IT, a miniature high school for the 9TH, 9Th
and 9Th forms, or classes, IN which, through the in
strumentalty OF assistant teacher the elements of
history, grammar and geography, with advanced
arithmetic, may be TAUGHT We do not see why the
high school thus proposed may not be put on such
footing TO for the education of those children
at the primary schools whom the Committee for any
Ward may, under the 9th section OF the recent ord-
nance, account of their proficiency and good
conduct. We think the Trustees themselves wIllac-
knowledge that 1t may be put on such footing; and
that they will thus be enabled, by higher order of
education, to make more valuable return for the
large amount now annually appropriated to the Ian
casterlan School.
OF May, $40, the trustees may draw from the Cham
berain annually $780, and the interest on So $50 of
State Stock, and they receive from the Literary Fund
| about $3.50, making their yearly income altogether
about $500 Our impression Is, that this income u-
dciousy used will enable the trustees to pay teacEer
IN the II gh School well such other teachers as
| they will for time, have occasion for For it
should be borne in mine that while the effect OF the re-
cent ordinance will be TO send to the trustees greater
| number OF those pups who are somewhat advanced in
their studes its tendency will also be to diminish
the number OF their other pupils, if not in the full pro-
portion IN which pupils may be taught in the other pri-
mary schools, certainly in some degree.
When the trustees shall submit to the Council rules
and regulations Tor the management of the school ac-
cording TO the intent of the recent ordinance ii there
shall appear be necessity for increase OF the an
nua appropriation to the school, such increase can be
made at present such necessity
With regard to the building, we think deserves the
consideration OF the trustees whether it should continue
place OF residence Tor families to the extent that it IL
now used tor this purpose; whether such use does not
interfere with what the trustees and the Council desire;
| the improving the grounds, and giving to the whole
premises an appearance OF greater neatnes3. We
think, too that il anything be expended Tor warm
ing and fitting up the house the expenditure should
| be in such will be entirely consistent with
the ordinance, and be calculated to carry il into
effect according to its intent and be likely to be perma
nently useful. Confldng IN the discretion of the
lees IN these respects, recommend that there be
appropriated for warming and fitting up the house.
sum not exceeding $500. We make this rec ommenda-
lion the readily, because are told by the Sec
rotary of the Board OF Trustees that the effect of this
appropriation will be to diminish the yearly expend
lure.