Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-09
The educational system of virginia.

The EducatlOnal System VI VhShn"'
The Hon. Wioughby Newton has lately pub
lshed an able and very elegantly written letter,
addressed to Gov. Wise, on the subject of edu-
cation in Virginia It will be recollected that
an Educational Convention was held in Rich
nond last summer, which unanimously recon-
mended the adoption of school system proposed
by the Governor. Mr.. Newton gives an outline
of the scheme and says:
"None but a master spirit could have had the
boldness to conceive it, or the persuasive power
of eloouence to induce grave assembly of Doc
tors of Divinity and Masters of Art unanimous
ly to recommend it. With the genius of Napo-
leon, YOU have overleaped all obstacles to your
progress. Neither dense nor sparse populations,
nor rivers nor mountains, nor the heats OF sum
mer, nor the SHOWS of winter, can arrest your
reforming march. At the magic touch OF your
stylus, the whole Commonwealth becomes a
ta6ula rasa, divided into equal squares with the
regularity of chessboard, containing equal pop
ulations and presenting equal facilities for
schools. Surely. grave argument cannot be ne
cesSary to show that such scheme is utterly
Iilnpracticable!
What too, will be the effect of your College
superntendency over the schools on the peace
uf the community2 If the Colleges were all
State institutions publicly endowed and under
the control of the public authorities, the objec-
lion would be to it, that it is great organized
system, under the influence of the party in pow
er for the time being, and will be used, as the
great school system of New York unqnestiona-
bly is, to subserve-the ends of party. The Col
leces. however, are not all on State account, but
most of them are endowed by private muniti-
cence, and under the control OF the different
Christian denominations. The Professors OF
these Colleges are to examine the teachers, Sc
lect their text books, and see to the system and
progress of instruction. Think for moment
what pleasing spectacle of brothery unity we
should have when Bethany College undertakes
to appoint teachers and select text books for the
children of the old Baptsts and other orthodox
denominations in the North West; or when
Lynchburg College, established by the Protes-
tant Methodsts, shall perform the same ONCE
for the Episcopal Methodists or the Episcopal
Methodists Of Randolph Macon for the Protes-
tants or the Episcopaans of Williamsburg tor
the Baptists and Methodsts of the surrounding
country; or the Presbyterians of Hampden Sid
new for the Episcopalians of the Metropolis
Under such management we should have not
only greater inefficiency than now complained
of, and the feuds between Protestant and Cath
Iolic which disgrace the New York system, b1
the relentless fury OF the obtain the0togieun
would be let loose upon us, and there would be
no peace in Israel"
On the subject Of Stree schools" Mr.. Newton
makes the following remarks:
"The principle of free schools-by which
mean schools at which all are educated gratui
tously at public expenses radically wrong
1t is borrowed from the despotisms of the con
tnent of Europe, or from the sociatastic ideas o
our Northern States 1t affects injurously pri
vate rights and invades the sanctity of property
without WHICH true liberty cannot exist. Thu
State is bound to educate the children OF thu
poor. but the dogma that the State has greater
interest in the children OF the Commonwealth
than their parents, lately officially announced al
a truism by the Governor of New York, is OF th'
very essence of despotism. 1t justified the arbi
trary proceedings of the Prussian government
by which the cottage Of the peasant, which, &C
cordng to English ideas OF liberty, is his castle
is invaded, aud his children dragged by the pub
lie officer to school against his consent 1t Ii
|. the duty, the right, and the highest privilege o
: every citizen to educate his children ut his owl
expense and in his own way-a right least OF al
liable to abuse, and when no True neartsu pa
rent will ever willingly surrender to any earthly
power In addition to the education of the in
dgents, the State may be under obligations Il
provide Universities and other extensive nstitu
tons which are beyond the reach OF individua
means, but all else should be left to private en-
, terprise."
Mr.. Newton thinks the Governor attaches TOT
f much Importance to agricultural schools, ant
says we want no special schools of that kind il
: Virginia. He also shows that the census repor
in reference to the number of persons in thu
State unable to read and write, is full ofpalpab
blunders and entirely unreliable.