The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-17
For the DiSpatcn.
Ehe Peabody School Fund-Authen-
tic Statement as to How 1t is 10 be

W.
Employed.
CnR1sT1ANsBURG, February Is, 1868.
There seems to be general misunder-
standing in regard to the exact purpose
of the Trustees Of the Peabody fund.
There are very few persons who seem to
be conscious Of the exact method in which
il is to be disbursed, or the moduS Operdnd'
for securing to any community the benefit
of the munifccnt gift Of Mr.. Peabody to
an impoverished South.
Having been sent on a mission to the
general agent Or. Sears) by the trustees
of our Male Academy, feel that l could
benefit your readers by writing down the
substance of our conversation and the real
object at which he is aiming. Let me pre-
mise by saying that I found the agent, a
venerable D. D., very pleasant and affable
in manners, exceedingly polite and gentle
manly in department, and evidently a
man Of wide and liberal views, and one
who is in every way qualified for the high
trust that is committed to his charge.
AS might be expected, he is in daily re-
ceipt of letters from all parts of the
South-some asking for loans of from
81 900 to $4,000; others asking for dona-
tions with which to endow colleges, repair
buildings, etc. To all Of these there is
but one reply. This is not the object of
the fund. What, then, is the object? 1t
is simply this-to establish as far as posi-
BILE system Of free schools in the South
not only on an independent basis, but
where it is practicable to engraft on exist
ing schools free school system.
Thus, the proposition that he makes to
every community that desires to become q
beneficiary of the fund is substantially
this: In community where there are zoe
children to be educated, if the Town Coun.
Gil will guarantee that $4,000 will be fur.
nished by the community, he will pay
$1,000, and in like proportion in smaller
: towns. Or if there are existing schools
and he receives from the Town Council q
certificate as TO the number of children tc
be educated and the number Of INDECENT
children in the town, and also certificate
that the existing schools (male and female
are open to all the children who are recon-
mended by the Council, then he will ex.
tend aid in the same proportion as above
$1,000 where there are 700 children.
In addition to this, and as german to
the same, he is DESTROYS Of either estab-
fishing de nouo "normal schools" or OF
ENGRAVING upon existing schools normal
training for such children as are unable to
procure an education, but are willing to
obligate themselves to teach for at least
two years.
If, then, there are public schools in any
city or town-for he can assist no private
schools, and none in the countrywide de-
sire to receive assistance from the Pea
body fund, they will save time and expense
by the following mode Of proceeding: Let
there be meeting of the Common Coun-
Gil; let them send to DR.. Sears an official
document containing statement of the
number of children, male and female, in
that community to be educated, and also a
certificate stating that the male and female
schools are open to all INDECENT children,
and the Council will at once be made the
agent for receiving and disbursing in just
proportion between the male and female
schools the amount above designated, or
sum in proportion to 81 900 for 700 chill
dren.
Since writing the above, have received
a letter from Dr.. Sears, from which l
make the following extracts:
Sour aimis to aid and encourage free
public schools; and when this cannot at
once be done, to make the other schools
free 70 all aoho are not aoao in them. Of
course these will be the poorer children.
ihls latter arrangement is temporary for
the period Of transition from private to
pubic schools. We do not design to paw
the tuition OF the poor, but to aid the
towns and villages in providing schools for
all, they paying most Of the expense.
"sWe do not wish to make any arrange
msnts with private schools r.with poor
children, but TO induce the public authors.
ties Of city or town to make, in their of
fetal capacity, the best provision they can
for opening the schools to all. What We
do is rather by way of stimulating others
to action than Of making ample provision
to be received and enjoyed passively.
Like the gods, we would help those who
help themselves, and help in that way
which will best enable them to help them
selves.
UWhat we des;ra Ia ,u0Hel scbho1s as