The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-20
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL QUESTION.

nation with which tho public has been
recently placed IL possession of through
the vigilant efforts of Tie TIMES and by
means of interviews recently had with
Rush L. Derr, Esq, superintendent Of
public schools OF this city. Tbcso mat
tiers disclose 4 most as tonishing letharpy
on the part OF Roanoke's officials in ed
vocational matters.
1t has always boon q matter Of sur
prise to me and to many who have lived
i'll other cities why the superintendent
of public schools did not give his per-
sonal attention to improving the sys-
TEN hero and to close conformity with
the school laws: some were inclined to
the opinion that the superintendent
himself was unprogressivo and careless
in those important matters, and had he
not spoken SO clearly to your reporter in
tho recent interview L am persuaded
that the general public would have at.
tached all the blamo TO him for every
degree of inetliciency in the system and
the methods of education here.
When it is taken into consideration
that about one half, if not til roe fourths
of tho citizens OF Roanoke arc people
accustomed TO large cities and good edu-
cational inStitu tions, slim ulated by tho
strictest disciplinary system. it will oc.
caSion no surprise that they should feel
nit to q system Of schools-or a group
OF schools without system in which
there can be found no official head nor
responsible guidance. Some arc able to
dispense with them altoge ther but
many must endure it or do without en-
tirely. Those who are able to do SO
can patronizc private schools, but why
should this be when the public school
tax must be paid, and tho people must
bear the burden whether tho system is
good, bad or Indifferent, or no system
at ali?
AS has been we'll and truly said by
the uperintendent-wh should not
Roanoke have as perfect system as any
other city Of its size? There should
certainly DO some way Of reaching some
responsible head of tho schools with
complaints, req uestS or for information;
there should be some way to advise the
teachers and devise the work. In St.
Louis, Mo-, S., 600 year is paid to one
gentleman to devise methods of instruc-
ton alone. In the State OF New York
they pay good salary to the superin-
tcndent and employ supervisor at
800 year to aid him. am informed
| that this is done in some of the larger
cities in Virginia. Roanoke is the only
city in the State. and probably in the
United States, which allows its schools
to run along as best they can without
su perintendence, except so far as is
rendered gratuitously by the gentleman
who holds that position under appoint
ment from the State.
1t does seem to me that the city of
Roanoke should be willing to pay for
| the most i'm portant service to the pu bic
which is rendered, and not ask that it
be done gratuitously or dispensed with.
The superintendent of public schools of
q city should be or of the first positions
to be provided by city and most care
fully maintained. Education is too i'm
portant TO be allowed to grope its own
way without aid or intellectual direc-
ton, and it is silly to talk of an econ
envy which begins to contract when
educational matters are approached and
relaxes literally toward other less i'm
pOroant matters.
am informed that Roanoke is fortu-
nate in having Il man Of culture and pc.
culiar fitness as superintendent, who is
a practical educator and a good organ.
lZAr and that the on Y reason why he
does not devote his whole efforts 70 the
work is because he cannot afford to dc
so without compensation What sor,
OF mar does the city expect to en- ploy
for nothing? Most men who would be
worth having would expect compensa
| Gloh III pEopOt ZION IO tno ScrVlCeS.
1t seems TO mo that it is time that
some attention should be given to this
matter and suitable salary provided
for the superintcnde and his whole
time employed. I believe this is the
sentiment Of nine tonths of the patrons
of tho schools. If there is any opposi
ton to public schools it should not as
sumo the garb of friendliness to stall
them, but como out openly and oppose
them. Do not cripple them with a lack
of executive direction and financial aid
but let the opposition 90 clear. frank
and free, and the public will then meet
such opposition in tho same spirit.
We want schools-we want good
schools-and we want we'll governed
schools. We desire to have them con
Quoted on business principles, and we
do not believe any business man would
allow his affairs to float along without
an official head. JUNIUs.
The limited a,