The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-21
Peabody Education Fund.

RICHMOND, VA, January 30, 1882.
Editors of Dispatch thank you for
your courtesy in allowing me to supplement
your clear explanation Of the policy OF the
Trustees of the Education Fund hy some
additional facts. There is no secrecy nor
mystery i'm the plans OF the Board, and any
suggestions tending to help in the more
useful distribution OF the income OF the
fund will bc thankfully received. The
Trustees msefishly give much time and
thought TO the subject, and desire 80 TO
administer the fund ~ best TO accomplish
the muniticcnt trust OF which they are the
honored custodianS. Although the process
Of administration has been in operation
since 1867. and twenty full reports have
been published. much misrepresentation cX-
lists rs to the intention OF Mr.. Peabody, the
amount OF the fund, and the oit-declTed
policy OF the Trustees. Numerous appli-
cations for wide variety OF objects come
to me nearly every day. Letters constantly
come asking help for Sunday schools, for
building and furnishing sch0Ol-hOuses, for
agency work, for lecturers, for INDECENT
pupils, for dcnominatiOnal schools. for liz
braries, for authors, for colleges, &C., dc.
Mr.. Peabody's gift. unparalleled in aim
or scope by any previous or subsequent in
dividual gilt for education, was entrusted
to distinguished gentlemen, selected by
himself, who were empowered TO Use and
apply the income for the promotion and
encouragement of education among the
Young of the more destitute portions Of the
southern and southwestern States Mr..
Peabody lett "an absolute discretion 10
the Trustees as TO the localities in which the
funds should be expended, and was care
ful to NEGATIVE the idea that the benefits Of
the fund were 10 be distributed upon any
measure OF proportion among the states, or
that any State had any claim 10 distribu-
tive share.
The Education Fund was not intended a
a charity 10 the poor: nor is il TO be dis
tributed in proportion to population, nor
on the basis OF indulgence or illiteracy. To
distribute on the basis OF restitution or
illiteracy would fail Of giving any etiectual
relief or producing any permanent results.
/ TO distribute per capita according to az
gregate population, or school population,
would hardly buy McGulley'S Reader for
each child.
! At an early period two related plans,
which have been perSeveringly adhered TO,
were decided on by the Trustees First. TO
aid special schools complying with certain
prescribed conditions, and, secondly, TO
aid in training teachers for public schools.
The object kept steadily in view was the
encouragement Of permanent system OF
/ free schools. and The only feasible or posi-
I bic mode of accomplishing thiS object was
/ TO act in conjunction with state systems OF
/ instruction as soon aS organized, and
/ through State officers responsible to their
constituents. This cooperation has not
/ 4 MI 10. s.YiD
perintcndcntS of public instruction have
much lightened the labors OF the general
agents, and have shown zeal, ability, and
patriotism which the people whom they
served should not be slow 10 recognize and
honor.
No pledge has ever been given that all
schools complying with the conditions
should receive. or could Justly claim, Pea
body aid. As the income OF the fund does
not exceed 100000 annually, only few
schools can be aided. and a special arrange
ment must be made with them through the
State sIlpcrintendents. In making selec-
tion schools located at influential points
have the preference, and all schools aided
must be free, be properly graded. must
have at least one hundred pupils, with one
teacher for every fifty, and must continue
in session nine or ten months. In no in
stance has the entire or chief cost OF MAIN
tanning schools been met by the Trustees.
Funds are given TO stimulate and encOur-
age those who provide for the principal
part Of the expense. TO help those who
help themselves has been considered rs
the most effective plan i'm producing ga
permanent and Sclf-sustaining system OF
, popular education" As Dr. Sears said in
1867, ait appears to be best and most con-
genial to our forms OF government TO have
= the schools supported in part from a state
fund.- but chiefly by local taxation"
As soon rs a State or a community shows
IN ability and willingness to sustain free
/ schools Peabody aid is withdrawn, and
hence in 1881 no public school in Virginia
was aided. Some States in the last report
, present "beggarly account" OF receipts
= not because OF favOritsm or Partially in
the administration OF the fund, but because
the applications for aid were not made, or
, ii made, the conditions precedent were not
= met.
= In February. 1881, the Board directed
the general agent to apply only two iifth'
= OF the annual expenditure in assisting
= public schools, and to work rather in the
line Of educating teachers for the public
: schools. Teachers institutes, therefore
have been supported in most OF the States
e These are valuable auXillarics in the work
l OF teacher-training, and help TO them vii
be continued. More liberal help viii
! be given to normal schools, estab
, liShed and controlled by States as ;
part OF the system Of public schools
+ Ii Virginia will establish, and make an ap
; preparation for, normal school for whit,
teachers, aid will be afforded. III provision
| be made for educating cOored teachers a
Hampton, rs one OF your correspondent
suggests, an increased sum will be appro
] priated for that excellent institution. TeXa:
was encouraged to establish a normal col
t lege. Aid was promised and supplied. Thu
Trustees OF the Peabody Education FunC
e have seen their efforts amply rewarded, fol
G the last Legislature increased the State ap
preparation from $4,000 TO $4,000.
Yours truly, J. l.. NJ. CURRY.
| Petersburg HarbOr Improvement.
Colonel William II. Craighill, engineer in