The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-01-02
Public Education In Virginia.

AScv. LII. w. n. huHncr, superintendent
OF Public Education for the State of Virginia
has submitted to the General Assembly his
second annual report, comprising the time be-
tween August 81, 1871, and August 81, 1872
which makes very favorable exhibit com
pared with the operations of the two years
previous. This whole cost of public education
for the year ending August 81, 1872, was
Sc93 ,3lS.59; Of which S422,6O243 came
from State fuude, S219, 1868 So from county
funds, $249 104 33 from district funds, and
SOL ,748 20 from other sousces The whole
number Of public schools in operation was 3 )
695 number pupils enrolled, 1865 .377 num-
Der attending private schools, 20,497 total
number in public and private schools, 1885,
S74; average daily attendance. IS 489; per
centare Of school population enrolled, 40:5 ;
per centage of same in actual attendance, 90:
2; number of teachers in public schools, 3,
S53; estimated value of school property,
1887 ,672 number of school houses owned
by districts, 504 average number of months
schools taught, 572.
The number Of county and city superinten-
dents employed is 81 average monthly sala-
ries of school teachers, $29 81 average cost
| of tuition per month in public schools per
pupil enrolled, 70 cents average cost per pu
| pill in average attendance, $I.22.
Reports from SO counties say that public
sentiment is growing in favor of public
schools; 6 report no change S report unfa.
vorably. From SO counties the report is that
the colored people continue to manifest .
great desire for education Is report that
they do not manifest as much as at first ]
makes no report. The school population of
the State, according to census of 1870, was
AL .021-whitc 247 ,002; colored, 1874, OI9
number of white male teachers; 2,346 female
LILY colored male, 224; female, 1876.
The number of private schools and colleges
in the State is put down at 1856; number Of
pupils attending them, 20 1876.
From the proceeds of the Peabody Educa.
ton Fund the sum of S28 900 was appropri.
ated to this State during the past scholastic
year.
The Superintendent makes very fatterine
report Of the condition of the public free
schools in the cities of Richmond and Lynch.
burg. In the former city especially the sys.
tenn adopted has advanced the school to the
highest grade, which has been occasioned BY
the liberal policy of the city council
This is matter that should earnestly en-
gage the attention not only Of our city coun
Gil, but of the people of Staunton and Angus
ia county. 1t is that which strikes at tn,
very foundation of our social existence, ane
Should be taken hold of with bold determ
nation to elevate the standard of tie educa
ton of our children, and give all alike tn,
advantages incident to a comprehensive ap
probation of the Free School System. W
know there are those who do not favor Ere,
Schools, and we are sorry to say have excl
ted an influence against their successful OBJ
Grafton. But this opposition is based NOR
upon prejudice than reason. The system i
good one, if it is we'll managed, and to b,
efficiently conducted the officers must have
the Cooperation and countenance Of the peo
pie. We want to see the Free School system
so thoroughly engrafted into the economy o
the State and the minds of the people aud
its standard SO elevated, that. every poor man
child can have the same educational advanta
ges as the children of the rich man. It i.
only thus that can be laid the foundations OF
progressive and enlightened State policy in
everything. We would, to accomplish th
end. favor compulsory law, so that every
child would be made to acquire such sduca
ton as the Schools could give, and foreve
hereafter dispense with cross-marks and wit
nesses thereto, in business transactions Al
intelligent constituency is the sure guarante,
Of good government, and it is to the benefi
of every man that education should be uni
versal.
| We will allude to this subject again. It is
the question--above all Others affecting oul
temporal concerns, which should engage the
sympathies and active energies of the people
|
ELECTED BY THE PEoPLE.-A bill was
introduced il the House of Representative
before the holidays, by Hon. G. Fl. Porter,
of Virginia, providing for the election 81
President and Vice President of the United
States, and also United States Senators BY a
direct vote of the people.
1t is stated that the subject of electing the
President by a direct vote of the people, is
growing in popular favor, and that Senator
Morton and other Senators are preparing
speeches in favor of the proposition. The
death of Mr.. Greeley at the time that it oc-
Cured has more particularly impressed the
necessity of this change upon the minds Of
these gentlemen. It goes to show the great
| ohorr hat