The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-29
what II tho Practical Value Of Edu
cattOn3

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Tn the June issue Of the Virginia Educa
fionni Journal / had occasion to say thai
New England is, upon the whole, ahead OF
the South at some practical points OF the
educational work. The interest which the
Dispatch takes in education encourages me
TO add few words by its courtesy.
The wealth OF New England has some
thing 10 do with the success OF its educa-
tional work.. This thought was advanced
in the Journai.) But education has some
thing to do with material prosperity, just
a. material prosperity has TO do with edu-
cation. To-day the thirteen southern States
with four times the population OF New
England, and more than ten times the ter
ritory) have as an actual fact less property,
real and personal, than the six little States
OF the East.
In 1910 the material wealth OF Virginia
exceeded that OF Massachusetts by about
thirty millions Of dollars. This, however,
seems poor exhibit when we take into
account the natural advantages OF Virginia
as compared with those OF her less favored
northern sister. Virginia supported a
population OF only nineteen souls TO the
square mile. while Massachusetts, had
ninety-five. We had small family living
on an area OF sixty-six thousand square
miles: Massachusetts had large family
living on only seven thousand eight hun
dred. With all her natural advantages OF
climate, soil. fine rivers and magnificent
harbor, immense mineral resources, &c.,
Virginia did not attract population, ana
her material wealth, even in ante-bellum
DAYS. was less than il should have been.
A comparison to-day with Massachusetts Is
practically out OF the question, save to
show our relative poverty. IL we learn
from the past TO correct the causes which
have operated unfavorably the future will
Eot fail TO reflect TO our credit.
>Howison, in his History Of Virginia.
volume H., page 5i0,) says Glad the pro-
ductive labor OF Virginia been profitable
In proportion to her excess OF territory
over Massachusetts,, her active wealth in
1910 would have been 1885, 900 instead
Of s130,00O,000. And il her more album
dant resources be taken into consideration,
her increase ought to have been much
greater. 1t must, therefore, be regarded
rs a truth but too fully established that
Virginia has fallen below her duty
that she has been indolent while others
have been laborious; that she has been con-
tent TO avoid movement positively retro
grade while others have gone rapidly for
ward. Her motion compared with that OF
Massachusetts, or Ohio might be likened to
the heavy stage-coach OF the past century
competing with the flying steam-car Of the
present. For this sluggishness and imbe-
cility many causes might be assigned and
Ingenious arguments may he urged in
their support. The cause might be com
pick; action and inaction are constantly
taking place; causes become effects, and, in
turn, effects are converted into causes"
Mr.. Howison here proceeds TO show that
the rant Of education was one OF the most
important causes affecting Virginia unfa-
yoraby. This history was published in
1S4S. We should consider well the past,
in order that IFS lessons may guide US pro-
perry in the present. What is the practical
value OF education. shall not attempt to
answer the question, but put il before the
people. In behalf OF tue elementary
schools OF our State. and in behalf OF our
colleges-especially in behalf OF my own
Alma Mater-I maintain that, aside from its
intrinsic value, education has practical
value in its bearing upon the material pros
perity Of a State. The public press does
well to patronize our educational work.
The strength and weakness OF our work
should he generally understood.
May the schools OF Virginia prosper. 80
that our State may be centre of influence,
to the great honor Of our republic.
Salem, Va. j. +. BUSHNELL.