The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-14

dred dollarsi The polls we're opened In
all the districts, aud only eighteen votes
we're cast against the tax in the county.
In Alexandria, Rockbridge and Powha.
tan the result was also highly favorable.
But the adverse vote being very small,
the machinery of the polls has been restored
to in only few cases hitherto. In more than
one.fourth, perhaps in one.half of the counties
of the State, schools have been opened, or are
on the point of opening, by means of private
subscription. And large proportion of these
schools have heretofore existed as private
schools, which by the concurrence of those con-
cerned, have been adopted into the State sys-
TEN, and been made free to all. In many cases
the teacher continues to receive pay from his
patrons in addition to what he receives from.
the State. By this combination of private
with public means, schools in some counties
are likely to be so multiplied as to furnish
full supply for the wants OF the people. Au.
gusta, Rockingham, Carroll, Floyd and Ches-
terheld are'examples of this. What has been
done in these counties might be done in many
others. In one of our smaller cities all OF the
elementary private schools-eight in number
have been turned into public schools, and an
appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars has
been made by the city council for their benefit
In nearly all OF the counties in which private
arrangements have not been made, district
votes will be taken during this month"
This is, indeed, very fattering exhibit
for the first year of our educational estab-
lishment, and if such great results are OBJ
! tanned in the very infancy of the system,
| what may we not look for when the ten
der plant shall grow and strengthen into
sturdy maturity There are other inte-
resting matters referred to in this report,
the publicity of which we would like to
| extend, but our space forbids. We will,
| however, make room for one or two Of the
most interesting.
The question of taxation is treated at
length, and the position maintained that
there is no bstter investment for any man,
district, county or State, than the money
expended on well organized system Of
public schools, good enough for any, and
free to all. Only those who have never
given it fair trial deny this.
The building of school houses, he says,
should be gradual work. When the
money voted by districts for this purpose
is not sufficient for the erection OF all the
houses that may DO needed, the trustees
have the option of either building the
number which can be fully paid for with
the means provided, or of undertaking
larger number in anticipation of future
appropriations. The exigencies existing
In each case can alone indicate the proper
Course. The same principles as to con-
tracing debts are applicable to school
districts as to other public corporations
Trustee boards cannot bind the people Of
a district, but they can allow property
purchased for public school purposes to
remain subject to the vendors and bull
der's liens for deferred payments, and
leave it to the people afterward to deter
mine whether they will meet the payments
or allow the property to be sold to satisfy
the liens
In discussing the subject Of teaching, he
says that to be successful. teaching must be
pursued like other kinds of business, ear
nestly, faithfully, quietly and those who
enter upon it with extravagant notions or
practice, usually fail. Not the theoretical,
but the practical teachers is successful.
Reading Including writing and spelling,
English grammar and arithmetic, branches
which some affect to depreciate as receiv-
ing too much attention in public schools,
lie at the foundation of all true culture,
and the more thoroughly they are learned,
fbo ,y,I oil aft ntt al, H..
made. 1t will be the wisest course, then,
and the only proper one for young teach
ers to become thoroughly prepared in
these. and in their early teaching be sure
not to neglect them. If they succeed in
these branches they may count their sue
cess as teachers certain not otherwise.
Gymnastics. singing, concert-readiug,
object-teaching, oral instruction, ETC.,
should be taught at proper times as recre-
alton, but should not interfere with the
regular course of study.
In abiding to the National Bureau of
Education at Washington, be uses tho fol-
lowing language
as its duties are confined to its present useful
work of collecting, systematzing and dis
tributiDg educational information, and making
such suggestions as will tend to improve ana
harmonic the various State systems of educa-
ton. In this way, General Gaton, the Chief
of the Bureau, has made his department gen.
orally use al he certainly has laid us under
obligation. But we fear that there are men in
Congress who would like to erect this depart-
ment into a central authority with compulso
powers. We hope that this will not be done;
but that instead thereof, Congress may offer to
all of the late slave States bonus in money
or land bearing some proportion to what each
State does for itself. More of this hereafter
We think our readers will agree with US,
after reading the above. that DR.. Ruffner
is the right man in the right place AS
the report will appear in full in the Edo
cahonal Journal, that excellent magazine
will be sought with eagerness when it
appears, by all who feel an interest in the
cause OF public education and the success
Of our infant common school system, which
has been so auspiciously inaugurated and
yet in motion.
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