Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1854-05-23
our DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Iron THE SPIRIT OF JsrrERsoS.7

The many communications in our county papers
indicate the gradual extension of belief that our
district school system is defecive-that there IS
something wrong. Some writer conscious of this pre-
vaent impression has proposed, more than once, to
cure all defects by the appointment of general SUI
perintenden whose whole time shall be given to the
schools. That This panaCea will prove taacious as
long certain gross defects exist is evident to my
mind Let state in what the system is believed
to be so greatly detective One glaring defect ap-
pears to be the creation of cumbrouS body as p
school commissioners, elected BY districts, with such
extensive powers. First ne to their number The
responsibility is much divided: one man feels
properly his own individual accountability. They
often changed too, us that they are rarely ac-
quately Informed ofthe details of system and cOnsc-
qucntly the whole management will rest with some
oneor two Every one knows and It's useless to pre-
tend ignorance, that since the commencement, the
whole thing has been under the entire control of one
man. And it must be necessarily. He holds the
only permanent Office, and Of is the only man
familiar with the system
Next rs 10 the mode Of election of the school COM
missunrgs lie who has paid the Smallest attention
to our elections knows that the smaller the districts
in which selections are be made the smaller is the
probability oftIIc election of the suitable Geu-
eraIv the suilblcncs Of the choice is in the inverse
ratio of the extent OF the district. la small districts
private ana per motives determine tn? selections
and he who Will not waste his time fltcrng every
one knows he would never be their choice, whatever
be his qualifications and lac neither desires would
have the appointment.
Next, as 10 the powers of the schdol commission
crs. The highest atrributcof sovereign power,-that
Of taxotion-is theirs and this in the hands ofan
Uuweildy rrcsp orsi,Lc, and unqualified body. The
limitation of that power to moety of the amount
of the State revenue imperative it forescc8
that the Board coua rot well waste more Than the
maximum allowed. Furthermore the division of
this power of taxation between the county court the
oYersccrs ofthe poor (or lis theirs in etect' aud
the school commissioners, necessarily swell the az
grecatc drawn from the people to Il greatly be
yond what would be assessed by the county court
alone if that body provided for the whole.
But another and fatal defect is believed to be, the
discretion allowed the school commissioners to re-
Hcve parents whom they think INDECENT from the
payment Of the tuition fee Of 30 cents per quarter per
scholar It is odous power, because it creates
inuusitorial office, aUthorsing the commissioners to
inquire into all the ways and means of all his neigh
bors. 1t is dangerous power, because liable to
abuse and since the commissioner may relieve his
friends and cxtOrt from his opponents; for by de-
carng \ unable to pay the tax he in effect increases
the Tux of g. MS Il certain gross sum the school conf
missoners must and will have. TITS remarkable
that in the report published by the board year or
two AGO the number of children at school was stated
to be about 200 the parents of about two thirds of
whom were adjudged by the commissioners to be
unable to pay the 80 cents per quarter. Now who
believed it? But above all, such course mars the
efficiency of all free schools by destroying or AVA
kcning the interest of the masses in the system. 1t
is universally true that men do not value that which
costs them nothing. Gratuitous instruction affords
no exception. The thing has been proved in our
former primary schools And it has been abundant
" proved elsewhere that neither parents chill
rem feel proper interest in the instruction that is
grcn them. But require every parent to pay some
thing for his Child and he will, to some extent at
least see that the child learns He will secure his
more constant attendance at school, and the child
will feel greater responsibility and greater de-
sire to learn The teacher also will, in most cases
exhibit less diligence in the instruction of these OBJ
ects of charity In the life of Dr. Chalmers Ca book
not often opened by of the world, but from
which all may derive proft) a striking proof is Civ
en- of the truth of these positions. In the city Of
Glasgow a system of free schools, with gratutous in
struction in operation when the Doctor was call
led to one of the parishes of the city containing
large portion of poor operatives. He soon saw that
the schools were langushng and inefficient, and that
the people did not take proper interest therein
He established a school in his parish into which
none were admitted, whose parents, however poor,
did not pay least shilling per quarter. ltimme-
diatey gained public favor, and soon could not re-
ceive the applicants. The Doctor established Il sec
ond, and then third in the parish, which were al-
ways illed aud worked admirably
Mr.. Editor, why is it, that the cost OF tuition OF
each child our schools is in such striking contrast
with that in New England and New York. 1t APP
pears from the returns published in the newspapers
some weeks ago that in New England each chIlds
tuition cost less than three dollars per annun IN
New York somewhat above 81; whilst IN this conn
ty it costs about three times much as in New
England and about twice much as in New York.
Thus whilst the cost of tuition is so much greater
the benefits actually resulting are materially less as
all allow If this does not show that our whole SyS-
TEN needs radical change nothing else can. | ac-
knowledge never believed general system ms prac-
ticabIe here where the great mass OF the laoOrlng
population is ofanother race but am willing to try
here better one than that nowin operation What
that is leave to others; my object being to expose
the radical defects of the present plan.
One word rs to a superintendent. Unless his SAL
arv were raised exclusively by tax upon all the pa
rents of children at school, it would increase the bur
den to an extent that would soon cause the abandon-
ment of the system. Further, every officer must |
now be elected by the people is there any probability
that a suitable choice would be madeI Nay Judg-
inor from the pastis it not more probable that he |
would not be the proper man? confess | do not /
anticipate any Improvement in our present plan, /
from such appointment, let the superintendent be |
whom ne may.
to the present school commissioners. lido not know
even the names of more than one or two. They, |
know would not swerYe from their integrity. |
speak ofthe tendency of things, of what may and Will
occur.
year OBSERVER.