Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-12
Mr.. BOWLES AND THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
A Correspondent Sets Forth Reasons
Why the Stnunton Educator
Should Be on the Board.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In Sundays issue of your valuable and
highly esteemed paper one of your local
writer's makes q forecast as to the COM
position of the State Board of Educa-
ton, to be formed under the provisions of
the new Constitution by the Senate during
the ensuing sessions. Among other things,
your "write-up" man says:
Among the other available men for
the positions, who are thought to be can
didates are President Lyon G. Tyler, of
William and Mary College, at Williams
burg. and Professor William a. Bowles,
of the Deaf, Dumb. and Blind Institute,
at Staunton.
THE principal objection that has been
raised against the two latter gentlemen
is that the institutions they represent
are not Immediately identified with the
p'','ic school system of the State
Those who read attentively the proceed
nss of the Constitutional Convention. as
p, olished in the Dispatch. will agree with
me in saying that the superintendent of
the Virginia School for the Deaf and the
Blind. at Staunton was placed upon the
eligible list for the express reason of his
long and successful experience in the
public schools of the Stateg For twenty
five years or more Profit. Bowles was
successfully at lHe nedO ae4f ei d. Id Sc
graded schools in the State. He was
principal Of the staunton High School,
and later superintendent of the city
schools Of Staunton. He also served as
principal of the Richmond High School
Who else on the eligible list has had
such an opportunity of becoming thor
oughly acquainted with the conditions
and needs of the public free schools of
the State? Professor Bowles is an alum
nus of the University of Virginia. He is
a born educator and a man Of great exec
utive ability If you should hunt the
State over you could not find a man bet
ter conversant with the public free school
system of the State than Professor
Bowles.
The Board of Visitors of the school at
Staunton, upon their own accord last
June unanimously adopted the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the Board of Visitors
of the Virginia School for the Deaf and.
the Blind earnestly recommend to the
Senate of Virginia the appointment of
Mr.. William A. Bowles, superintendent of
this school. to membership upon the
State Board of Education.
Being an alumnus of the University Of
Virginia. and having had long and sue
cessful experience in all grades of public
W
qualified to render good service to the
educational interests of Virginia. and is
eminently we'll fitted in every particular
for a position on the School Board. Fur
thermore In view OF the awakening in
tereSt in industrial education in Virginia.
and of the fact that industrial training
is an important feature in this school. the
selection of Mr.. Bowles would be proper
recognition of the public demand for
greater advancement in this department
of education.
eve cordially recommend Mr.. Bowles
as worthy in every respect of the honor
we trust will be conferred upon him.
Dr. Joseph W. Southall. the eminent
Superintendent of Public Instruction, is
a member OF this Board of Visitors, and
was present at the meeting which adopted
the above resolutions. If anybody is ca
pable OF judging of Professor Bowles'
abilities as public school educator. it is
DR.. Southall.
Again. sthe writer of the article referred
to. says:
"One of the chief duties of the State
Board of Education is the selection Of
textbooks for use in the public schools.
and the nature of such books a t the
Staunton institute is not such as to give
the instructors there close acquaintance
with those books used in the public
In this statement the writer of the
above shows a very great lack of ac-
uuaintance with the academic depart
ment of that school. We are sure he does
not wiliully misrepresent the school, how
ever probably having upon brief .isit
to it. paid no particular attention to the
books used. There can be found in all |
the grades including the primary. the
grammar, and the high-school courses.
books that are either Identical to or CO.
ordinate. With the books used in the ordi-
nary public schools of the State.
I may be pardoned for stating my own
case in particular, for there is nothing
like personal testimony. Before became
deaf 1 attended for several terms the
public schools of Clarke county. Va. When
lost my hearingI was sent to the Staun-
ton institution.sI was placed in the pri-
the manual alphabet of the deaf and
dumb as practiced on the fingers. I
learned that in two days. My teacher
reported to the superintendent how I |
stood in my studies, with the result that |
was Jumped several classes Tin face |
IF my protest). Well do remember the |
books that gave me worlds OF trouble"
Here are some of them as recall their I
names after twelve years away from
school: Mitchell's geography. Mauryss
physical geography. Harvey's English t
grammar, Kerrs grammar, Whites arith-
netic history Of the United States. Swim
on> history Of Virginia. Steeles four
cen weeks in philosophy-to say nothing
It the extensive reading and other courss
s.. Well do I recall the problem of find /
ng out how fast a candle must travel /
n order to- pierce q stwo-fnch board assf
presented In. Steals phi losophyi And some
,thers unheerd-of processing