The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-14

wealth. Mr.. Jefferson, Mr. Madison
and other distinguished statesmen OF
Virginia, in an early period OF her his
tory, while urging the adoption OF
school system providing a complete
education at the public expense, fully
recognized the difficulties and inconve'
niences incident to the practical work
ing of such system in sparsely popu-
lated counties, but considered them
difficulties and Inconvenience only, and
not as insurmountable barriers to sue
cess. They fully recognized the fact
that the perpetuity OF the political IN,
situations, State and national, founded
by them and their noble compeers, de:
pended to a great extent upon the moral
training and intellectual development
of the youth of the country. The VIZ
GINA University, founded chiefly under
the auspices OF Mr. Jefferson, and a
recognition Of which alone, at late
period OF his life, he desired to have
inscribed upon his tombstone, was tos-
tered and patroaized as the head OF a
general system OF schools that was to
extend throul bout all sections of the
State and reach all classes OF society.
This literally endowed institution, to-
gether with academies to be located in
d fferent sections of the State and main
tanned by State aid, were to suppl Y the
common schools with well trained and
competent teachers. True, not this, but
another and quite different system Of
education was adopted by Virginia at
that time. IT, however, in that early
day, when the white population of the
entire State of Virginia was not equal
to the present population of our own
State, sparsene5s OF the population OF
some counties and the unequal distribu.
ton of taxable wealth were not regarded
by these sagacious and far-seeing states
men, as lnsuperable objections to the
establishment Of a State system OF free
common schools, their pioneer efforts
in this direction should inspire with
courage and nerve the arms OF the
friends and admirers OF these great
patriot statesmen, confirm the doubtful
and establish the wavering on the side
OF popular and universal free education
1t is not intended, however, to ignore
or under estimate the difficulties neces-
sarily attending the successful intro
duction OF such a system into the
sparsely settled counties of our State;
but it is confidently believed that they
are temporary, and will speedily be
removed by the agency OF the system
itself, in its practical results upon popu.
lation and wealth. The history OF free
schools in other States and countries,
and our own observation, fully justify
this reasonable expectation. Give to
the rural districts sparsely populated
and poor, liberal State aid, send among
them enlightened and efficient teachers,
bv the agency OF Normal Schools and
otherwise, and in a few short years
their virgin forests will disappear, and
the earth yield up her heretofore hidden
treasures at the command OF that popu-
lation, enterprise and capital, which
by such aid and such means you will
have attracted to these primeval for.
ests and uHtrod mountain ranges. Then
comes the reward-tirst, in accents
of praise and glalness issuing from
more than one hundred and sixty thou
sand youthful voices; then the con-
seriousness of n high and sacred, social
and political duty, faithfully dlscharg..
ed, and shortly afterward an increased
State revenue, reimbursing tenfold the
investment made.
But in several Of our counties, at this
time, the area Of territory embracing
the necessary popu' alton and taxable
wealth TO maintain school tour
months, or mere, in the year, is too ex-
tended to admit Of the attendance OF
pupils living remote from the school
houses, even when these houses occupy
the most convenient and central posi-
tons in the districts; and TO diminish
the size OF the districts, so as 10 Admit
OF convenient access by all, necessarily
involves q heavy and onerous tax
upon the people. 1t is to be oh
served, however, that these dltfi
cul ties and inconvenience are not
peculiar to public free schools. In the
establishment Of private schools, main
tanned by individual enterprise, the
same questions OF difficulty arise. II,
then, these sections OF the State are TO
have the benefits OF schools, public or
private, these inconvenience will be met
with, and must be overcome. In
either case the number OF scholars at
tending each school must be compara-
tivelv small, and the rate Of private
tuition or public taxation proportlonaily
large In these counties and districts,
then, the practical question is not, so
much, what kind OF schools they shall
have, as, whether they shall have
schools OF any kind. The school stats
tics OF our own State, as well as those
Of all States and countries in which
public free schools have been established
under government authority, at the
public charge, prove that they are the
cheapest schools for primary lnstruc-
ton that have been, ii not the cheapest
that can be devised. fit be admitted
that the education of people is neces'
sary; that their happiness and prosperity
and the safety of the State and lis
republican institutions, depend upon
the education, intellectual and moral,
of its citizens, the difficulties here pre-
scented, so far from being causes OF dis
coura cement TO the friends OF popular
education, conclusiveIy demonstrate,
not only the policy, but the absolute
necessity, OF encouraging and fostering,
by State authority, the establishment of
primary tree schools in these counties
and districts.
MOVABLE SCHOOLS.
In the school law OF Sweden it is pro-
vide1 that where, from want OF money