Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-26
postal system as has never boon dreamed
of except in this country, 1.-Two bites at
n cherryn In q small business.
Institutions for Higher Education in
Virginia.

s-------------------------
Institutions for Higher Education IN
Virginia
The following paper comes from persons
and institutions that command our re-
| spect;
| To Ce General Assembly Of Virginia;
Whereas In his last message Governor
| Lee directed tho attention OF the Legisia-
ture 20 the value Of the work done. with
| ont cost 10 the State, by the denomination
al colleges and private institutions for
higher education in Virginia; and
Whereas this work is necessarily ahected
by measures relating 10 public instruction
annually brought before the Legislature;
and
whereas il is desirable that the support
ers OF these institutions shall not be dis;
couraged in their efforts 20 continue ma
TO extend their work by fear OF I'M
necessary and destructive competition by
| the State, but that the place occupied py
such UNCONVENTIONAL and private lhstitu,
tons be recognized in the educatlonai
policy Of tho State. and harmonious CO.
operation be secured between them and
the institutions for higher education sus-
tanned by thepublic treasury; and whereas
such harmonious relations would, Dy
avoiding the unnecessary duplication OF
work, both improve the educational al
vantagcs offered our people ana dnnlnish
the public expense. therefore. your me
morialists desire respectfully TO submit TO
your honorable body:
l. That the educational institutions not
aided or controlled 10y the state have In
! vested in buildings, grounds. and educa-
tional appliances not less than SSOO,0OO,
and that, beginning In somo cases at pc
rod nearly 100 years before the establish
ment Of the present public-school system
of Virginia. they have carried on the work
Of higher education, and ore now giving
instruction to 800 students anuually-CV0
of them from Virginia-without cost 10 the
State
2. That these institutions were rot or
ganized, nor are they conducted, with a
view 20 pccuniary profit TO their prolec-
tors. but for philanthropic and benevolent
onds. That not only do they receive no
rent or income from the SS0OOOO invested
as above stated. but that they eXpend upon
the education which they give, apart nom
and in addition 20 all receipts from stu
dents, not less than 100000 annually from
other funds and resources secured by
them: that by renting college fees IN
whole or in part and by loan funds ana
other means. they are aiding annually not
less than 400 students, thus enabling many
young men TO secure collegiate education
which they could not otherwise obtain.
3. That II the preparation OF teach
ers for the public schools IS TO
be recognized IA valuable ser
vice 10 the State. it will be seen from
the report of the Superintendent OF Pub
lie Instruction for 1888 that 2l0 of the pub
lic-school teachers who were reported as
having had collegiate training came from
our institutions and 1870 from the lnstitu-
tons of higher education supported Dy
the State, while the report for 1899, now IN
press. will show that 265 public-schOol
teachers then employed were educated III
these State institutions and 1886 III Instl-
tutons of higher education not supported
by the State--our colleges not being sepa-
rately reported. Educational Journal Of
Virginia for December, page $50
4. That the school report for 1889 shows
that thus far the funds applicable to the
public-school system have only suiiiced 10
provide schools for elementary instruction
for one half the school population; that
the average school term Is less than SIX
months: that the average salary OF teach
ers is not over $3.50 per year and that the
State invests in the work 81. 62O,0 900 year.
To attain satisfactory results from these
schools, TO whose maintenance the state IS
committed and 10 make the annual CXptn-
dituTcs yield adequate return IN education
TO the pubic, an increase is necessary III
the length Of the school term, the number
Of schools, and the compensation OF
teachers. As the Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction SAYS. " TO double the invest
ment Is 10 quadruplc the results; vet
these important improvements would easily
absorb q million of dollars annually OF any
revenue the State might have for educa-
tional purposes. In view of this urgent
claim and the necessity for large appropria-
tlOns 10 sustain the University OF Virginia
and other State institutions already estab
lished for special purposes. can the State
afford TO undertake the costly work Of pro-
yidIng college education which, even in the
rich Commonwealth of the North and
East, where the public-schOol system has
long been fully developed, has been left 10
individual OF denOminatiOnal beneyOlenceY
5. We further submit that these lnstitu-
tions. so hOnUrablv mentioned by Gov
ernor Lee have the confidence OF the pub
lie as furnishing. with unObjectlonable
surroundings, sound and adequate courses
of instruction. and that they are endeared
by their histories. associations, and benc-
factions TO the great body of the people OF
Virginia, to whose affection and support
they owe their existence.
And your memorialIsts ask OF your
honorable body that IN giving direction TO
the educational policy Of the state by
your legislation due consideration be given
10 tHt lbitHbiHE lttlS, anu tuuI III
stitutiOns of such value to the Common
wealth be not destroyed nor impeded 10y
unnecessary competition from institutions
controlled 10y the State and supported by
appropriations from her Treasury. but that
such State institutions be directed so far
as may be practicable. to providing technl-
cal, industrial, or professional training, or
such higher literary and scientific lnstruc-
ton as Shall supplement and not substitute
the work done by your memOrlalistS. And
your memorialiSts will ever pray.
WILLIAM ". SMITH.
President Randolph-Macon College;
b. PURYEAn.
Chairman Of Faculty Richmond College,
}. ID. DREHTR,
President Roanoke College;
RICHARD MclLwATSE.
President Hampden-Sid College;
JANIS ATKINS,
President Emory and Henry College.
What the New York Papers Say.
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