The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-11
WEDNESDAY,, june IL 1902.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES VIEW.

come OF tie difficulties Of the public
school system IRE pointed out and DIS
scussed.
He thinks that one OF tho greatest
drawbacks to the system is that men
manage to have themselves appointed on
the school boards for selfish purposes.
..such as doctors without patients. law
gers without clients, an ex.school mas
ter out Of q Job. politician who imagines
he sees soft snap. merchant groc-
eryman ora druggist who wants to I'M
prove his business by having the teach
ing force make purchases Of him.
There is no doubt that the public school
system In Virginia has suffered much
through self-seekers OF this character.
men who go into the work for the per-
sonai benefit that they may derive from
st, little caring what becomes Of the sys-
tenn itself Some OF These go In for the
purpose of putting particular person
or persons into the public schools. usu-
ally relatives or friends that need to be
taken care OF.
In some Of the rural districts, we are
Informed. the teacher Is required to board
with one Of the trustees. Again, some
of the trustees have the school houses
located to suit their consequences, and
there is no doubt that there are more
school houses in Virginia than are ncces-
sary by reason OF this sort Of senishuess
Coming to speak Of the selection of
teachers the writer in the Worlds Work
says that the greatest Danger is the Selec-
lion Of incompetent persons recommended
to the boards by citizens and outsiders
upon personal friendship rather than up
on real merit for securing the position
There is no doubt that there is great
deaf of charity in the disbursement OF
the public school fund. True charity is
always beautiful and to be encouraged,
but this sort of charity is entirely too
expensive to be tolerated by any govern
ment. AS well say that a business man
should put an incompetent friend into
responsible position in his establishment
in order to give him employment. No
business man can afford TO do such a
thing. Better pension such a friend on the
outside.
Speaking of the remedy for this. the
writer from whom we have quoted says
that wherever there is system of ex-
aminations In vogue and the eligible lists
scrutinized. the dangers arising from an
excess of sympathy may be reduced to
minimum.
That brings us back to the suggestion
time and again made through this paper
that IN the State of Virginia there should
be central committee to pass upon all
examination papers and thus impartially
to establish the eligible list:
Another most important matter to which
this writer calls attention, is that when
a teacher has once been employed In the
public schools it Is most difficult matter
to get rid of such teacher even though
he or she be found incompetent. That is
undoubtedly true. There are teachers who
have worn themselves out In the service
and are no longer able to discharge the
duties of the position, but what is the
board to do with them? It cannot turn
them out to starve, and SO they are kept
lon from year to year to the detriment of
the system and to the injustice of the
,children. We have heard of some cases
where teachers suffering from an incura-
bile disease were, continued In the service
go long as they were able to drag them
selves to the school room. For all such
there should be d pension fund and teach
.ers who have worn themselves out In
the service should be retired. We be-
lieve that that will become part Of the
system by and by.
Finally this school superintendent. who
writes for the Worlds Work, says that
the schools are- much annoyed and even
hampered IN their work by criticisms and
especially by suggestions from outsiders
who do not know what they are talking
about These people, he. says. take w, a
: notion and go with it TO some member
/ Of the school board and get the member
: In love with. it and then there Is trouble
for the teachers as such notions are us
pally mere fads and utterly irnpracticable.
..Sometimes newspaper man. he adds.
..takes It into his head that the system
OF schools, especially the InStI1ooSs VI AZ
struction or course Of study. are all
wrong and that he should set about
rigfting them. and 30. he gets up scare
head article to attract attention. He
SIS arniable enough to add. however. that
as general thing the newspaper men
are fair, much fairer than those who
hide behind Taxpayer" Pro Bono
Publico," Citizen" and other masks.
Admitting the soft impeachment. we
may say In behalf of the newspaper man
8 that he believes in publicity and agita-
lion, and II he sometimes does harm In
keeping the public schools well in the
eye OF the public. he sometimes does good
also. II the public schools of the coun-
try arc not hurt by the newspapers. they
will not be hurt seriously.
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ATTRIBUTE TO LEE.
IN speaking OF the career Of General
chr.stion -oe Wet. the famous commah-