Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-07
mittee of school superintendent now in

tNFtiin III AiilN WY
Whereas the committee of school SUI
perintendents have given great atten-
ton to the subject OF teachers salaries as
dependent on school average and where
as the laws and regulations that are now
in full force for the relief of school
teachers-to instance, factious spirit,
contagious diseases, enforcement OF
school discipline, lack of proper text
books-nre ample : therefore be 1t
Rcs0jrcd, J, That We recommend that
the State Board of Education issue cir
culnr addressed to teachers containing all
the laws and regulations that are intend
ed for the relief OF school-teachers, and
that the same be sent to the county SUI
perintendents for distribution.
.. That when the teachers report the
facts under section OF these resolutions
the county superintendent Of schools
shall have sole power to decide the cases
so reported, except in cases of factious
spirit and in that case the supcrinten-
dent or teacher shall report the fact TO
the district board and the district board
shall make a recommendation about such
case to the county superintendent for
final decision.
3. That il is the sense OF the commit
tee that the teachers should be paid. and
that the laws and regulations are not in
tended to work hardship TO the teachers,
but TO secure faithiulness and efficiency
on tie part OF teachers and 10 prevent the
multiplication of small schools, thereby
inviting useless expenditures of the pub
lie money.
THE MEASURE ATTACKED.
Mr.. Moore attacked the bill in n Wig
orous speech. He said as early as 1870
under the law authorizing fine State
School Board to make regulations in re-
gard 10 average attendance and other de-
tails Of school work there was a rcgula-
tion made requiring an average attend
ance of 20. This rule has worked well,
and the enrolment has been increased
I - per cent. and the cost Of education
Der capita has been decreased II per
cent.
The school authorities have expressed
no disQpproval OF the existing condition,
Or. Rutlner recommended no change,
Mr. Forr recommended no change. and
DR.. Buchanan, the present efficient SUI
permtendcnt. is understood to be OPP
posed to a change.
IN 1872 the county superintendent
were asked their opinion, and more than
+ ~ ont Of 10j s,gniied their opposi-
ton to any change. At this time the
representative committee of school SUI
perintcndents recently in session here
in a very formal way signilied their OPP
+ position TO any change.
These people know more about this
subject than we possibly can, and there
/ fore why not leave it to them, for the
present law gives them such discretion
/ that they can reduce the average if they
see the necessity Of doing so? In fact
they in conjunction with the Legislature
have made the regulation so flexible that
it requires not a monthly but n session
average. and if the local authorities as
certain that the failure to make the
average is due not to the teachers ineiii-
cheney hut TO existing disease or fac
tious opposition, or many other causes,
/ the school in question IS excepted
from the operation Of the rule.
/ The regulation serves the very
good purpose of securing competent
and efficient teachers, and to bring them
into hearty accord with the patrons.
Abolish the regulation and you may
have the experience OF sister States and
lower the standard of efficiency aud
multiply your schools unnecessarily.
Certainly there is no lack Of pupils to
fill our school-houses, since the school
population is not less than 100000 and
the children actually attending number
less than 100000.
We should legislate not altogether
in the interest of the teachers, but
in the interest Of the school sys
tem considered as a whole, and with a
view 10 bring children into the schools
and educate them properly.
Mr. Moore spoke at length, and this is
but a brief outline Of his argument
Mr.. Berry thought it advisable to post
pone the further consideration OF the
subject for a day or two. as something
might be determined upon that would
simplify the subject
Mr.. Stubs opposed any further delay.
He did not think the bill would be bene-
fitted by this course.