The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-07-24
Free Schools in the South Report or DR..
Sears on their Condition

Free Schools in the Sonfh-Report or DR..
Sears on their Condition.
At q meeting of the trustees of the Peabody
Educational Fund in New York, Thursday, Sur
reon General Barnes, of Washington, was elected
one of the Board of trustees in place of Bishop
McIlvaine deceased and Governor Aiken. of
South Carolina, was elected second vice president
The Rev Dr. Sears general agent OF the board,
submitted lengthy report, which gives an ex-
tended account of the system of public schools
in the South, and particularly of those States
watch have received aid from the Peabody fund.
The following is the gist of the report:
The superintendent of schools in Virginia says
in his report 1T will be seen that $29,900 OF the
proceeds of the Peabody education fund were az
proprated to the Virginia schools during the
past scholastic year. The bulk of this was given
in aid of graded schools, and was highly infuen-
tal in promoting the formation OF this class Of
schools and in the prolonging of their sessions
both o. which were objects of the first impor-
tance.'
The following are the names Of the various
schools ia Virginia and amounts appropriated /;
Richmond s.. 900; Petersburg, $1,000; Lynch
burg, s. ,000 Norfolk, 81 600; Portsmouth$ 81 500
Winchester, 81 800; Staunton. ST. 500; Wytheville
81 900: Manchester, 81 900; Harrisonburg $780,
Hampton Colored school, $500; Richmond, $780,
and large number of other places with smaller
amounts.
In North Carolina the condition both OF the
public schools and of education generally is far
l.~>n satisfactory The amount received by the
schools of this State is ST.. $50. Wilmington and
Newbern head the list with 81 900 each, and
other places follow with $500, $3.50 and $500
each.
In South Carolina few schools are supported
through the year, and consequently the trustees
have not had opportunity for many appropria-
tons. One thousand dollars was paid 10 the
Charleston school fund.
The schools in Georgia received $4,000. At
lanta 81 900; Augusta S., 900, Macon ST 500,
&runswick s. 900, and other places smaller a
mounts
| In Florida many circumstances existed during
the past year unfavorable to the progress of edu-
cation. The amount received was So 8OV Jack
sonville received $l 400, St. Augustine $1,000;
Gainesville 900, Key West 81 900, SC. In AL,
ALBANIA there is thorough system Of public in
struction for population of one million of peo-
pie. Of this million $50, 900 cannot read or write.
The Peabody fund gives Alabama 1000 Mobile
receives 1000, Montgomery and Selma ! 800 each
and Huntsville and Upelika 900 each.
7 In Mississippi the results are gratifying to the
! friends of popular education when the short pc
riod of time is considered during which the sys-
tenn of public schools has been in operation IN
| this State. The amount received was 4. 4oU :;
| jackson racelVed OUU. Ouutult l,OUo duu luui
other places smaller amounts.
| The amount of donatonssfor thessschools INF Lou-
siana was. ST ,S90-$5, $40 for common schools,
| ST $50 for the Peabody Normal Seminary at New
/ Orleans, which numbers 100 members, who are
| graduates of high schools, and is open to pupils
from all parts of the State, and $50 to normal de-
| partments in two other lnstltu ions.
| Texas has received no money, owing to the
present unsettled state OF school matters there
| i 1 .iI,,rr t,A
regent replied in answer to numerous requests
for money, 'sand he agrees with me that in the
| present unsettled condition of school matters in
| fexas we should not be justified in making do
nati ms from our fund. We, therefore, feel OBJ
ged to wait till we can do it more in accordance
with The rules and usages.''
In A kansas the condition of school matters is
| unfavorable The amount Of assistance s.
500-Little Rock, 1000, Van Buren,, 200, Fort
Smith. 1900 and oahers.
! Tennessee received 25,600, as the State
PROSTATE and had abolished its school system. Il
was this assistance which was the means of IL
Producing very good State law.
I In West Virginia there were three sNperinten
dents in the course of one year: but the sch ols
are progressing fayorably The amount received
WAS Is 500.
| The total amount expended during the past
| year for all the States was 1854 Fifteen
| rhe fund: but for the present Missouri Kentucky
and Maryland are omitted. at the request of the
| founder. The trustees propose o disr butte the
! money. not IN proportion to population or any
| other fixed ratio, but to give it where it will &C
| colnplish most in promoting system of public
free schools The STATES that receive less this
| year will receive more hereafter. Texas form
stance, would not be benefited SO much by the
distribution this lime at future time, when tn.
State will be able TO use it TO better advantage.
The expectations of the trustees have been more
then realized. At first there were only two States
hat had school systems and those were only
| nominal: now every State has system IN law.
and majority of States have systems in vlgorons
operation. During the coming year special at
tention will be given TO the school system OF
North Carolina, which is about to reorganize its
schools.
After approving the report the board adjourned
TIL October, 1874.