The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-26
A Strangers Views OF Our City--Our
Schools, &C.

RICHMOND, VA, April 20, 1871.
TO the Editor of the State Journal.
AS stranger sojourning in your time
honored city for a few days, | have, in
common with all tourists, made it my
business to visit the various points of IL
terest 10 and about your city-especially
those educational institutions which,
through the wisdom and magnanimity Of
q few of Americas noblest sons, have been
established, with view to educate the
masses, irrespective of nationality or color.
1t does seem to me, Mr.. Editor, that it
is among the most hopeful signs of the
times, that Virginia, as well as many of
her sister States, are arousing themselves
from their long sleep, and are coming up
gradually, but none the less surely, to that
grandest of all ideas las conceive it to be)
that of placing an education within the
reach of ALL 1t does seem to me that there
is gradual coming back, at least in this
direction, to our first love, or in more COM
mon parlance. to those old landmarks that
our forefathers established, and under which
our beloved country was for SO many years
pre-eminently prosperous, as that educa-
ton was the only safeguard to American
liberties. "
Having promised thus far, allow me to
say that 1 have not been in the least degree
partial in my visit to the various schools in
your beautiful city. es
Those established and carried on under
the supervision of the State superintendent,
hasl received careful inspection at my
hand, and I am happy to say that |
found them in somewhat prosperous
condition, but not at all what they might
be made under more judicious manage
ment, having in view o more uniform
system of teaching, and withal more
efficient corps of teachers throughout the
State. The standard of qualification for
teachers should be much higher than it is.
Unless this is done, we must expect the
present state of things to exist.
Next to these schools, / have made seve-
raj visits to the different colored schools,
and / must say that have found them
conducted in very satisfactory manner,
with very superior corps of teachers who
know their business and whose hearts are
in the work God speed them in their
glorious work. The children in these
schools were very orderly and well be-
haved, and from all that could learn,
just as apt in their studies as any of our
white children, advantages and age being
equal; in word, they will compare fa-
vorably with most of our schools of the
same grade at the North
Last, but not least of all, comes the
Colver Institute, which, under the judi
cious management of DR.. Corey and his
very efficient assistant, Miss Goodman,
has become fixed fact in your city, and
is winning for itself name and reputa-
ton second to none in this city, or through
out the whole South. Their closing exer-
cises are to come off on Thursday evening,
the 9th instant, at the First African Bap-
fist church. If you do not believe what
I have said in reference to this institution,
let yourselves be seen there on that even
ing, and my word for it you will go away
highly grati6ed with what you have seen
and heard, if not convinced that colored
people have brains as well as white folks.
EDUCATION.