The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-08
EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY.

To these who have been giving the pup
lie school system in Virginia any degree
or consideration, this fact Is apparent:
lrhe city and town schools are far SIT
pcrior in the country districts, ana the
former are improving their condition from
time to time, while the latter, generally
speaking, are growing worse. The chill
dren III the cities are having the benefit Of
good tuition during the greater part OF
the wear, while the children in the coun-
try are getting poor tuition for four or
five months during the year.
What is to be the result of this state Of
things is continued? If there is anything
whatever in education; If it tends to make
men end women better and superior 10
those who do not recelvs 1t; il its ten
dency Is to elevate and improve the hu-
man race, then by and by we shall have
in the cities class of people far superior
in intellectual attainment to the people
OF the country districts.
It is question for the country people
to consider in all seriousness, for 1t is a
question to them Of vital Importance
They cannot expect that their children
will be equal to those children who have
had GOOD educational facilities and have
improved their opportunities. If the
country people continue to work their
children on the farms for six or seven
months and send them to an inferior
schoop for five months they cannot rea-
f;,nf l,ot ho,-G nd girls
will keep pace with the children in town.
Unless there shall be Improvement in the
country schools all persons who have am
pition for their children will, if possible,
leave their country homes and move into
town; and SO the process of Capitalization
VII so on, and the cities and towns will
continue to lyuild up at the expense OF the
rural districts.
In order TO prevent this and to equalize
things there must be better schools in the
country and better roads. 1t is a diff
cult matter for the children in some sec
cions of the State to so to school in bad
weather, ana the schools are in opera
ton during the worst seasons Of the year.
Even parents in town frequently keep
their children at home in bad weather;
how many more of them would do SO il
the children were compelled to tramp
two or three miles TO school over roads
ankle deep i'll mud.
Then there must bo better schools, bet
ter school buildings and better teachers.
There is no sort Of doubt that much IA
yoritis1n is shown in the selection of pub
Iic-school teachers in the country. and a
| sentiment prevails that the money appro-
priated for school purposes should be
given to some young man or woman in
the neighborhood rather than to an out
| sider regardless of fitness and general
| qualification. So long as that sentiment
| prevails necessarily there Will be many
I incompetent teachers in the public schools
| and so Ions as the people in any conmu-
/ nifty think that any sort OF an old hut
/ is good, enough for a school building the
/ public schools in the country will be poor
and will do little good.
1t is not our purpose to lecture the coun,
try people. Weare simply stating a con.
| dition which we know to exist and draw
| ing conclusions which are logical and in,
| evitable.