The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-07
The Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ZION OH the Educating of Boys and
TnpnfIlnr

Enc superintendent A aOAtS khSsAuS-
ZION OIL the Educating of Boys and
Girls Together.
Editors of the Lexington Gazette:
Were you not basty in stigmatizing as
grossly immoral an educational custom which
has prevailed in Virginia always, so far as
my knowledge extends? The teaching of
boys and girls together has been the rule ;
separate schools the exception. How, then,
do you, on your theory, account for the tact
that the people of Rockbridge. for example,
have maintained decency of character tor
one hundred and fifty years, during which
ccejucation has been almost universal
Although the building of Ann Smith
Academy led to q partial separation of the
sexes in Lexington, yet believe that there
has always been more or less coeducaton /;
and such is the case at present in at least
three schooIs-two of them private; and the
Sunday schools have always maintained the
natural arrangement. Have these Influences
demoralized the community?
[ wish 10 conserve the customs under
which our virtuous ancestry were reared.
Much may and should be done to improve
the management of our schools. and this is
all that is needed to remove objection.
Again, your doctrine would require our
farmers to double the number of their
schools, or abolish education. For iSno.
rance is not as bad as what you depict Us the
result of coeducation. suspect, however,
that they now have as much tax as they care
to carry, and hence will be slow to adopt
your views.
But perhaps, Mr.. Editor, you were think
ing of coeducation in the higher schools,
which is a different and more doubtful ques-
ton, and one which | have never discussed,
although | have long entertained the opinion
which [ expressed last Wednesday night
viz. that / saw no way of giving our
daughters access to the grade Of educa-
ton which we have provided for our
sons except by making such changes and
regulations as would enable them TO enjoy
the benefit of our colleges. think also that
a civiizing influence would thus be exerted
over our institutions which would promote
manners and morals, and also study. But
this was an incidental expression of opinion,
which formed no part OF my argument, and
which have never before uttered in public.
have held the opinion, however, ever stree
I, as college.student, saw the cvilizng in
fuence which was eXerted over the students
by the attendance of the academy-girls on
Professor Armstrong; chemical lectures
not separately, us now, but altogether.
This, however, is by the way. My work
lies among the primary schools !; and there,
theory and practice have united to settle the
question, in my opinion. We now have in
Virginia more than 100000 children of both
sexes in over 1900 schools, and this has been
going on for so long that its tendencies are
fully understood. Ny position keeps me
fully informed, and l declare emphatically
that during the five years have been in of.
flee have not met with one fact calculated
TO discredit cUeducation; nor have heard
even one a1uerse opinion from any Of those
echo haze tried ii. In some towns there are
prejudices, as there are here; but never
heard any reason for The prejudice that
was not connected with bad administration.
In Richmond, Petersburg. Warrenton, and
other, Of our most. refined communities, the
coeducation system has for years been work
ing successfully and there we find our
cery best schools. 1t would be so in Lex
ington on trial; and until the children are
properly graded the best instruction cannot
be- given. / hope, therefore, to see that
venerable Institution the Gazette helping
and not hinderiDg the good work. .,.,
Respectfully, W, d. KUFfNER.
GThe Gazette makes no issue as to any ex.
cept the higher schools.]