Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-09
The Public Schools.


The Southwest Virginia Baptist Educa-
tional Convention, neld at Glide Spring,
Va, May 2S. 1888, adopted a resolution re-
| questing us to print the address which was
delivered in that convention OH that day 10y
the Rev. DR.. A. Il. DICKINSON, Of this city.
The address is entitled, a Plain Talk
About Schools and Colleges" 1t is not only
= plain talk but talk IN which is manifested
much good practical common sense. The
address has perhaps denominatOnal tinge,
but the most OF its suggestions are Of gene
raj application. Who d0es not know that
the following is true? Who does know the
men that are going to correct the evil thus
exposed? We quote:
cone OF the greatest evils which afllct
our country to-day is that now bring be.
fore YOU. The boards OF trustees and the
faculties Of our schools and colleges need 10
he siiied. There are scores Of names upon
the list Of trustees OF colleges and academies
who hsye never given to the institutions
winch they control money enough 10 pay for
the ink which is used In printing their
names on the catalogue in which they APP
pear. and they do aS much for the finances
Of their respective schools as they do in any
other way for them. They are mere ciphers,
and worse than ciphers, for they keep out
men who might do the work, il they would
step down and ont. They ought never TO
have bccn appointed 10 any such trust.
"Nany and marvellous are the discoveries
which lhIs progressive age has made New
suns and new stars have been found, hut 10
one has found a way ia which to weed out
from our college faculties men and women
VINO could do no more brilliant aud magnlh-
cent a thing than write a firs'-cass TesigDa-
ton and band it in. But while they have
thoughts and dreams about everything else,
never by dsy or night do they dream u rem
der!ag this great and much-neodcd service
10 God and man, while the boards OF visitors
SIT around, without backbone, and discuss
with eyer-growiug interest the question how
is it that while so many people in other de-
partments OF business die or resign, nothing
Of the kind occurs here!"
But we set out only to notice what Dr.
DICKINSON SAID as to the public-school sys-
tenn. We have for twenty-OGd years been
the advocate and defender Of that system.
We regret that there are still in Virginia
some persons who look upon it with dsfa-
yer. TO these persons we commend the fol-
lowing good advice
"The question as TO whether we are 10
have a system OF public schools is no longer
an open question. We hare such a system,
and whether you like it or not, the taX.gsth-
erer will see that you paw your quota TO its
support. Every man who thinks at all,
ought TO see that, as We have such system, We
should make the most OF it and do all in our
power TO adapt il to our wants. Your
home may not be all that it ought 10 be, but
1t is yours, and you seek as best you can 10
eliminate from it whatever Is wrong, and
strive to make it more and more an ideal
home.
"Why cannot we show like wisdom
about public schools? Why may we not put
forth efforts to remove the evils which too
often make the money spent on them WORTH
less expenditure? IL can be dOne-it is done
in many places-and 10 only needs that the
leading. influential citizens OF every COM
munity be aroused and induced to do their
duty in this particular. Do this, work faith
fully al IT. and in due time yOuwill see every
public school IN the Commonwealth public
blessing. II bali the breath spent in talking
down our free-sch0Olsy stem bad been spentin
talking itup-if hall the efforts put forth to
make it failure had been used in making it
a success, our old State would to-day stand
Htdlft ~ TUG hNAt VI NliC Nbihmi VI 7talto III
the matter Of general education than she
now stands.
"Too often mistakes have been made in
the appointment OF superintendents and
school trustees, and that has led to even
worse mistakes as 10 the appointment OF
teachers in such schools. Too often the APP
pointment Of teacher has been decided
more by his or her kinship to trustee, or to
one OF the trustees poor KIN, than by his or
her personal fitness for the place. The
teacher gets the place and the pay, and the
scholar lives and dies In the most profound
ignorance OF the things for which the tax.
payer paid his school-taI. The taxpayer
sees that, and he becomes the enemy OF
the system which his own h2rd-earned
wages is fostering. II he aud all coz
cerncd had given = little time and
effort 10 having the right man appointed
county superintendent, and then helped him
TO look out the best men IN the county TO act
as school trustees, II would not be possible
for an unworthy applicant to secure, or hold
for any considerable time, the position OF
teacher. The greatest care should be given
TO securing proper superintendent and trus.
tees, and every taxpayer, and all other good
citizens, should spare no labor 10 effect such
3 result. You have the whole matter in your
own hands, and II your public school is a
failure, the fault is your own"
DIR. DICKINSON is a close observer. His
perceptiye powers are great.