The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-20

portunity to confer again over this sec
ton.
Chairman McIlwaine said he could give
notice that the committee would not re-
commend the adjustment of county SUI
perintendents. The advocates of that idea
had just as well get in their work right
now. He then proceeds. to show that ev-
er, effective educational system Of free
schools in the Union had local superin-
tendents and the uniform opinion of eX
pert educators was agreeable to this view.
t. abolish the office would be a mistake.
Mr.. Richmond: Scott county DON'T
want it.
Dr. Nc1lwaine: 81 said expert" UauGh-
ter and appausel
DIR. DUNAWAY.
DR.. Dunaway said he came to the con-
yention with a halt-formed opinion that
the Superintendent of County Schools
should be abolished. He had changed
his mind after understanding more about
it. On examination he had found that
the trouble was in the officer, more than
the office. The present objection to the
office. he thought, would be largely re-
moved after the new system of selecting
him was put into operation. Some i'm
mediate supervision Of the schools was
absolutely essential to their progress and
efficiency Teachers ought to feel that
they were directly responsible to a local
authority. He would prefer that this Of
ficer should be elected by the people of
the county; it was more important office
to them than the State Superintendent.
Mr.. Brown said it was utterly impossible
to have a school system without local
superintendent. This fact he said, had
been demonstrated to every member Of
the committee He read a statement
from former State Superintendent huff
ner. strongly supporting this view.
Mr.. Brown then showed that only per
cent. of the school fund was paid out
for school supervision. and sa1G that no
other business could make such a show
ing He said he, was defending the pres
ent superintendent of the present
system. He was simply trying to
nave adopted a system that would guar
antee to the people for the future a sta
ble effective and satisfactory a6mlnlstra-
ton OF the school law.
DIR. CURRY QUOTED
He here read extracts from COM
munication OF DR.. Curry, contendlng tina,
intelligent expect supervision was lndls-
pensabIe TO the continuation or the tree.
school system.
Mr.. Brown made an elaborate and ex-
haustive speech on the subject of FIRE,
schools. covering the whole range OF ad-
ministration and financial methods in use.
their duties 10 be prescribed by tbs
latest scientific authorit es.
MIR. Petit offered a substitute. provid-
ing that county and c.,y super .ntendents
be elected by the voters for four years,
their duties to be prescribed by by the
Legislature. He said education was not
the only requisite for superintendent
He should also be a good man, an ener-
getic and business man. The people We're
always the best judges of these qualities,
and all officers who knew they We're UNI
der their watchful eye, DID better service
than when they were the objects of po-
litical or personal preference by an APP
pointive source.
Mr. O'Flaherty earnestly advocated the
substitute offered by Mr.. Petit and read
statistics from States electinS these Of
fcers by the people in support of his po-
sition.
He also said that he was afraid the
convention would never agree to have
these officers elected by the people. and
he therefore would be glad to see them
elected by the Beard OF School Trustees
OF the county. The county was the unit
Of Republican government. and anything
that tended to destroy its autonomy was
dangerous and to be avoided if possible.
To take this authority from the county
and place it in the control OF Board sit
It in the discretion Of the Board to have
been allowed and should not be continued
BARBOUR SUBSTITUTE.
Mr.. Barbour offered substitute requlr-
ing that the State be divided into dis
trcts and superintendent of these dis
tricts be selected by the State Board Of
Education This. he said. would leave
it in the discretion OF the Board of have
large or small districts. These districts
could be the size OF a county or q dozen
counties. as the Board saw fit.
Or. McIlIwaine said he thought Mr..
Barbour's substitute was a decided lnI-
provement on all amendments, and even
on the recommendation of the committee.
Mr.. Hamilton said he hoped no action
would be taken which would change the
present system of selecting superintend-
ents of city schools, The cities had de-