The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 392
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
It gives the impression that Kuykendall considered his actions to
be quite natural and ordinary under the circumstances.'7 Whether
his action was really as commonplace as he implied is highly con-
jectural. But it does appear that it was not unusual for Austin
to aid poor pupils to get an education. During the same month,
T. J. Pilgrim, a prominent schoolmaster of San Felipe, submitted
a bill to Austin for the tuitions of two students: one for a period
of over nine months at $2.50 a month and the other for a period of
three months at $3.00 a month."' The bill was submitted without
any written comment. Hence there is no means of knowing just
how common was this practice.
Despite passing years, Austin's interest in education remained
undiminished. Lucas Alaman, the visiting inspector of the Mex-
ican government, in a letter to Austin in August, 1830, suggested
that there be an extension of education in Spanish among the
American colonists."' In his reply Austin stated that he had
long desired to see a college established in Texas, giving in-
struction in both English and Spanish. But the state would
have to pass certain legislation for this and allot money and
land grants, Austin added. There was little hope of obtaining
these, but he would, in any event, attempt to introduce such
a project during his coming two-year term as deputy. In ad-
dition, Austin suggested that should Texas separate from
Coahuila, the fees due the state for land sold to the colonists
be appropriated for the establishment and endowment of such
an institution.20
Austin appears to have endeavored to carry out his promise to
Alaman. In an essay written during his term as deputy, Austin
declared public education to be one of the means of overcoming
the backwardness of Mexico and pointed to the United States
as an example.21 Next, he went so far as to draw up an elaborate
plan for the establishment of an Institute of Modern Languages
at San Felipe. It was to be supported by a state land endowment
of eleven sitios plus voluntary contributions from private in-
dividuals. The institution was to be governed by eleven men,
six of whom would be selected from a list of twelve proposed
'7R. Kuykendall to Austin, December, 1829. Ibid., II, 296.
1sT. J. Pilgrim to Austin, December 11, 1829. Ibid., II, 300.
xaAlaman to Austin, August 25, 1830. Ibid., II, 473.
20Austin to Alaman, September 20, 1830. Ibid., II, 494-496.
21Austin to ?, April 30, 1831. Ibid., II, 657-658.392
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945, periodical, 1945; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146055/m1/436/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.