Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-08-02
Important Meeting Of Teachers.

The Virginia Teachers League
| which by unanimous consent changed
its name here to the State Teachers
Association, had An interesting session
of two days doing some important
work and issuing All address to the
State convention containing some i'm
portant suggestions, which if incorpo-
rated in the new constitution, will
make some very valuable changes In
the State laws on education.
At the public meeting Tuesday night
the audience was highly entertained.
The interesting report Of Secretary
Foreman showing the progress OF the
association as it reaches out into new
counties was read. Capt. L. G. Nor
ton heartily and very pleasantly well
coined the visitors and turned over to
them the keys of the city, which he
said be had borrowed from Mayor
Landes. This address was responded
to by Prof. r. A. Preston, late super.
intendent of Washington county, who
explained his presence by saying that
he was "a statesman without a job"
His speech was literary gem. 1t had
been carefully prepared, but was de-
livered without notes and displayed
rare facility in handling the English
language, familiarity with the Latin,
a remarkable memory and exquisite
humor, which was greatly enjoyed
by all.
The election of officers at Wednes-
day 8 session resulted in the selection
of President, Prof. r. G. Stearns, of
Roanoke county; A. II. Foreman, of
Norfolk, Secretary; w. P. Painter, of
Roanoke, Treasurer. Among the vice
president was Prof. j. r. Weaver. of
Staunton. Among the new members
enrolled were Superintendent, E. o.
Peale, J. HI. Bader. DR.. W. G. Kent,
Messrs. W. A. Bowles, T. G. Morton,
G.. w. Wilson and Miss Elder.
The following is the address to the
convention
To the Educational Committee of the
Constitutional Convention:
Gentlemen The Virginia State
Teachers Association, representing
26 counties and cities and vOlcing the
sentiment of over two thousand teach
ers of Virginia in regular. annual
meeting assembled, beg leave to sub
nit to your honorable body the fol
lowing:
Our association has taken up ques-
tion by question, the statements
made to your committee by conference
of educators On July "a, and after full
and free discussion ii has been resOlv-
ed that the association urge upon your
committee and the convention, the
adoption of the replies made by said
conference of educators, save as the
following:
No. q We suggest the addit ion of
the head of the Miller School in the
formation of the state board of edu-
cation.
No. 6. We recommend the omission
of the words by statute in No. 6 and
of the words statutory provisions in
No. S, believing that both these mat
tiers had better be left to the state
board of education.
No. IL. We recommend that the
facilities for training teachers be large
ly increased, and we further recon-
mend that chair of Pedagogy be es
tablished at the U University of Virginia.
No IA. 1t is the sense of this asso-
citation that there should be no state
uniformity Of text books.
NJ - Tbo aecoo;o
itself in favor of electing trustees for
the city schools by the people.
In addition to the above the associa |
tion desires to submit the following:
1t is our belief that in view of the |
shOrtnesS of the school term, the |
smallness of the teachers g salary, the |
frequent lack of necessary equipment
and the consequent inefficiency of the
schools, the appropriation for public
schools should be very much increased.