The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 235
319 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar
sion of Congress took steps to remedy this defect. On February
5, 1840, an act was approved "to provide for securing the lands
formerly appropriated for the purposes of Education." The Chief
Justice and the two Associate Justices in each county were desig-
nated as school commissioners. They were instructed to locate the
three leagues provided for under the Act of January 26, 1839, as
early as possible, and to cause to be surveyed and sold an addi-
tional league for the purchase of scientific equipment, one-half
of the proceeds to be used for the benefit of an academy in each
county, and the remainder distributed equally among the common
school districts. The commissioners were to establish schools, and
examine applicants for positions as to good moral character and
literary qualifications. They were not to grant certificates to
teach in academies unless the candidates gave satisfactory evi-
dence of good moral character, and were graduates of some col-
lege or university; for common schools the applicants should be
of good moral character, and be able to teach reading, writing,
English grammar, arithmetic, and geography.48
It should be said that the generosity indicated by these acts was
more apparent than real. The settlers in Texas were few and
land was abundant. Besides, the frontiers were surrounded by
hostile Indians, who interfered with the survey of the lands. This
situation, and the lack of specie, led to a delay in securing the
lands appropriated, and it is probable that only a small quantity
had been actually taken up by the counties entitled to it when
the Republic came to an end. The acts are important, however,
as furnishing the foundation for the educational system subse-
quently established.
Another interesting suggestion, which seems to have received
no attention, is found in Lamar's second annual message, Novem-
ber 12, 1839, when he advocates the creation of the "Home De-
partment." This was to have supervision of a system of educa-
tion suited to the condition and policy of the country. "Congress
at its last session," he said,
in accordance with a wise, liberal, and enlightened policy, made
large appropriations of land for the endowment of colleges,
academies, and primary schools. But the appropriations, though
liberal, will require the utmost care and management and applica-
S albid., 320-322.235
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920, periodical, 1920; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101075/m1/241/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.