The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-16


Rush U. Derr, general superintendent
OF the public schools of this city, in an
interview with TINES reporter yester.
day morning. said that the schools thus
far have not prepared for a quarterly
examination on account Of the failure of
the Council to provide for city superin-
tendence and supervision. 1t is impos
siole for the work to be kept up or
thorough system to be maintained with
out such.
This is subject OF much solicitude
to me, p" said Mr.. Derr, "as / have tried
to forco the schools along under many
difficulties toward perfecting a system,
and am sorry to say that thus far
have received no cooperation from the
Council 1 think this is because thew
do not understand the necessities of the
situation.
III the City Council would appoint a
committee and thoroughly acquaint
themselves in regard to these matters 7
am satisfied that better system would
be tho result.
81 have already devoted great deal
OF time gratuitously to the IL after, and
hope that the time is not far distant
when all OF the people will sec tho
necessity for this thoroughDess of system
for which have made every effort.
II am con ident that when the Coun-
Gil fully realize the matter that neces-
sarY aid will be given. Meanwhile the
schools must suffer. At present we
have very good system OF laws, but
n No
OF suspension, enforcement of discipline
and truancy is becoming daily greater
menace to the whole system. and unless
promptly dealt with will completely
destroy the public school system of the
city. This has been the chief trouble
with perfecting the school system OF
Indiana and Massachusetts. refor.
encc to their school records will!
show that they claim that their
greatest danger lay in the
enforcement Of discipline and proven
ton of truancy. Therefore they pro.
vided against this law before they found
it necessary to provide for tho efficiency
OF a course of study. kentucky and
Mississippi also and all other States
show similar state of affairs.
81 have numberless complaints from
parents, which have tried to remedy
by the best means at my disposal, but
witho ut the cooperation of parents, or
the City Council am helpless to main
tain such a standard as Roanoke should
assume, and as would be creditable and
beneficial to her people. 1 have been
very much in hopes that the high school
recently established would stimulate
more pride and interest in this ma tier,
and would cause proper provision to be
made for suitable supervision of the
schools.
There is now $1,000 a year paid out
for public school purposes in the city;
100000 voted by the people, and eighty
five thousand dollars worth of school
property, which no doubt will be in
creased to 100000 by another ear, and
it seems to mo strange economic fea.
ture that would dictate the propriety of
public policy, requiring direct official
responsibility for the control and execu-
ton of efficient laws whereby to derive
the best advantage from these sums of
money. My feeling of responsibility to
the State and the necessities Of this
work have prompted me to give great
deal more time and attention to tho
matter than my time and means would
permit,yet realize that not ono half of
tho attention needed is given to them,
which the interest Of the system, the
reputation of Roanoke and the people
and the tax payers generally require.
81 sincerely hope that some stops
may be speedily taken to remedy this
matter. The school board has, I be-
lieve, sdono all in their,power to empha-
size the demands of the public school
system, and it is only now for the
Council to take necessary steps, which
hope they may soon see proper to do.
Of course they could not do less than
this in view of thoir responsibility to
tho people, unless they propose to iniure
rather than foster this most important
institution. l am certain such cannot
be the case, but it must grow out of
failure ON their part TO understand tho
matter fully.
at has been suggested to me that a
public meeting be called, for ell citizens
interested in the schools, at the taber-
nacle or some large building, and full
statement OF the matter there laid be-
fore them. But prefer that the Coun-
Gil should act on this matter, and be-
lieve that their course will be dictated
by The peoples wishes and interests.
Certainly do not want to take any
such steps as would impugn such inten.
/ on, unless the schools suffer too much
by neglect in this direction as to induce
the belief that sucn meeting would be-
necessary"
Funeral of Judge MerrimAn.
II NJ