The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-19
WEDNESDAY EvEN'G, FEB. 10. 1878.
The public sehool-Danscr Ahead.

The Public SchOOl-Dangcr Ahead.
Sometime since we noticed the excel
lent report of Mr.. Ruffner, State Superin-
tendent of Schools, and called attention to
the fact that taoo-thnds of the children OF
this State were growing up without edu-
cation. That report, indicating some pre-
gress in the school system was based upon
an income of over 100000. During the
present year this income has fallen off
nearly one-half, owing to the defective leg
islation of last winter. The subject is
now before the committee on education,
and tax of twenty-five cents on the hun
bred dollars of valuation is proposed.
Mr.. Ruffner considers this the least levy
that will meet the wants of the system.
This proposition, we regret to say, meets
with opposition in the committee, and is in
danger of being substituted by twenty
cents on The hundred dollars. General
Hill, the chairman of the house committee,
and q true friend of the free schools, fears
that he will not be able to carry heavier
tax through the House. 1t is sad picture
to see deliberatiye assembly devoting
months Of its time to petty local and
special legislation and grievously
exercised about the state credit,
while it contemplates the fearful mass
Of ignorance in it, borders with uncon
Germ. It shows how fearfully the educa-
ton of that body has been neglected, and
how utterly wanting it must be in true
craftsmanship. The statesman estimates
things at their true value, and looks at ul-
innate as well as immediate results. These
men ignore totally the productive value of
an educated people. They cannot or will
not estimate the loss to the Commonwealth
from bringing up its workingmen ignorant
and unskiled. They can see the grow
ing six per cent. of the State bonds
but they ignore the incalculable dis
counts which we suffer meantime from
ignorance. The interest on knowledge
is WeaM ever growing. What is the
loss which we suffer from want of it?
The educational committee stands first in
dignity and Importance in the Legislature ?
Its chairman is an educated and gallant
gentleman, who seems to appreciate fully
its great work. The gentlemen composing
it are intelligent and earnest friends Of
education. But there seems to be toe
great timidity among them to come up tc
the level of opinion in this country and
Europe. We entreat them to throw of
this spirit and signalize this session by
an intrepid and determined movement
upon the strongholds of ignorance in this
State. Let them declare that all the chill.
dren of the State must be educated, or the
State will stand disgraced before the coun.
try by aoorse reputation than any which
now frightens the holders of its debt-tht
reputation of its solemn obligations to its
own children. Here is class of the publ:t
creditors who have no paid lobby to pres;
their claims, but whose very helplessness
appeals to every chivalrous nature will
irresistible power.
We cry out for the three hundred thou
sand children of this State who have n,
voice, and whose precious interests ar
being forgotten. We ask for the children Of
Virginia that education which the children
ofMassachusetts and Canada, of Wisconsin
Illinois and Iowa, of Norway and Swedel
and Germany have secured to them. W.
ask that they shall not be allowed to grow
up to manhood and womanhood, ignoran
and degraded by the sense of inferiority
helpless and shut out from the great op
portunites which open to every educated
human being If the people of Vir
gnia commit this great crime agains
their children or permit it in their Legisla
ture, they will stand covered with infamy
before the world, and deserve the curses o
God and man. The very children whom
they have wronged will grow up to ours
them, and they will deserve the worst tina
can happen to them. There is no crime il
all history so great and damning as that c
condemning human souls to the darkness o
ignorance. 1t involves all other crimes
and brings with 1t the Divine retributlon
by law as certain in its operation a
gravtation itself.
Let the Legislature rise above the fogg
atmosphere of prejudice and take in tn
vast and infinite significance of this gres
question. Let its inspirations be draw
from that splendid future, which it ma
render possible for Virginia, by providin
moD the best education for all her childre,
Newspaper Postage.
1t seems that the Senate committea n