Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-03-22
THE UNIVERSITY AND THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.

, A Scheme for bringing the Public School
of the State into Closer Touch with
the University and Other State
Educational Institutions.
= versity of Virginia and other Stat
educational institutions be brought in
to closer touch with the public schoo
work of the State ?' is one which
should demand the strictest attention
and the keenest interest on the part o.
the educators of our beloved old com
monwpalth.
The public schools in the different
cities of our state are rapidly attaining
that high degree of excellence of which
she may well feel proud. Some of our
city high schools are already coming
into reasonabl "touch' with the Uni
versity of Virginia and other State in
stitutions. There are paving the way,
bridging the chasm which heretofore
lay between them and our higher insti-
tutions, and proving that a closer
union is no mere theory. The institu
tion of public school scholarships in
the University of Virginia by the
Board of Visitors has proved to be
wholesome stimulus in bringing about
a mOmveent in this direction.
When we reflect that the public
school system, proposed by Thomas
Jefferson, the illustrious founder of the
University of Virginia, at the begin
ming of this century, was not given or
ganic life until 1S70-seventy years af
ter the system was outlined, and al
most fifty years after his death-the
success attained by our city high
schools Is almost phenomenal. Now,
as we enter the twentieth century. who
can predict the outcome?
But it is not my purpose to champion
the cause of our city high schools,
which are already under strict super
vision and have an excellent system,
but to enter an earnest appeal for our
poorly equipped and neglected country
schools. In the majority of cases these
have practically no supervision, and
are sustained for only five months in
the year. How can the schools in the !
country districts be brought into clos
er touch with our higher institutions |
This is the question which confronts
us now in Its turn.
The teachers OF our country schools !
are too poorly paid, especially in the
western portions of the State. Meager
salaries for five months in the year can |
never maintain strong teaching force. |
Should we not be startled to learn that |
there are teachers in this State who |
receive no more than $15 per month, |
and from this mere pittance are oblig |
ed to pay for boarding, etc? Such is |
actually the case. In several counties |
the schools are sustained for only four
months in the year. what a pitiful
condition of affairs This is poor
for keeping school, ="
much less teaching. OF course, poorly
qualified teachers fill these lowly posi-
tions, and their output will hardly rise
higher than these sources of knowl-
edge.
By referring TO the last Report of the.
Commissioner of Education, u find that
the average salary of male teachers in
Virginia is $31 99; of female teachers,
$26 81. Only three states stand lower
in this scale, viz: Tennessee, South
Carolina and North Carolina. These
are the lowest figures, and North Caro-
lima is at the bottom. Virginia, not
withstanding the fact that her city
high school teachers and the teachers
of the eastern portions of the states are
reasonably we'll salaried, rises but three
spaces from the bottom. This shows
that large percentage of our teach
ers receive but a meager cOmpensa-
tion for their services. AS the other
states are canvassed in their order
gentle rise is noticed until Massach-
usetts is reached, where male teachers
receive an average monthly salary of
1880, and female teachers SOL. A.
This is the climax of salaries for male
teachers For female teachers the
climax is reached in California, the
average being $64 So. The District of
Columbia is scarcely below this figure
Hence some portions of the east com
pete with the west. Even North Da-
kota stands above Virginia in the pay
of teachers. Why2 Because she is a
new state. and her constitution and ed
ucational laws are founded upon prog
ress and close study of the mistakes
of other states. Virginia has gotten
behind in her educational matters. We
must yet regain our place among the
of states which were
carved from the Old Dominion. Help
can now come only through constitu
tional provision The following may
be regarded as safe rule: the useful
ness and efficiency of the public schools
of any state are in direct ratio to the
amount appropriated for maintaining
the system.
There is in Virginia today an army
of teachers who never attend any
higher institutions to broaden scholar
ship or State normals t1at they may
learn methods. Thete teachers feel |
that their salaries do not Justify their
coming into touch with the best |
thought of the age. But even these |
must come Oh step aside for more pro-
gressive ones. Salaries should be rated |
according to the training received in |
approved institutions, aud school |
boards should make closer study of
IF bn fao