The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-16
FINDS FLAWS IN
SCHOOL ORDINANCE
President Dabney, of University Of
Tennessee, Points Out What
be Terms Errors.
be Terms Errors.

Mr.. Charles w Dabney, LII. D.. pres
ident of the University OF Tennessee, one
of the foremost educators of the South.
and one who is identified with the Rob
ert c.. Ogden movement for wider edu-
cation of the races, talked last night Of
the proposed educational ordinance now
before the Virginia Constitutional Con-
vention, and expressed the opinion that
certain changes were necessary in the
general administration of the proposed
law. Mr.. 'DaGney is a native Virginian.
was educated at Hampden-Sidney and
the University of Virginia., and.is, there
fore, thoroughly in touch with the edu-
cational system Of the State.
When seen last night at Nurphy's Ho-
tel, Mr.. Dabney said:
believing as I do in a centralized adj
ministration OF the public schools, l was
very much pleased at the first sections of
the proposed educational ordinance. They
provide a. strong State Board OF Educa-
tion made up OF the Governor. Attorney
General and the heads of State institu-
tons. The best intelligence of d State
should direct the affairs of its schools.
This is partly provided for in the ordi-
nance. My only suggestion on this sub
ject is that the county and city schools
ought to be we'll represented upon the
board, along with the State institutions.
1 nc lueGI Va d Dual VI 10 COlieSt, Jul LILO
membership should be increased by add
ing at least three able county superin-
tendents and the two best city superin-
| tendents in the State. These might be
elected by the other members of the
toard The State Board is the most val
liable Feature Of the ordinance and is
| invaluable. II the convention did nothing
else but establish a State Board Of Ed
ucation, it would accomplish a great
| t.
the South.
The ordinance, which starts out nobly
! by establishing a centralized administers
! ton Of the schools, seems to break down
on the counties, providing in section five
| that each school district shall have three
trustees elected by the people. The gem
! era! administration is extended down to
( the county superintendent and there IT
ends. This strikes me as being incon-
gTOus and very unfortunate 1t is an eff
| fort to unite two methods Of administra-
| ton totally opposed to each other. I-.ere
! will be too many trustees in the larger
counties, and the responsibility for the
schools will be so much divided that 1t
VS.. nol De lelt. 1t opens way % all
! kinds of iobbery where the people are not
| careful to select trustworthy citizens
The question Of local taxation is left
| to the districts and the counties and cities
| Is decide. There is no fund to help the
poor districts. Where the people are poor
| they must remain in ignorance. Even II
| the general fund is appOrtloned properly.
/ where the population is sparse and assess
/ cd values low, the schools are bound TO
/ remain poor School work is missionary
! work In every good law some fund
! should be provided that can be used to
i build uD the schools of the poor nieghpor-
/ hoods. This law to q too great degree
4 leaves to ignorance to administer and
/ poverty to support the schools.
The most serious question in the ordi-
t nance is the treatment Of the negro. rms
! is q question in which the people OF the
| whole South and the whole country arc
! deeply interested. l think every true
! Southerner has the right TO expect the
| convention OF old Virginia shall Zeal just
! ly with the negro. Virginia is the Lead
ling educational State, and one to which
iali look for guidance il such matters.
| The people of the whole country have
agreed TO leave the negro problem to the
coed people OF the South to solve. It has
been tacit!y agreed that it shall be taken
OUT Of politics, and the conscience Of the
entire american people in regard to this
question is for the time being left in the
keeping of the men Of the South.
1T can't be possible that the noble men
who make up the convention intend to
leave any chance for either voters of
counties or the officials Of the State to
treat the negro unfairly in the division
of the school funds. This point Should
be NEST carefully guarded and the law
on the subject should be above suspicion"