Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-03
THE TEACHERS ORGANIZE.

Elizabeth City County Un;tes With the
State Cooperative League.
The school teachers of the county met
yesterday afternoon in the Hampton
Academy building and effected a per-
manent organization of the Teachers
C0-operative League. oS Elizabeth City
County, with an initial membership of
fifteen. These members are all teachers
OF the Academy public school building.
.,.he West End school or the Phoebus
school. ~iti IS tn. the desire Of the League
TO have all the othcr pubic Die, seno 90,
eachers of the county become members,
and it is hoped TO secure their co-opera-
ton before the next regular meeting
which will be held on the first Friday
afternoon in December in the Hamp-
ton Academy. These officers We're elect
cd:
President-Miss Belle Clopton, of the
PhoebuS school.
NiveP resident-Miss Mollie Hope
Secretary-Miss Charlotte Wray
Treasure-Miss Blanche Bulliphant
The league is a part of the Virginia
state Teachers Cooperative League, a
compact organization which already has
about 800 members and is rapidly grow
ing. Professor Dudley r. Cowles is
president of the State organization
and Mr.. L. c. Glass. of Lynchburg.
vice-president. and Mr.. w. F. McEclwee,
Of the Shenandoah Normal College,
Reliance, Va. secretary. This State
league is Semi-Otticial in character be-
ing endorsed by the Superintendent Of
public Instruction and other promi-
ncnt State officials.
The name gives a very good general
idea of the aims and objects of the or
@aniZation. which are conlmendable and
worthy of the cooperation, not only Of
all teachers, but of all who legislate
on schools and educational matters.
and. therefore. of the voters who create
these officials. "A large majority OF the
teachers of the State are ladies. who,
not being able to vote, have no other
way of presenting the claims and needs
Of their profession to the people. Ger
tain reforms in the public school sys-
TEN are the objects of the teachers
organization, and, by organized ntelH-
gent. harmonious effort. they hope the
sooner to secure them. These may be
briefly summarized: First, the increase
Of salaries: second, the better protection
of teachers from local feuds; third. the
improvement of the teachers intellect
ual condition. or the raising OF the
standard of teachers; fourth. the dis
cussion generally of the principles Of
pedagogy, and the establishment Of q
more uniform system of instruction In
the counties of the State; fifth, to unite
in expressing to the candidates for the
Legislature, Councils and Boards Of
School Trustees the needs of the public
school system.
There are many teachers in the State.
and no profession imposes so much re-
sponsibility and such opportunities for
the development of the younger gener-
alton, nor is there any occupation for
which more expensive and extensive.
preparation is demanded. Yet all con-
versant with the facts. will admit that
the salaries of teachers are pitifully in
adequate, and especially SO in Virginia
Many lawyers doctors and men In
other vocations. have at some time in
their lives taught and all such know
these unfavorabe conditions. The sal
aries of Virginia teachers are lower
than in any other States. and those: of
the country teachers. who have the
longer hours and more classes to teach.
are lower than those, in cities.