Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-03-28
The Meeting Of Augusta County
Teachers.
THE JUST GRIEVANCES OF THE SAVER
AGE" RULE.


ert j Dyche Esq, the Secretary, for the
| following report of the Teachers Meeting
held at the office of County Superinten-
dent of Public Schools in Stanton. on
Saturday, March 18th, Rev. A. Hoover
was elected permanent President, and
Robt. j. Dyche elected Secretary.
Mr.. Hoover thanked the teachers for
the honor conferred up him, and explained
the object of the convention.
Mr.. Jordan-Mr. President, have a
set of resolutions to present, which | SUBJ
NIT to this body for approval. and Sir,
with your permission will read them:
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas. The present school law of
| Virginia by its enforced average effects
J nothing, except to close the school houses
| or turn them into nurseries for children
under school age, or defraud the teacher
of his just wages and put upon him bur
dens grlevous to bear; and whereas time
and experience have fully developed the
| fact that C ,mpulsnry average without
| compulsory attendance is not simply an
| absurdlty but gross and ralpable out
rage upon the teacher. holding him, and
| him only responsible for that which he
can neither remedy nor help; and whereas
the evidence is abundant for believing
that ''enforced average" is but another
name for "death" to the public free
schools of Virginia; and whereas, by sub
jecting the teacher to frequent eXamina-
tions, nothing is effected except to humil-
late him and put upon him an indignity
which is put upon the followers of no pro-
fessiOn and which serves no purpose eX-
cept to drive every one out OF the profess
sion that can get out. BE it
ResolUed, LIST, That we, the teachers of
Augusta county in convention assembled,
do hereby pray the Board of Education of
the State OF Virginia. to cause to be strick-
en- from the school law or regulations that
part of the law or that regulation, where
in the teachers salary is made to depend
upon the average daily attendance of his
school, that the school law be so amended
as to read-That when the contract be
made between the teacher and the DIS
trict Board. that the teacher be contrac-
ted with to teach the school without any
reference whatever to the subject OF aver
age that will inure to the detriment CT the
teacher.
Resotued End, That inasmuch as the fol-
lowers of no profession. nor any OF the
public servants of the State, except the
puolic free school teachers. are required
to be vexpd and harassed by constantly
recurring examinations; and inasmuch as
leading educators and State Superinten-
dents in other States discountem 4nce the
practice and pronounce it needless, and IN
stead of giving expansion to the broad
field OF literature, works contracelon; ano
nasmuch as it needlessly SUM cts the
public school teachers to infinite amount
of trouble. v-xaliou and expense from
which there seems to b. no relief, we FUR
Their pray The Board of Education of the
State of Virginia that it cause the school
law to read: That where any teacher has
passed satisfactory examination. and
has furnished satisfactory evidence OF
capacity and general fin ess reaching an
| average ef at least90 per cent. upon ques-
tiOps submitted upon examination, that
he be furnished a commission to teach IN
the public free schools of the State which
shall stand in full force so long as no just
reasons appear why it should be revoked.
The above resolutions were adopted
unanimously.
COUNTY sUPERINTENDENTs OUGHT TO
BE TEACHERS.
Mr.. Booker-Mr. Chairman.-I think
it only just, while we are discussing school
laws. that teachers should have choice or
at least voice in the selection of county
superintendent. This, sir, is the first
time that we have bad practical teacher
to Gil this position and I think that the
Superintendent should always be selected
from among the ranks Why sir we
should be laughed at if we proposed to
make blacksmith medical examiner, or
took carpenter to issue license to our
~ To- bot Wo Job
but justice and let us demand it.
THE HINDERANCEs TO PROMPT PAY.
Mr.. Jordan.-1 agree with the gentle
men, but do not let US attempt too much
at ones, there is time sufficient for that,
for we may like Davy Crockett says:
"Bite off more than we can chaw." Let
US confine ourselves to the immediate
pressure The Red Tape business of school
warrants. I cannot understand why he
teachers hard earned money is so hedged
about by officers. The amount is too small
to steal; still, he is compelled to send his
report to the County Superintendent and
he gives the teacher a receipt which the
teacher takes to the Clerk of the Board,
said clerk then gives the teacher warrant
on the County Superintendent. who gives
the teacher another warrant on the Coun-
ty Treasurer. who gives you check on
the bank, and by the time the teacher gets
his money be has earned it a second time.
INCREASE OF PAY.
Mr.. Farrier Il wish to ask if the School
1ovu hr iob
teacher gets his pay. Referred to COM
mttee to ascertain 1 also advocate an
increase Of salary; the present one is in
sufficient.
THE WASHINGTON RAINBOW.
Mr.. Jordan.-I don't know what can be
done about that, unless Congress appropri-
ates for this purpose and it is said it will.
according to the illiteracy of each State.
Mr.. Hoover.-Virginia g teachers will
then be blessed, in fact, get rich.
Mr.. r. Dyche.-It is indeed true that
! we are poorly paid, but I. for one am will
ing to earn every dollar receive from the
school fund of Virginia. Teachers are
supposed to be, by patrons, the most lazy
class in existence, and said patrons. think
that any one Can teach school who is lazy
enough, it would BIZ a most unheard of
piece of effrontery to increase their pay.
How shall we do then 7 Let the sessions
be extended to ten months, paying US the
same salary per month that we now re-
ceive. Show them that we are willing to
try to earn it if they consider teaching
earning it.
Mr.. Jordan.-I know teacher who re-
| ceives the munifceDt sum of $14 90 per
month, simply because she cannot keep up
her average. She pays $1,000 per month