Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-13
SCHOOL CONFERENCE.
THE THIRD DArs SESSION.

1Ak 181A0 0A< ~
sspsriussuSesss SPEAK v me 6easrai Assem-
bsy spa V Cs.srsss- Resolutions asd A.
Sresses-L Lsss Nishs's Preessdssss
The Conference met at 10 O'Clock
and was called to order BY President
Farr.
Prayer by Rev. J. B. Bristow.
RESOLUTIONS.
The Committee on Resolutions re-
ported the following:
Whereas the funds available for the
payment Of teachers are not sufficient,
and delay in receiving warrants Tor the
Crandstaif fund results from having TO
wait until the entire tax is ascertained
therefore,
/, ResoIred. That this Conference
earnestly desires that the next General
Assembly Of Virginia shall set apart a
larger percentage Of the State tax for
the support Of public schools, and that
the present law may be so amended as
to require the Auditor to issue his war
rants not later than lst Of October each
year for an amount not less than 70
cents per head Of school population.
2. That the Superintendent Of Public
instruction is hereby requested to CON-
municate to both houses Of the next
Legislature q copy Of these resolutions.
A lengthy discussion was provoked
by these resolutions.
Mr.. Weaver moved to amend by re-
questing the Legislature to require the
Auditor to make the apportionment
under the Grandstaff act due the schools
by the lst of October of each year,
and If the books are not ready by that
time that the Auditor use the old books
of the year before as q basis Of appor-
tionment, and that no county shall re-
ceivs the Auditors warrant whose
commissioner books have not been re-
ceiyed.
After a great deal of talk the entire
matter was recommitted to the commit
tee.
The following was also presented:
Whereas in the opinion Of this Con-
ference it would add greatly to the eff
cheney of the district boards Of trus-
tees to make the Office Of trustee paid
office, therefore we urgently recommend
to the General Assembly next to con-
yene the passage Of law allowing
trustees a reasonable per dien, for time
employed.
In trying to pass the resolution il
was ascertained that quorum was not
present.
Messengers went out to look up alb
sentees. and finally a quorum was OBJ
tanned and the recommendation to the
Legislature was adopted.
Rev. DIR. Dame offered the following,
which was referred:
"We respectfully ask the Legislature
at its next session to amend the laws in
reference to schools so that when the
regular appeal court-the Board of Edu-
cation--shall have given their decision
in any case, an appeal can only be to the
Court of Appeals, and the inferior courts
shall have no jurisdiction in the matter.
THE BLAIR BILL.
On motion of Mr.. Funkhouser, the
rules were suspended, and he intro
duced resolution memorializing the
Congress Of the United States to pass
the Blair educational bill. He asked
that every member present sign the me-
mortal.
Ex-Judge Stevens did not think this
necessary. He thought to pass The reso-
luton and get the signatures Of the Off
GERS of the Conference to it was all that
was needed.
Mr.. Funkhouser opposed this, but
the amendment prevailed, and the Con-
ference adopted the resolution, not be-
fore the Superintendent Of Public In
struction had been asked to affix the
names Of the members Of the Confer
ence along with those of the officers
Of the Conference.
NO FLOGGING.
Mr.. Franklin offered a resolution
which restricted corporeal punishment
of pupils as far as practicable, and re-
quiring teachers to make regular month
ly reports of fiogging exercises. This
resolution was referred to a committee.
REGULAR BUSINESS.
At | O'Clock Mr.. Slaughter adj
dressed the Conference on the powers
and Duties Of Superintendent with
Reference to the Proper Administration
of the School Laws of the State" He
was followed by Professor Painter, who
lectured on ''Some Educational Ten
denotes of the Present"
The Conference adjourned until 8
O'Clock.
Might Session.
The Conference met at o'clock,
President Farr in the chair, who an
nounced that Colonel W. Giddings, su-
perintcndent Of Loudoun county, would
talk about the duties of school trustees.
Colonel Giddings said he was like
Quaker, and could not do his best un-
less the spirit moved him. - The
schoolmaster was abroad in the land"
and the superintendents, like the cngi-
reer Of locomotive, ought to have
their hands on the throttle-yalve
and their eyes ahead. They were
responsible to the State Superin-
tendent, who was a strict overseer, and
they ought to hold the schoolmaster to
strict responsibility. Trustees ac-
cepted the Office knowing there was no
pay attached, and they therefore ought
TO do their duty regardless Of pay. He
favored paying the trustees, and then
the Superintendent could hold them to
stricter account. He read the law de-
filming the duties Of school trustees, and
said that in most cases in his county the
duties required were attended to. In
reference to school-attendance, the peo-
pie did not appreciate the blessings Of
free schools because they cost so little.
A large class only sent children to
school when they had nowhere else to
send them.
Colonel Giddings's time (ten minutes)
having expired, it was moved that it be
extended, and the Colonel, continuing,
said 81 thought, not being under the
influence of the spirits, | could not hold
out fre minutes, but, like an old spav-
ined horse, l have sort o. warmed up
a. H. ~.oo ~ NoIoo.l C,JI,o,e Al .,ot