506
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
No. 1157
1839 Mar. 29, S. WHITCOMB TO [M. B. LAMAR]
Springfield, Vermont, 29 March 1839.
'I'o His Excellency
President Lamlir. Sir. I, 'several months since, addressed a communication to a friend at ·washington City, inquiring what provision was made in Texas for the support or establishment of primary public schools- & offering to visit that Republic with a view to aid in establishing such Institutions. Not having obtained, such information :as I then sought- & noticing in a newspaper that the subject had recently occupied the attention of a Committee ,of your Legislature- I have resolved to address some one connected with the Government there- with a view to this important enterprise. The establishment of '' Common Schools'' as we call ,our public Free Seminaries in New England- for young children generally- in every settlement;- the construction of suitable Buildings for them, the supply of Teache,rs; male & Female, & of the Books &c which might not be readily procurable- would 0onstitute · the objects of my efforts! To do this- thoroughly- I would propose the following plan of operations. But before proceeding-I have to mention-that we are to hold an American National Common School Convention, in Philadelphia- next November; at which I look for Delegates from all parts of the Union; & I wish to be present for the purpos_e of obtaining all possi- ble information of the best methods of fostruction, government . &c &c. I doubt not that a Delegation from Texas would be wel- comed by all who might belong to the Convention. From there I could proceed to your Country & engage immediately in the work proposed. . My plan would be to visit personally all such places as might be deemed worthy of earliest attention; To converse with & Lecture to the Inhabitants on the whole subject; and to aid them in com- mencing their neighborhood Schools. ·wherever Teachers could be procured among themselves- I should recomm~nd their employ- ment; 'but when they could not be thus procured- I would aid in obtaining them [from] these States, or Europe. lHy plan would contemplate [the] employment of Young Ladies as the Teachers of all children under ten years- unless in cases of peculiar precocity- or difficulty of government. I should also labour to economise the expence of these Schools as much as practicable. The moral, social & Domestic virtues- unconnected with any sectarion or party Creed-would be aimed at sacredly. It would be my object only to contribute such suggestions & efforts as would be found useful in · establishing these Schools- & putting them under the direction of the Citizens whose children they we,re designed to benefit;- & there to leave them. In doing this I should apply all the Experience of twenty five years citizenship in these States-to the .best attainable results. I am extensively acquainted with the New En~land School
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