National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-01

II would be preposterous In this country,
and at this date Of human progress, TO argue
the principle and policy of public free elu-
cation. The only question here open for
discussion is how and by whom this edu;a-
ton shall be assured, Happily, this ques-
ton is greatly smplfied for US by the fact
that the public free school is now an cstab-
lishGd institution Of every state; aud good
policy demands that 1t shall remain so upon
that wise theory and practice which make
the supreme, or central government the pro-
tector, director, and alder in all public
rights and interests, through general pro-
visions only that cannot be otherwise
secured and maintained, while all imme-
diate details of administration are left to
local, or even individual option, In so far
as this is practicable and allowable. Con-
fronted by this new constituency OF illlt-
crates, made citizens and voters by federal
act, with an urgent public necessity that this
constituency should be as soon as possible
enlightened in some degree toward the
measure Of its powers aud responsibilities,
the United States finds the state school sys-
TENS ready TO its hand. needing only liberal
pecuniary aid to mike them equal to tho
great task before them. To show that Mis-
need exists and is severely felt, we have to
go no further than Virginia, where, accord
ing to her means and territory, greater
local provision for free education Is aud
has been made than In any other southern
state. Her official reports establish that
barely one-third of her school popalatlon is
yrnt,iJa1 for ot oil md hat In hat
average very brief sessions, held Ia the
most inclement season, for the most part
In schoolhouses that do not afford adequate
room and comfortable shelter for the chill
dren who attend. According to the Virginia
school report of 1885, only 40 per cent. of the
colored school population were enrolled as
pupils OF the public schools, while Of this
enrolment only 25 per cent. were In aver
age attendance. In other words and fig
ures, out OF 240,9s0 colored children OF
echool age, only 100, 10S were even enrolled
as scholars last year, and Of these but co.
s45 were in average daily attendance. The
average number Of months taught was less
than six months, and II is already apparent
that the average will be much less this year,
as many Of the schools have kept open but
three and four months. In the city OF
Richmond itself, for the current year, two
thousand children who applied for admls-
sion to the schools could not be provided
for. Meanwhile, for the whole state, there
is only one teacher on an average for every
forty-slx Of enrolled pupils.
This is not very bright outlook, es-
| pecially for the colOred illlterates; and this,
remember, is in Virginia, state which does
more forfree education than any OF her south
ern sisters. She is probably doing all she
can, too, in view OF her embarrassed financial
condition, aud, II she is again TO come
under her old tax-receivable coupon obllga-
tions, she will be forced to do less. 1t will
not do to say that II the state was dovas.
tated by war, that II she lost vast deal OF
available property by emancipation, aud
thst II she suffered severely In many
other ways through the attempt at
secession and It's consequences, 1t was
| all her own fault. Tue facts alone,
no matter how caused, are here to be con-
tidered, aud these, as well as the testimony
Of both parties IN Virginia, including tho
| people Of all classes aud cOlors, show that
| that state neither can nor will endure
| greater taxation, at present, for any pur-
| pose. For 1856 she contributed by her
state, county, aud district taxes the sum Of
| $l,424, h3l 60 to her schools and II must DO
conceded that, under all the circumstances,
| the sum is large and liberal. How Insult
| fcient IL Is, nevertheless, has been demoa-
stratCd.