The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-09-19
The Peabody Fund and the Staunto on
Snhnnla

At meeting of the Board Of School rrus-
tees for the city, held on Tuesday evening,
the President, J. w. Todd, Esq, read a let.
ter from DR.. Sears, General Agent of the
Peabody Fund, addressed to Major H. M,
Bell, former President of the School Board.
setting forth the policy of the Peabody
Board in the distribution of its Fund and a
resolution was adopted requesting DR.. Sears
to publish in the city papers, in such man
ner as he mighG deem best, the policy OF the
Peabody Board in its distribution. The fo!-
lowing is the letter upon which the resolu
ton was based, the publication of which is
made in response to the request:
sTAuNToN. VA. Sept. 5th 1878.
H. M. BELL. ESQ.
Chairman of Board OF Trustees,
Dear Sir lowing to the inability OF the Pea
body Trustees to continue any longer the whole
salary OF Supt. Ladd, requested through you that
the city authorities bear part Of the expense I
nave received no direct reply to that request.
Meantime Mr.; Ladd has resigned, he says in con-
sequence OF what was said to him by member
OF your Board; and committee has called upon
me to inquire whether the appropriation was a
support OF a Superintendent, the city paying
nothing. This led to an explanation, of which
come for the city to assume part, if not the
whole, OF that expense. The plan of the Peabody
Trustees has been from the beginning to give
only temporary assistance to schools; to aid and
encourage them till they could get well under
way, and till the people had fair opportunity to
learn their value; to help them when they are
passing through that crisis which determines
their existence and permanent success. We then
pass to other schools: and SO circulate tn we
make the proper effort themselves.
Owing to the unfavorable condition OF several
~ u1rr fnfNc
certainty whether our funds would be properly
used, we withheld the greater part OF their is
tributiye share reserving it for at more favorable
strenuous and successful efforts to inaugurate a
good system of schools, and to no State did we
appropriate so much as to Virginia, which has
| received $214.O00.
It is now more than year that the Gulf States
have been in condition to receive their share Of
OF the other States, especially OF Virginia, were
SO great that there was danger Of LOST ng much Of
the ground we had gained II we withdrew our
aid suddenly. We therefore made compromise,
increasing. somewhat our appropriations to the
somewhat to the more Northern. Justice requires
that we no longer delay to make the proper ad-
iustment.
Again. in reducing the amount given to Virgin
ia. We for special reasons, too complicated 10 be
given here. did not reduce our Appropriation to
large. On the contrary it received $4,000 last
year oneffth OF the whole allowance to the State.
While E nn no and other cities
self could be justified in continuing such an un-
soon. be obliged to withhold further aid from this
state; and especially from staunton. both OF
which were receiving more than their share, it
seemed esp ecia1ly desirable to strengthen and
consolidate the schools OF Staunton under exist
ing favorable auspices little longer before with
for that Of the whole Valley, and even Of the
State which were benefited by the example OF such
perfect system of schools, due mainly to the
rare skill and fidelity OF the city superintendent.
But after had obtained the reluctant consent OF
the State Superintendent, ION whose recommen-
dation act) for a liberal allowance, and before
Mr.. Ladd's resignation. supt. Ruffner wrote to
me, regretting that he had consented. and saying
II shall not favor large sum as 81 500 to any
place in the State. Under these circumstances
| told your committee could not pay the whole
expense Of the City SUPPLEMENTARY. nor under
any new arrangement less promising than the
old one. give anything like 81, 500. Although the
circumstances which induced supt. Ladd to re-
| sign have had discouraging effect, they
| have had no influence on the decision of this
question. have been influenced solely by q
OF justice to other schools and by that gen
eral view OF expediency which has governed me
and the Peabody Trustees, in all our disburse
ments from the beginning.
Yours, very respectfully,
B. SEARS, Gen I Agt.