The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-02-24
ArNIyERsITY SYSTEM.

late IN -educallnnu-q as 10
the best plan TO be adopted i'll The
establishment of state university.
The Legislative committees on edu-
cation, have produced an admirable
bill, providing for the Inauguration
OF university, but the machinery
Of such an institution has got to be
put in force. and il will take time
and care and experience through
number Of years 10 nuke il perfect
The STATESMAN j. in receipt Of No-
luminous correspondence between
Prof. VIM. p. Banks of Marvin Col
lege. and Prot. Alex. Hogg, now inthe
engineer service of the Texas e
Pacific railway company, i'll which
the first induces the latter to give
ali insight into The establishment
and operation OF the South's greatest
institution oflearning, the Univer-
sity of Virginia He says:
From our American Universities
l shall begin however, as you indi-
cate. first with historic sketch OF
the University OF Virginia. This
institution was designed by Mr..
Jefferson to be the head of a liberal
and broad system of public free
schools, sustained and directed by
the state. ..
Governor Roberts has, in his
special message indicated substan-
TALLY the same plan, adding, how
lever, the normal school, which was
not known as such in the DAYS of
Mr.. Jefferson, but provided for in
the organization of the university,
which has furnished more real and
earnest teachers than any other
class of graduates. 1t has furnished
for colleges alone over 200 profess
sors, besides multitude of men
neither less able nor less distin-
guished, who are conducting first
class academies. The condition of
free tuition was only granted to
two classes of students-those pre-
pairing for the. Christian ministry,
and those preparing to, become
teachers. The latter took as an obli-
cation, for such free tuition, that
they would teach in the
bounds of the state for two
years after leaving the university.
So early ms 1870, after the separation
from the mother country, Mr.. Jefier-
son, with Messrs. Pendleton and
Wythe, following the example of
, Frederick of Prussia, sought to In
corporate into the codeof the infant
state, even amidst the wasting war
of the revolution, q general system
of education, doing Justice to all
classes alike. The plan thus pre-
sented contemplated three classes of
seIninaries; -.
i l. Elementary schools ia be main
tanned at the public charge, and to
be free 10 all.
2. General schools. correspond
ing 20 academies and col
leges, for the education OF
such rs had time, means and in
clination for further culture these
to be assisted to some extent from
the public treasury, but supported
chiefly by tuition fees, These schools
were designed to embrace a
thorough course of general instruc-
}. ton in languages, ancient and mod
ern, natural sciences in all it's de-
, partinents, and philosophy, mental
and political.
8. A university in which should
be taught in the highest degree
; every branch OF knowledge, whether
calculated 10 enrich, stimulate and
adorn the understanding, or to be
usefuliD the aris and practical bust
ness of life. IL . .sY ...
Without enunleratlngn now the spe-
ciaI and varied subjects taught In the
university, shall speak Gifts organ.
: ization with regard TO the govern.
; ment, discipline, and methods of in
struction. The government Is vested
in o rector, and visitors .appointed
by the governor. These appoint 9
faculty from whom, annually, a
chairman is elected. The visitors
/: appoint their own rector, as did for
a long time the faculty select their
own chairman. The chairman is
, the executive officer of the. faculty
, The faculty report to the.. visitors
through their chairman, and the Wis
itors to the legislature through their
rector. There is connected chain
of responsibility beautifully illus
trating our democratic or republi-
can form of government,
The chairman, rector and COVER
nor are these heads respectively OF
J the faculty, visitors and legislature.
This idea modified and adapted to
our form of civil government was
borrowed, partly from the German
, universities, and also from the Uni
versity of Pisa, Padua and Lyden.
Especially from the latter was de-
termined the small number of visi-
tors. at first seven, afterwards in
creased to nine, for local purposes.
There is little of Oxford, and
i Cambridge in the Virginia Uni
yersity, and fortunately. SO too.
AS you know each. professor
has charge of what is termed a
school e. g.-school of 'Latin-or
school of mathematics, and is re-
sponsible for the method of conduct
, jng it,. This being his own imme-
, date works, of course his whole
time and employ he laid under con-
tribution to make his the most use
tful--not as compared with any other
; school, not relatively, but abso-
lutely.
The teaching or method of in
struction here should be especially
J noticed, not by section wholly, as in
!; the German university, nor by reci-
tations only, as in the English uni
versity collection OF colleges) of the
tutors, but by a happy and just
combination of the two. Of course
this exacts of the professor more
labor, but still at the time of the In
suguration of the university 1t was
necessary-unavoidable, so as in a
measure to supply the deficiencies
growing out OLA lack of proper
preparatory schools and colleges.
This double method lecture-recita-
ton, notebook and textbook
study--is still necessary IL the pro-