The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-08
A Word for DIR. Ruffner and the Pub.
lie Schools.
OFFICE OF SUPT. PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
N Sn1-rII SLpTaN 20 VA

FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPION w., "a, Z
March 5, 1879.
To the Editors of the Dispatch: In your
repor. of Fridays proceedings of the SEN
ate notice that John L. Hurt, Esq, sena-
tor from Pittsylvana, charges Hon. W. Il.
Ruffner with refusing appointments to
teachers fully competent because they are
not subscribers 10 the Educational Journal,
and in MONDAYS proceedings the charge is
repeated "tDat DR.. Ruf1ner required his
superintendents to insist that pubic-school
teachers should be subscribers to the Edu-
cdtiOnql Journal, or should not hold posi-
tions as teachers.'
Now, have had the honor to hold the
position OF County Superintendent OF
Schools from the inception OF the public
school system in Virginia to the present
time, and deem it an act OF justice to the
Superintendent of Public instruction 70
state that no such instructions rs those re-
ferred to by Mr.. Hurt were ever received
by me.
I further notice in your Fridays proceed
ings that the honorable Senator from South
ampton charges ga number of county SUI
perintendents with sending out an impor-
tant paper ouerruting the opinion of the
Court Of Appeals" and that "this impor-
tant work, and other labors OF similar
character, was about all they do to entitle
them to be well.paid." This. indeed, would
he "important work." for if these much
abused officers possessed half the influence
and power which the Senator fears they
have they are Justly entitled "to be well
paid" I can't divine what this "important
work" is to which the Senator ailudes,
unless it be the resolutions Of various coun-
ty school boards last summer condemning
the manner in which the school funds had
been msapplied and appealing to the Gen.
eral Assembly for some relief.
Gle then went on to say that the machin-
cry OF the schools requires more oling than
all the balance Of the Government"
Presenting that the honorable Senator is
better acquainted with the school affairs Of
his own county than any other, and that his
remarks were intended as reflection, in
part, upon my official course, / desire as an
act of Justice to myself to state that the
gentleman hes never attended meeting Of
any school board, nor has he ever visited a
public school in his county, notwithstand-
ing the fact that school has been in opera.
ton for several years within quarter-mile
Of his home, and that school, too, taught by
one Of his nearest relatives. He has never
even been in my Office to seek any informa-
ton from me concerning the working Of
the school system. We have held public
school meetings and teachers institutes,
and am vet to learn OF his having ever put
in an appearance at any Of them. How,
then, he possesses so much information
concerning the school system ] am at loss
to understands; but the strangest part OF it
yet is that be has never in all his reflections
OF wisdom proposed any plan for an i'm
provement OF the system except the reduc-
ton Of the county superintendenps salary.
This was his maiden effort in the early
days OF his senatorial career, and he now
again. in the very expiring hours of his
service, erasps at it with renewed vgor.
Oh! il he fails in this, where is his re-
cord?
May be, in his wisdom, devise some
means whereby the constantly-escapipg oil
may be constitutionally applied to the school
machinery. Very truly yours,
j. i. BRYANT. =