The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-13

nothing Of the larger attendance. 1t Is
conceded that there are many more first
class teachers in the schools than ever
II. fore and that the general average has
heaT, raised to a degree. There can be no
10. bt on this point. We have better
teachers in Virginia to-day, many better
teachers and much better teachers IMAM
ever before in the history of the pubic
school system. and they are growing pet
ter all the time.
~. neonle of Richmond will be gratthed
to know that mere than sixty or our
teachers, together with six principals ana
SUPERINTENDENT Fox, arc in attendance at
the school this year.
THE SUPERINTENDENTS
in addition to the teachers nu1nuet
of county superintendent are III the e
school and taking the regular course Q.
irs truction This brings me to SPEAK o.
the important conference OF the scnooi gu
perintendents which was held last "ee ,
Mr. Frank P. Brent, secretary OF nc
state Board of Education, is entnuslas-
tic. and says that it was the greatest
educational conference he has ever VII
messed First of all the sEper:ntcndents
resell, ed that t;Isre were too many scIH"io
in Virginia and that they would use theil
utmost endeavors to have the NUMBER oe-
creased. thus increasing the proficiency
and proIonging the school term. mere
were no two opinions on this point Inc
srCerinteasents in conference are all tho
roughly agreed that this must be done.
The superintendent also put themselves
on record as beingsin favor OF compulsory
educ aticn. There was some opposition 10
this, but the resolution was carried pS
large majority.
1t was further agreed that the high
school work In the rural districts must
be improved and enlarged. ana tnere
will be vigorous efforts in that dlrectloh.
1t was for this reason that the supein-
tendents generally were opposed TO an
other normal school. They fear that II
the school funds are diverted Tor tnlS
purpose there will not be enough money
to improve and enlarge the high sohoolS.
UNIVERSITY AND THE SCHOOLS
This leads up to the most important
work OF the conference. and for that
matter the most important work OF any
educational conference held IN Vlls'Iild
during this generation. I refer to the
complete union accomplished between
the University OF Virginia and the pubic
schools Chairman Barringer has fire.
quently referred to- the university as
the capstone of the public school system
but in point OF fact there has not oeen
alliance or harmony between the UNI
versitv and the common schools. But
Chairman Barringer and the professors of
the university met the superintendent
in the right spirit and they had no diffi-
Guilty in coming to an agreement by which
graduates of the high schools may easily
obtain admission into the university Dr.
Barringer had said in his address that
the university would meet the public
schools half way and so under the new
arrangement graduates from the public
high schools will have no difficulty in
gaining admission to the university
courses The university has now become
in fact as well as in theory part and
parcel of the public school system of
er,1io opl hn ca
this time on it will be the great high
school of popular education. 1t is hard
to say which side is most delighted with
this contamination, the university pro-
fessors or the superintendent and public
school teachers.