Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-09-02

Of Northwestern Virginia, and one near Frederick
sburg in Northeastern Virginia, ought to be the OBJ
will subject themselves to the superintendence and
report of the Rector Of the University, retaining
their respective independent organizations and sep
arate government and discipline.
5. That the Rector Of the University ought to be
made salaried officer with the duty Of superntend.
accounts with the Literary Fund and to report upon
he course and standards Of instruction and books
and upon the examination Of the pupils in the col
lepes and to receive from them their accounts OF
superintendence ofthe high, primary and schools
g. That the Presidents of colleges ought to be made
TO perform the same duty of superintendent over
the hugh schools assigning about thirty of these to
each college, and to return the statements of their
accounts the Rector of the University and in like
manner about four infant primary and free schools
ought to be assigned to each high school. and the
teachers thereof be required to perform the same
duty of superintendence over the infant schools and
TO return their reports to the colleges.
TO- That the Rector, as Superintendent ought to
he required report to the Board of the Literary
Fund annually, and to the Legislature bienn,ally,
upon the whole system of public instruction; and to
that end he ought to be provided with an ample
salary, say 81 900 per annum SO that the whole ex
pease of the system would be about $925 900, leas.
ing still balance for contingencies and investment
of $l7,237.
H. That in the two new colleges to be established,
the law should have special regard to the interest of
agriculture and to the sciences applied to that inter-
r. That the feature Of charity to paupers in sys-
tenn of public instruction ought to be abolished as
odous to the people and degrading to the pupils
1t was also resolved that Gov. Wise be requested
to lay the views of the Convention before the Legs
lature, and that DR.. w. A. Smith be requested to
appear before the Legislature in behalf Of the cause
of education in the State.
resolution was also adopted providing for the
formation of q permanent Association, to be styled
"tbe Virginia Educational Society"
On the evening of the 26th, Prof Fshburn de-
livered an Address the subject of education, and
especially on the system of schools existing in Ger
mary.
Provision was made for Publishing the proceed
iags of the Convention, an Executive Committee
was appointed, and on the 9th the Convention ad
journed. -..-
We record with much pleasure these evidences
on the part Of sister State of renewed and more
general interest in the cause Of education. And we
are especially gratified friend Of public common
school instruction. with the 18th resolution of Gov
Wise, which declares that the feature Of charity
to paupers" in the existing system of public in
struction in Virginia, ought to be obolished, az
odious to the people and degrading to the pupils"
This is noble beginning, so far as the great prin-
ciple of public instruction is concerned, for a pro-
vision in free governments for educating the children
of the people is no charity, but a sacred right of
which those children should never be deprived; but
we fear that the funds set apart by our Virginia
friends for this purpose will prove insufficient Gov.
Wise assumes that there are>in Virginia 100000
children over and under 81. The whole income
of the literary fund of the State is about $3.50 0OO
OF this amount the Convention proposes to devote
to Medical Colleges $40 500 to the State Institute
$4,000, and to the University $25 00O-leaving for
primary and fee schools only $4,000. North
Carolina on the other hand, has about 215, 900
children between 8 and 81. Some 81, 900 or 40, 0C0
of these do not 60 to school at ALL about IA 600
in the colleges and academies, and 40 600 in the
common schools. The number in Virginia, we pre-
sume who do not attend school, is much larger than
in North Carolina. We of this State extend aid
from our literary fund to colleges and academies,
except in the way of occasional loans, we'll secured
and we distribute from the literary fund and raise
by taxation. about $270. 900 per amman for common
schools This amount keeps common schools
in operation about four months in the year; and it
is therefore, clear that the amount proposed to be
distributed by Virginia to her 800 600 children will
not furnish them with schools for longer time than
two months in the year. .-.
The people of Virginia will find, if they have not
already done so, that their progress and prosperity
depend almost entirely on the education of the mas
ses Their colleges and academies will flourish and
increase just in proportion common schools in
crease and prosper and systems of internal i'm
provements by land and water, will 60 forward, de-
veoping the States resources just in proportion as
education of all kinds is fostered and promoted by
the State We take . deep interest in education
every where and especially IN the South and We
rejoice to see such men as Gov Wise and DR.. w. A.
Smith leading in this great movement. They have
"put their hands to the plough" and they will not
"look back" Most heartily do we wish them sue
cess. The people of this State have had the same
difficulties which our Virginia friends are now en-
counterng and beginning to overcome in the work of
public instruction.; but they were patient and hope
full, and they labored. and planned, and struggled,
and systematised until they placed themselves where
they now stand in the lead in this respect Of all the
slaveholding States. We say this in no spirit Of
vanity or Boosting, but as simple fact, which the
statistics will sustain and point to it as an ex-
ample which may well encourage and stimulate the
people of other States in their efforts to improve
their systems of common schools.
Duncan X. McRae. Esq.
This gentleman, late Consul of the United States
at Paris France having resigned, has returned to