Year: 1870

snnum-payable in advance


Letter Of Governor Walker OH the


Public School System.


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA


EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS.


RICHMOND, September %, 1870.


Theodorick B. McRobert, Esq. Prince Edward


G. H., Va:


DEAR S1R-Y our letter Of enquiry as to wha t
progress has been made towards the Inaugural
tion of the public free school system provided
for by the Constitutions and my own views up
on the subject, has been, received and | hasten
to reply. At the outset, permit mel to express
my qualification at the deep interest you have
taken and are taking IN this important subject.
Ii subject worthy Of the profound consid
Grafton of the statesman and the patriot, and
should enlist the anxious soIieitude and earn
est efforts of every lover of his country, his
State and his kind. | have always been an
earnest advocate of free education. [ repeat
edly so declared myself in the gubernatoria
canvass of last year, and every act and utter
arce OF mine since then has been iu harmony
Herewith. In my Inaugural address to the
cared "iree education tor al' to be one Of
"the chief tenets of my political faith" Again
in a message transmitted to the Legislature on
the Sth day of March last, in urging tho pro-
priety of appropriating portion of the pro-
ceeds to be derived from the sale of the Con-
gressionaI land scrip to the endowment of u
college or university for the education of our
colored people, used the following language,
viz; THE benefits to these people and to the
State which would flow from the success full
establishment of college of this character are
incaIcu!abe. have not now the time, and it
is not my purpose, to ampliiy them, nor is it
necessary. They are self evident. am an
earnest advocate Of universal and free educa
ton. The colored ope OF our
State are, equally with the white, clothed with
the elective franchise. In order that they may
iutelligently exercise that right the opportunity
ton must be, afforded them. = While
they are entitled under our constitution to an
equal participation 10 the benefits CT free
common school system, [ would extend to
them inducements and incentives to advance
ment in mental and moral development by the
establishment OF College or University, as
above suggested, wherein shall be taught all
the higher branches of useful knowledge"


These views we're deliberately formed and ex
pressed and are still entertained. | am pro-
toundly convinced that our political, social aud
moral we'll being ss people absolutely de-
mands the Introduction and maintenance of a
thorough and comprehensive system ct Tree
schools. The safety Of the Republic depends
upon the virtue and intelligence ofthe people.


The Legislature fully approaching the wants
and necessities of the people, and mindful of
its sworn obligation to obey the mandates OF
the constitution within the time limited by that
instrument, elected Superintendent OF Public
Instruction. That of6cer,a lifelong friend aud
enthusiastic advocate OF Tree education, lmmc
dately qualified, and within the time prescrib:
ed by the constitution, prepared AID submitted
to the Legislature. a we'll digested plan for the
organization of schools throughout the State.
That plan was discussed and further matured
by the Legislature, and as soon as other imme-
dately pressing and vltally important ]eglsla.
ton for the organization and maintenance of
the State government was disposed of, was
passed by over two. third vote, and, with the
approval Of the Governor. became law. 1t Is
not claimed that this law is absolutely perfect.
What human law is? 1t does not in all re-
speots accord with my own views. That it Is.
however, one of the most comprehensive and
practical free-school lawsi ip existence cannot be
seriously controverted


Soon alter the enactment OF this law, the
Board of Education, consisting OF the Cover
nor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and
Attorney Genera, met, organized and adopted
measures for the immediate Inauguration OF
tho school system. The first thing to be done
was the appointment OF county superlnten-
dents. When you take into consideration the
number OF these superintendents, the necessity
OF carefully scruotiniziug the character, educa-
ton, experience and fitness OF each candidate;
when you reflect upon the Importance OF haV-
ing the right men 10 the right place, 10 o.
der to successfully inaugurate the system, you
will readily comprehend that the Board of Ed
ueation had no easy task before it, and one 10
the performance of which, great haste would
he exceedingly dangerous And yet, within
twenty days, after the passage of the law, a
number OF suporintendents were appointed,
and now nearly the entire number have been
selected and commissioned. The superinten-
dents appointed have been instructed to pro-
ceed at once to the organization of their coun
ties into school districts, and to the recommen.
dation OF suitable persons for trustees. In
several counties trustees have already been ap.
pointed, and school houses leased or purchased
in which schools will be 10 full operation in
few weeks. To provide for the organization,
support and maintenance of schools the Legis-
lature incorporated into the tax bill provision
tor the levy and collection OF the school taxes
authorized by the Constitution. In fact every
thing authorized by the Constitution has been
done, at the earliest moment practicable tor
the early, complete and thorough introductlop
OF schools throughout the State.


feel confident that, within twelve months
from the inauguration of civil government in
tho State, you will witness the school system in
successful operation in every county in the
State, and that another year will suffice for its
extension and perfection, so that every child 10
the Commonwealth will be afforded the oppor
tunity OF q free common school education. Is
there an instance on record in any State of
the accomplishment OF SO much in so brief a
period ? | affirm, without the fear of success
iul contradiction, that it is unparalleled. Why,
the convention which framed the Constitution
had no conception Of such rapid work, for it
allowed seven years for the full introduction
into all the counties Of the State of the school
system.


Ibave thus, my dear sir, in al brief man


o.oJ and