Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-14
About the Public schools.
SHENANDOAH COUNTY, VA,
January IL, 1856.
D the Editor offhe Disnafch

To tie Editor Of the Dispatch:
Having seen several communication:
in your paper in reference to free book:
for free schools, and the practicability
of it, take the liberty to express my
views on the subject, if you will allow
me the space, and to make few sug-
gestions for the consideration of the
Legislature.
One Of your correspondents says it
will cost the State over 800, t0 to
furnish the schools with books, and an.
other over a million. We know that
during the last gubernatorial canvass
free books for the public free
schools" was the popular cry with
both parties ; but | was Of the opinion
then, and am now, that it was a mere
electioneering scheme, resorted to by
both parties to allure the masses and
unwary, without the intention of
making good the promise or else the
conventions failed to give that plank in
their platform due consideration. And
my reasons for thinking so are these ::
First, know the people are opposed to
the increase of taxes on any account.
And secondly, know the promise
could not be made good without the
increase of taxation, for no one, | i'm
agine, is so ignorant as to think the
State could furnish the books gratis,
costing such an amount as hereinbefore
stated. And in order to get out OF the
dilemma and satisfy the people the best
thing, think, to be done is to prolong
the school term in the country. hear
it asked on every hand in the country
by the party turned out, Are the free
schools going to run as long as they
did last year: And when told that
they will, they say they don't believe
it. So being Democrat, and DESTROYS
Of the welfare of our party at all times,
| wish to see the charge proven false,
and the schools in the country to run
not only as long as they did last year,
but much longer, particularly in the
counties where they run only three,
four, and five months during the term.
This, | am sure, would give entire sat
isiactiOn, and would cost less than
furnishing books, especially if the sala-
ries of the superintendent be curtailcd,
and the amount curtailed be applied to
running the schools for longer term.
In fact, am at loss to know why the
duties Of the superintendent could not
be performed by the treasurers OF the
counties and cities, who are already paid
officials. The teachers pay has to
come through the treasurer, on war
rant issued by the clerk Of the tia-tees
Of the District School Board, and the
said clerk has better opportunity to
know whether the teacher has done his
duty, and made the average required by
law, than the superintendent ever can
have so why not let the trustees get
some pay for their work? They GER
tainly deserve it. claim that by do
ing away with the office of superinten-
dent altogether, or curtailing his salary,
and applying said amount to extending
the term Of the schools and paying the
trustees, that the schools could be made
much more efficient and beneficial.
And, again, | would suggest that a
change be made in the unjust school
law, which fails TO discriminate in the
average required to be made monthly |
in every section Of the State. For in
stance, east Of the Ridge the farm-hands |
are mostly colored, and, therefore, the |
average at school can be better kept up; |
while in the Valley the farm-handS are
all white, with few exceptions, and pa
rents are obliged to take their children
from school for farm help. And thus
great injustice is done both to teacher
and pupils, for the teacher makes great
ly over the average during the winter
but fails to make the average |
frequently in the spring months; yet he
gets no pay for making over the average,
and none if he fails in making the aver
age. The present school-law in refer
ence to books being furnished INDECENT
think, is all-suilicient. 1t
is not books the children want, it is
more schooling. All the books IN the
world will do little or no good to the
unless they have time allowed
them to be instructed therein. So /
say by all means lengthen the school
term. j. j. 5.