Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-22
EDNGA TION IN KIRGZNLA.

We have received a copy of the annual
report of Rev. DR.. RARNAS SEARS, Gener-
al Agent of the Peabody Education Fund,
made to the Trustees at their meeting IN
August. The Chairman, Hon. RoBT. e.
WINTHROP, at that meeting reminded the
trustees of the fact that 'snearly one full
third of the time prescribed by Mr.. PEA
BODY for the positive continuance OF the
trust has already been completed" anc
added. what the people all over the South
will respond heartily to that 1--WE may
well rejoice that 50 much las been accom-
plished in the cause of free schools in the
Southern States during these nine or ten
years; and L think we shall all agree that
we have special cause for gratitude to
God, that the life and health of our Gener-
al Agent have been spared, and that our
work, during the whole period, has thus
had the consistency and efficiency which
could only have me from single direct
ing mind, devotedly pursuing a policy
which had been carefully considered and
deliberately adopted"
Of the general work of education at the
South DIR. SEARS remarks in his report that
'the majority of the States have made slow
but steady progress some two Oh three
have manifested renewed interest and en- :
ergy and about the same number Obvi-
ously feel the effects of financial embar-
rassmeut. The conviction Of the necesSi-
ty Of public schools is gaining ground ev-
eryWhere THIS is owing partly to the re-
suits which are observed where they have
been in successful operation, and partly to
the thorough discussion of the subject i'll
two OF three of the more important States y
cording to the last Report. made in 1875,
the school population between and p
years of OF age is 4s2,7S9. The number of
pupils enrolled in the public schools is
1S4, 4S6; and that Of private schools, % ,285.
SeventY-nine counties report Improvement
of public sentiment concerning public
schools twenty-six report no change and
four report unfavorably. The current ex-
penses for public schools amount to 1924,
lis, Of which about one-half is raised by a
State tax, and the remainder by local tax
es. There is an increase over last year
both in the number of pupils enrolled and
the amount paid for schools. The num-
Der Of pupils attending schools of all sorts
in the counties now constituting Virginia,
was in 1850 81 1903; in 1860. 1924; i'll 1870
,974; in 1876, 207,771. The number of
white pupils in 1860 was 81 ,024 in 1875, it
was 1901. The tuition of 1S4,4S6 chill.
dren, which were in the public schools last
year, cost, in the aggregate, $726,300; at
private rates. it would have cost ST 1893 1876.
The amount given from the Peabody und
to Virginia during the year was $50, 05O
appropriated as follows:
Staunton $4,000, Winchester 81, 500
N rfoll1 S 800, Alexandra 81 900, Ports
mouth 81 900, Teachers Institutes $, l 900,
Manchester $500, Richmond Normal
School, colored $500, Hampton Normal
School, colored $500, Fredericksburg $3.50,
Lexington $3.50, Warreton $500, Wythe-
Charlottesville $3.50, Liberty $3.50, Wood
stock $3.50, Danville $500, Tazewell $500,
Falls Church $500, Bridg-water $500,
Chingoteague $500, Btrryville $500, Blacks
burg $500, Culpeper $500, Chnrchville $500,
Fmcastle $500, Waynesboro' $500, Asllbury
$500, Midlothian $500, journal OF Educa-
ton $500, Liberty (colored) $3.50, Edinburg
500, Strasburg 500, Floyd Court House
500.