The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-16

&
compared the teachers to syeopnh1nes
acted the part of sycophant theii'seis .
and failed to be remunerateu.
Ry the help of God. who. is our s,s s,;e,,o
auxiliary, 1 hope and sincereiS ;l,iteS
hat through the public schools ST., MT
racy VIII pe AIMS DYOLL.
rosewood, Va, March 10, 1902.
COUNTRY SCHOOLS OF VIRGINIA
Some Of the D:fects il the sys'em-'i0"
to Remedy Them.
Editor of The Times:
Sir.-That there are TOO lh'tlis eo.o
in the country, thai they 40 poor w. W.,
that the present boards w nnnntism and
inefficient is admitted by TIE h p"G the
school authorities and conde1h'leu ny ~
Permit me, therefore. from tn, the s nbIic
noint OF fourteen years in tue pu and
schools as district school !ruS.5e " ~
s sesencffuiIv submit some suggestions Tor
the correction Of these evils. evils az course
TOO many schools. This means, u .ou,
small schools: The IehGltel the attend-
ance is not as high as eight: Nt ~, s' ho
means for the teacher less Worl. ema IL nc &c
can and ought to do for the in l,rs ne tlat
there there is no zeal in the teacher ana a;aa no no
spirit in the pupils. My observation tstF,o as
to superintendent was s fha5 sha and that
neitIer the Pupils nor their parents cared
for them. 1t follows, therefore,, 81. INA be q
sufficient number OF puPi.;Ss nus I, n,,hIic
school. ao,,,nds tnat
each public school should nj, nave tes nd
bounds In this territory or district ST. CT, Inc Inc
scIool-house should be SO located as i ios
to be more than two AND one-nai n,, H n,,bs
lie ii:' sc hoe therefore, should have
a district of not less than twenty square
miles, because in this area the fne ee fHarth-
est pupil is met. The number OF people
who live in the district SHOULD NOT IN any
way affect the Guesuom or az tIen1
IL square miles. because the larger the
school the better. The people who are
now stirring to devise schemes Tor con
ances will certainly admit this propo-
sition. ,,,,,a
take a scensusEof the number OF chlidTen
every year in each school district ana a
COPY Of their census should be posted in
the school house TOR the use ana ta o 1mio If
the term there should be copy OIL the
census forwarded to the Superintendent
of Public Instruction..
school pupil 'who is between the ages of
six and 'twenty-one, but it is absurd 70
conclude from the census report that all
between these ages not found in attend
ance in the public schools are therefore
,lneducated and ignorant. Many or th'
higher schools and colleges or in indus
trial institutions and some of the girls
are married and have families.
The district school census ought there.
fore, to show not only the number of
srhoolable children, but on the census
sheet there should be marked the name OF
who can and 0ug to Of these tis
trustee and teacher: The summary of
available for public instruction is fact
that would tend to enlighten the CHM
memerian darkness. that seems now to
envelope the educational problem.
Attendance. OF course no teacher should
report enrillment and attendance. but why
average daily attendance or average at
tendance upon enrolment. etc? II A at
tends ten days in the monthly term of
twenty days, and 3 ten days. the aver
age monthly. report shows, twenty days
for one pupil; but pray where comes in
work?
The system of averages has deceived the
public and served the purpose only Of
ConcealinS the shortcomings Of the teach
er and executive head.
Regular attendance is essential and
should be enforced, Three days of alb.
to work to the dismissal of the pupil:
The State offers the people 2 free school
upon the conditions of obedience to the
attendance by II the s': pupil # the parent
and child refuse to comply with these
conditions, then the offer of the State
should be Withdrawn and the offender
dismissed from the school. It is the only
way where the public-school system rests
as it does in Virginia, upon the basis of
voluntary attendance;
for fitness. of which one of the chief
qualifications would necessarily be eX--
no inducement to become professionals
under a system which gives the teacher
employment for five months out of the
continuance in employment. The boards
of trustees give no preference to expert
cree, as shown by a roster of the teachers
that very large majority are under
twenty-one. To correct this evil the term
must be longer and preference for eXpe-
pointing boards.
try school is less than five months The
/ a. to an alleged lack of funds. AS q
matter of fact. there is no lack of funds:
there is abundant provision FOR maintain
country for as long as the pupils can al be be
gotten to attend Yes. there is money.
plenty OF, it. The State Superintendent's
reports show from SO to CO more public
primary schools in each county than are
needed, had these schools been founded
on territorial basis. Save the 5000 an
nual expenditure necessary to. maintain
each one of these useless schools and
there would be money. plenty Of money,
for longer terms. But there is real
difficulty. The boys Of twelve to sixteen
cannot be spared from their homes dur
irg the crop season. and it must not be
overlooked that the industrial training
on the farm is as imDortant educa tionallv
as book learning. Recognize this condi-
ton and arrange to prolong. the term of
the schools for the benefit of the younger
children and girls. w:lo can be spared
from home, and this can be done when
the schools are of full attendance, which
they would be if fewer in number
Trustees. The magisterial district school
sat ura IL fssy a cost the
garchical, nepotic and political They
have been tried and found wanting Let
each school have it's own board of unpaid
trustees.