Chapter 46: Virginia

The evolution of education in the new American republic varied among the regions. Virginia, as Elwood Cubberley wrote, fell into the category of pauper and parochial school conditions.¹ In colonial times (excepting Governors Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, George Cabell, and John Tyler), the Commonwealth of Virginia was slow to support free public schools. This was also true of many other southern states. In 1810, under Governor Tyler’s leadership, the Virginia General Assembly established the Virginia Literary Fund to provide public education funding for the poor.² Although the Literary Loan funds were to be used only for public schools, government officials frequently redirected those resources to other purposes. One early diversion helped to establish the University of Virginia.³