The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-14
THE PROGRESS or PUBLIC MDU-
CATION IN THE STATE,

CATION IN THE STATE,
We are beginning to find that we have
"live" man (beg DIR. Burrows pardon
for using that slang Northern term, in
our State Superintendent Of Public In
struction. When he was appointed, the
General Assembly thought, as they wished,
that they had selected good, easy sort of
halfway enemy to the common school
system, who would be content to draw his
salary and not trouble himself much about
they were deceived in their man. Dr.
Rutfner has turned out to be one Of the
NEST ardent and jealous friends of educa-
ton in the country. To the CONSERVATION
Of the Conservatives 10 the Legislature,
who thought to let the educational pro-
visions OF the constitution sleep, or to
merely pretend to carry them out, the Su-
perintendent at once set energetically to
work in the organization Of the schools in
the several counties, and from the time of
his appointment to the present moment
he has not faltered in the grand work, the
happy results of which we see all around
us, and good tidings of which we receive
from all quarters of the State. He has,
by his uniting labors, by his writings and
his example, awakened an interest
which amounts almost to enthusiasm in
the service, which has impaired to the cause
an impulse that carries it triumphantly
over all obstacles and secures it's firm es-
tablishment. 1t is only the first step that
costs. That step has now been taken,
and, thanks to the enlightenment and
liberal ideas of DR.. Rulfner, it has been
long stride in advance. Once the schools
are.opened, they will not be long in gain
ing foothold in the very soil itself, and
becomngso fixed in the hearts of the peo-
pie as to be indispensable to their happi-
ness. The blessings that will flow from
them will be speedily made manifest and
ACKNOWLEDGED, and in very short time
there will not be district in the State
without its school house and fourishing
school.
But that all the blessings and benefits
the schools are capable of comforting upon
our society may be made available, and
brought into active enjoyment, the Legis-
lature acd all others in authority, must
generously assist the noble efforts of the
superintendent and his aids, and encourage
and help them in their arduous labors.
The largest liberality in making provisions
for the maintenance Of the schools should
be the rule. They should not be stlnted.
The county perintendents, as well as the
teachers, should be selected with an eye
single to obtaining the very best talent,
and the pay should be sufficiently liberal
to both, to induce them to devote all OF
their time zealously to the work. We have
gone into this thing Of public education
now in earnest, and are fully committed to
it; and, therefore, it will be to our interest to
do everything in our power for its success;
and, also, to do whatever we may undertake
in its furtherance with all our might. This
appears 10 be the feeling that animates our
General Superintendent, and we have no
doubt he will succeed in inspiring the
whole State with like spirit OF enthusi-
asm, and in awaking an interest which
never again will be permitted to slumber.
1t is indeed gratifying to find that SO
lively an interest has been excited in the
public mind, and that the cause has be-
come SO popular that even its whilom
most bitter enemies and stubborn op-
ponents have now ceased all opposition,
frankly yielded their prejudices, and be-
come its warmest friends. And for all this |
we are indebted to the mistake of our |
Legislature in giving us an honest super
intendent, who, contrary to expectation,
has done or is doing his whole duty.
That the greatest amount of good may |
be done, we would recommend that the
county superintendent be more literally
paid. The very small salaries they receive
now are wholly inadequate, if they are
expected to perform the duties required of
them. The amount paid them by the
State will hardly defray their necessary
travelling expenses during the year. We
cannot expect competent persons to neglect
their business and devote their time to this
work without proper remuneration and
the first duty of the General Assembly
should be to inquire into this matter, and
give them such compensation as the duties
they are called upon to perform would
seem to entitle them to. Let is be pru-
dent, but at the same time just Economy
is a high virtue but it may be carried TO
extremes, and become great evil.
We know some superintendents of large
counties who are kept on the constant
move 10 organizing and looking after the
interests Of their schools, and are compelled
either to devote all their time to them, or
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