The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-25

VIII ich has given to our own navy such
vessels as the New York, the Brooklyn
and others, will not disappoint her Japa-
nese patrons in their expectations of a
magnificent warship.
The papers few weeks ago contained
n statement made by DR.. Hooper, presi-
dent Of the University of Chicago, rela-
tive to the deaths Of several students
from starvation in that school. The facts
are doubtless as DIR. Harper has stated
them, but have been unduly magnified by
sensational papers. This great schools a
some respects is not different from that
anything, in that thefe is always to found
in the college cosmos Il class of men who
think they canlive on one meal day and
do brain work. We have very pathetic
recollections of Il college mate who was
striving to get through college course,
whose aim ost UNMARRIED diet was baker S
bread and black molasses. He succeeded,
but he has never 81 flicientIy recovered
from the strain put upon his health TO
take any place among tie worlds work
ers. AT the University Of Chicago, con-
ditions are different from what they
would be in a school located in a small
town Palatable. simple food, we'll
| cooked and CT sufficient variety can be
had there for Sc. so per week. and the man
who cannot reach that amount with the
many channels through which he may
earn little in a big city is scarcely of
sufficient calibre to succeed at college or
| anywhere else We are not to forget that
those who attend this school are men,
aud must have already enjoyed educa-
tional advantages sufficient TO permit of
their making the entrance examination.
Such being the case their earning capac.
ity ought to be su fficient to pay so Iea-
souable an amount for board and at the
same time to allow them ample time for
study. While we have n disposition to
question the statement that several stu
dents have died there from starvation, we
! do think that there must have been lack
ing in them those essentials for success $
in life without which University educa
ton would have amounted to very little
Mr.. Southall, the superintendent elect
of public instruction, on Saturday last
offered II hill in the Senate looking to a
better method of examination of teach
ers. The bill provides that annually in
the month Of May the State board of edu-
cation shall appoint board of five or
seven mem bers, chosen from teachers of
higher institutions, to be known as the
State board Of examiners. The superin-
teudent of public instruction shall be ex-
ofiicio member and chairman of the
board. The board Is to prepare list-o
questions suitable for applicants for ex-
an ination. These questions are to- lie
sent uuder..seal to the city and county SUI
perintendents, who after conducting the
examination shall then forward the uues-
tions and answers to the board of exam
liners, who shall pass npon the merits Of
the paper, grading and issuing them first
and second grade certificates, as the case
may he. We do not hesitate to say that
we do not like this bill. 1t may do very
we'll to appoint an advisory board to pre-
pare the qustions fo1 examination, but
we would object even to this, If by higher
institutions" it is meant to go outside of
oui public school teachers to secure its
members. College and university profess
sors are all very we'll in their own line OF
wclk, hut they do not and cannot know
the requirements,for teachers in our pub
lie schools OnIy those who are in daily
touch with public school life are fitted to
know the qualifications necessary for It's
teachers. Again, in order to examine
properly all the papers that would be sub
mitted from the various cities and couu-
ties of the State, such board as ia pro-
posed would have to be tripIed CIR q, adru-
pied in number and even Their its mem
bers would find they had no sinecure in
their job. Such work lis irksome and
taxing to degree, pnd no competent per-
son could be secured to serve on the board
unless he should receive large compensa-
ton for his services. This would put,'an
additional expense upon the State for ed.
ueational purposes. But the great, st CD
8 81 q v8337ia & IS X tdsyl. ~ &. y.