Year: 1870

annum.


a uniform system of public free schools
Is TO be organized and put in operation in q
state having IN area of more than 40, 900
square miles and population over 900 900
inhabitants.


The Constitution, i'll prescribing the duties
OF the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion, says: "He shall hnue the general su-
peFttsion of the public free school interests
Of the State, and shall report to the Gene
rol assembly for its consideration, WITHIN
THIRTY DAYS AFTER HIS ELECTION, plan
for uniform system of public free
schools and the Constitution REQUIRES the
General Assembly to provide by law, al its
.rirst session, uniform system of public
free schools. This law, as the Constitution
provides, must impose an annual tax ON
the property of the State of not lees than
ten nor more than fifty cents on each hum
drcd dollars for free school purposes.
IF, then, the law mast he passed at this
session, and this school tax mast be 7eried,
is it not clear that schools should be organ
| lied at the earliest practicable period Be-
sides, there are other considerations, equal
if not more important. why there should be
no delay. Have We not thousands of chill
dren without the means of education whose
school going days will soon have past? The
children of to-day will be men and 'comen
before 1876. Shall we withhold from them
that boon which is above MI price


Again, We arc inviting immigration into
the State. The most desirable immigrants
come from those States of both continents
where liberal provision is made for the
education of all classes end if we would
secure such we must assure them OF the
same valuable privileges.


| Assuming, then, that VIC mean to have
school system worthy of the State, and OF
which we may be proud rather than
ashamed, let us inquire what there is for
the State Superintendent to do, and i'll as
certaining that, we may be able to reach a
solution of the question, What ought to be
his salary =?


First. He is to bc the head of depart
ment in importance second to none in the
State-a position where the public will ex-
poet to find gentleman of education and
culturc--an officer who must combine with
intelligence extra ordinary business capa-
city and indomitable energy-a man of
high moral character, who loves the chill
dren OF tic State, and believes that they
should all be educated. Such is what this
officer should be. VIII the State accept the
labor Of such luan for less than twenty
i've hundred dollars per annum?


Secondly. He is to be member Of the
State Board of Education with the Governor
and AttorneyGencral.


This Board has an important duty to per-
form in the appointment of the county su-
perintendents of public free schools, as pro-
viIed in section of article of the Con-
sttuion.


There will probably &c a hundred county
supcriutendents. Upon the character and
capacity of these officers will depend, to a
very large extent, the success of our school
| system. :,..
If it be possible, the State Superintendent
should see and converse with every county
superintendent before he is appointed. He
should not only have the requisite qualifi-
cations, but he should be generally accept
able to the people of his county, command
ing both their confidence and respect. To
secure such men the State Superintendent
should visit every county in the State, and
actually seek the right man for the place,
and make report Of his observations to the
State Board for its information and gui-
dance i'll making these appointments.
There are many other important reasons
why the State Superintendent should visit
every portion of the State. 1t is desirable
that he should know by personal inspection
something of the condition of education in
each county, and ascertain the ability and
| Willingness of the people to provide by
local taxation the means for building and
equipping school-houses; for We must have
$cio0l-hOuscs and suitable furniture, and
not miserable horelS with backleSs benches.
The presence of the Superintendent among
the people will have the salutary effect Of
removing much of the groundless prejudice
which will exist against the school system !;
and he will thus be enabled to enlist in its
support an army of friends from among
those who would otherwise be enemies.


After the county superintendents shall
have been appointed, the State Superintend-
ent must set himself down to the work Of
orga nization. To enumernte all the items
paper and occupy more time than is now at
my disposal. Among his first duties will
be the preparation of forms and instruc-
tions for taking the census of the children
between the ages of five and twenty-one
years. This may seem to be very simple
matter, yet it is attended with many diff
culties, and requires careful consideration,
otherwise the school fund will not be equi-
tahly distributed, as required by the Con-
stitution.


Blank forms for the transaction Of all
the business, and for the reports from
teachers and school officers, should lie pre-
pared by the State Superintendent, in order
to secure uniform and faithful admins
traton of the law and the accurate collec-
ton of school statistics. He should also
prepare and issue plans for school houses
and furniture, and devise ways and means
for securing well-qualifed teachers and for
the introduction Of the best modes Of teach
ing.


As the funds for the support of schools
will for years be less than the demand, he
| must give his attention to the various
sources from which school revenue may be
derived, and be always prepared to make
| malicious recommendations to the General
Assembly on the subject. The prepare
ton of his annual report will be work OF
much labor, but essentially necessary.
The Office of the Superintendent must be
in the city of Richmond he should be pro-
vided with suitable rooms, where he may
collect valuable school documents and edu-
cational works, school furniture and appa.,,
ratus, which may be inspected by all
school officers and teachers who may visit
his Office. Having shown the Importance
| Of this position, and somewhat of the labor
which the incumbent must perform, l sub
init to the General Assembly of Virginia,
as we'll as to the people of the State, whether
his salary should not be at least twenty
| vehundred dollars per annum.


This article is not written in the interest