The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-07

Iol it Idiu lpI dlltlNdICt.
/. The amendment stated that that por-
tion be stricken out prohibiting the ex-
penditurc OF public money and preventing
the holding OF such meetings while the
schools are open.
The new section was also agreed upon
and the entire report was then adopted
as amended.
THANKS AND INVITATIONS.
a resolution was offered by Superin-
tendent James c. Hanes. OF Buckingham.
expressing the sincere thanks 10 Hon.
John Il. Massey for his valuable services
In the part in the interest OF public edu-
cation, and also expressing the hope thai
he might be continued in office The re-
solution was adopted by rising vote.
a similar vote Of thanks was extended
to the Governor and Attorney General.
the other members Of the State Board OF
Education and 10 MIR. j. A. McGilvray.
the able secretary of the board.
President Massey feelingly replied TO
the compliment paid him.
An invitations from the ladies OF the
Loan Exhibition to examine the exhibits
was received.
The chair invited the superintendents 10
attend. If possible with their corps OF
teachers the Summer Normal Schools az
Methods at Charlottesville. Albemaric
county. at Irvington, Lancaster county,
at Radford. Pulaski county.
Superintendent VIM. j. Fox, OF this
city, invited the conference 10 visit tho
public schools Of the city OF Richmond
tomorrow.
A resolution was adopted on motion of
Superintendent n. ID. Hawkins. OF Bed
ford. inviting Governor O'Ferrall 70 adj
dress the conference tonight. Messrs.
James T.. Clements, of Alexandria county
Hawkins. of Bedford. and l.. T. Foster.
Of Mathews were appointed members OF
that committee.
A recess was then taken until o'clock.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
When the president called the confer
ence to order after the recess, only about
twenty superintendent were present.
Superintendent James f.. Clements. OF
Alexandria county. reported on behalf
Of the committee. appointed TO wait on
Governor O'Ferrall. that they had wait
ed on His Excellency, who had promised
TO attend The night session. but on ac-
count Of his impaired health and upon
the advice of his physician, had been
compelled to decline 10 deliver an address
SUPERINTENDENT II {. stcarnes. OF
Roanoke county, offered the folloying.
which was adopted:
Resolved. That this body recommends
that the law in reference to compensa-
ton of school trustees be made TO read
so that each trustee, except the clerks.
shall be allowed one dollar per day for
time actually employed none of said trus-
tees TO receive more than ten dollars
in any one school year
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Superintendent Robert Williamson OF
Richmond county. then introduced the
next topic. Compulsory Education
He said that the same objections as have
beer made against compulsory educa-
ton. could be made against education
by the State. Compulsory education was
no innovation, but II was taken for
granted that there was a necessity for
modification of existing law on this sub
ject.
Superintendent f. W. Lewis. Of Ian
caster. followed in the discussion. Com
pulsory education. he said. was an un-
known factor in the South. except in Tex
as, where, hokever it was impossible
TO enforce this law. If parents allowed
their children to grow up in ignorance.
they should be compelled in some way
to send their children 10 school. Twen-
ty-seven of the States had compulsory
education. and he felt convinced that
ii would he beneficial to have children
between the ages Of eight and fourteen
years attend school at least for three
months each year.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Superintendent II. ID. Ragland. of
Goochland. who followed, said he was
ready to admit that it was against the
interest of the State to have children
grow up in ignorance and .dleness. IL
seemed to him that compulsory education
in other countries meant compulsion that
did not compel. 1t was well IN theory
but was not put into practice. He
thought Virginians did not need "A law
compelling them 10 give their children
an education Compulsory education
would not cure the evil; there were al
ready too many laws on the statute
books And how should such a law be
enforced? Even if the State could afford
the expense il would be neither wise nor
right to abr.dge the authority of the par
ents over ,heir children. \ compulsory
law would add new power to the State.
but it ", uld be in conflict with the in
stitutions Of tnis country.
Superintendent =. II. Williams, OF
Tazewen. was the last official speaker on
the subject ana called attention 10 the
small percentage of the enrolment OF
the children of Virginia and in comparing
IL with the number Of illiterate people. he
came TO the conclusion that some law
should be passed 10 increase the school
attendance. Tie child had rights and
should be permitted 10 embrace all ad-
vantases Of physical, mental and moral
developments
After some stirring remarks by Super
ntondent Thomas y. Barksdalc. OF Hall
feX, in favor of compulsory education. the
following resolution was offered by Su-
perintendent James f Clements. of Alex
andria county.
THE RESOLUTION TABLED
Resolved. That theis conference re-
quests the next Legislature OF Virginia
TO pass a law compelling parents and gar
dians TO send their children between the
ages of eight and twelve years to some
school AT least three months i'm each
year and to make such other enactment
as necessary 10 carry said proposed law
into effect"
The general discussion. which then en-
sued. brought out a good deal of penned
up patriotism and Fourth of July speech
es which centered In tho idea that Vir-
ginians did not want compulsion in any
shape or form. The resolution was
finally laid on the table by decisive ma
Jority.
The last topic of the afternoon session
was improvement Of School Houses
and Grounds 1t was introduced by
H. VI. Clarkson. OF Price
William county. lie spoke especially |
about the needed Improvement OF country !
schoolhouses from a sanitary point OF
view He recommended the location of
situated, the building two |
.H.. .f..h xtsff t..