The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-17

slsasaGazzaszs
J. d. Davidson, Esq, earnestly opposed
| the motion to lay on the table, allG adHo-
| Gated the education Of the negro uhder Tie
common school system:
.;on NOT because of any hostility to the ne
ORC or to any scheme TO educate him. put
S;unlv because this Is not the timeto dis
cuss Il. II is quasi political question tnat
this body is not now prepared to meet.
Professor Martin thought that the proper
potion to be taken was to refer the matter 10
committee to report at the next meeting.
Professor Cooke opposed the motlon 10
hy on the table. He thought that 0hc SUI
| timents Of these teachers ought 10 pc ~
| iat,,rc so much as to influence the people;
| lie YEAS opposcd to the new scheme, ana
wantad tho teachers Of the State TO educate
Cdmno6ore Mnury hoped that the motion
n Inv on the table would not prevail. ne
regarded it as mastery paper; OF Nnlch
any statesman in the land mlSnt Dc protu'
II was the Office of this AsSoclauon 10 . en-
liobten publc opinion, and he Wantcd inlS
obie document TO 90 forth to the world. he
wanted the matter discussed both mere ana
throughout the State, and wanted tha' pa
ner scattered among the people.
Professors Holmes and Massey cNpihlneat
that tho report would be published even IL
laid on the table.
Sftcr some conversational debate on inc
relative effect of ''laying on the taplc or
postponing till the next meeting, the mo''oh
to "postponc" was carried.
The order of the day now beng Il ScncTai
discussion of free schools under the nc"
constitution, ..,,,,,,
Professor Martin moved that the whole
matter he referred to committee OF I'VE
with Professor Minor as chairman, WHO
shall represent this Association before tlle
Legislature in such manner as they ma!
think proper, as this question shall deVelope
itself in the future. ., .e
professor Holmes suggested that II such
committee be raised it would be proper 10
have five men differing asWldel! as possio nc
in order that the different views OF we
members of the body might be represented
fairly. ,.,.o,,t
py0fessor Winston preferred the present
discussion of the question to any reference
to n committee, and called on professor
Minor for his views.
Professor Minor said that. free schools
were NOT charity, but public necessity.
The primary education Of the people can
not be accomplished without the ana o, Cle
Government, and we should, therefore, nave
the aid of the State. He gave StatiStlcS 70
show that not half of the people OF VIZ VII
oinia are able to educate their ch!idfen, anu
srpue6 that since the mass of the people
ought to he educated, the State should 90
the work. ,,
TO the objection to the system, based on
tho idea that the State should educate
simply the poorest, he replied that 1t WouId
be impossible to do this, and that 1t would
cost very little more to educate an. re
compared the progress of Virginia win
that of other States i'll the general dliiu,ion
Of education, and pointed out me u':ei
inutility of the Virginia system for Ihe III
struction of paupers. From caretully-pre-
pared statistics he estimated that after
building and furnishing our school-houSes'
,Ec.. II would cost strteen hundred ana .ftty
ihoasa7,d dollars per annum to keep up
norollel system of schools for whites ana Tor
blacks in Virginia. This sum should be
reduced by remembering that the presen!
cost of the education of our children should
he deducted. and that it is better TO bulld
school-houses than jails.
AS for the practical method OF carrying
out the system, we have ample tiihe 10 .liliih
over the matter bvthe time that 1t Is requlr-
ed to put it in practice. He replied to the
objection that the free school system eX-
cludes the Bible from the schoOl-room that
it is not true, and that if it were it Is just
what is practically true in our schools now
lie would have the Bible in every school.
To the objection that it supcrscdes paren-
tai responsibility in the selection OF teachers
he replied that fais is no more true III the
free school system than under our present
/ system for all who are not wealthy enough
| to employ their own teachers.
He argued the superiority of the schools
under the new to most of our primary
schools under our present system.
! He deprecated the introduction OF the
system into the new constitution because
| that instrument was so obnoxious 10 our
people but he hoped to live to sec the day
I when education in Virginia would be rs
| free as this mountain air.
Professor Minors address was delivered
with that graceful earnestncsS which so pre-
| eminently characterizes the man, and was
listened to with the most profound attcn-
| ton.
The debate was continued Tor some time,
but we must close for the mail, and send re-
! port tomorrow.
The Association will probably adjourn
FRIDAY morning. LEXISGToS.