The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-30
THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
SSiON.
Its Aims. Purposes, Etc .


Ia RESPONSE to call by the Governor
OF Virginia and the Superintendent o.
Public Instruction, number Of citizens
representing the geographical divisions
as we'll as the educational interests Oi
the State assembled ia the Capitol al
Richmond on March 2Sth aud 2Dth.
The purpose Of the conference WAS to
unity educational iprces, with IL view To
utilizing their combined wisdom and
strength In reinforcing the efforts OF the
State and local school authorities in the
matter Of perlecting the public school
system Of Virginia Those present de
sired To sink the differences and To seek
the Identities among the educators
Whatever differences may be supposed tn
exists in the interests of certain instltu.
tlOns Of learning, it is plain that the pub
liz school Is the common center OF all
educational agencies IL ia the r, serVOir
whence all supplies are drawn. Ii is the
base upon which the whole pyramid Of
education rests. Upon the efficiency,
therefore, OF the common school depends
not only the enlightenment Of the citizen
but the culture OF the college lnaword,
the common school is the heart Of the
educational system of Virginia II 1t Is
vigorous, all else will be- sound and
strong. Az n Indicating center Tor all
educational forces, the common school
Yields sympathies. reconciles conflicting
interests, and imparts higher efficiency
tO all forms Of education
There Is growing publi' pride in the
schools aud "a healthul sentiment favor
able To their betterment. This IL not
surprising. when the gravity of the in.
terests involved is consd, red. The pub
lie school property 10 this State is val.
ued at above four million dollars. The
annual expenditure for support exceeds
two million dollars. Less than one
fourth OF this amount is raised by coun-
" and district school taxes.
Only about hall of the children oil
school age are enrolled in the public
schools. Only one third are Ia daily at
tendance in the public schools Children
In attendance are in school, on an aver
age, about five and hall months OF the
year (jl, 10 aud 81, Out)
The cost Of education per month oil
school term per pupil enrolled II Ocente;
the cost Of each pupil 10 attendance per
month ia 8 Is Is it good economy. TO
say nothing of weghtier matters, for us
To spend only fifty four cents per calen.
dar month upon the child's education
After two days spent in earnest discus
sion, the conference organized itself into
operative Education Commission Of Fir-
ginia IL was decided to meet at least
twice year, at different points 10 the
State. Officers were elected, and the iol
lowing program OF purposes was unani
mously decided upon:
PROGRAM OF PURPOSES
/. A nine months school for every
child.
2. A high school within reasonable dis
tance OF every child.
3. Well.trained teachers for all public
schools
1. Efficient supervision of sch 1ols.
> The introduction Of agricultural and
industrial training into the schools.
g. The promotion Of libraries aud cor
relation Of public libraries and public
schools
:. Schools for the defective and depend.
ent classes.
x. The organization of citizens edu-
cation assOciatiOn in every county and
city.
II is the sense Of the Commission that
an immediate effort should be- made to
organize local lay educational associa'
tions in every community, with IA view to
Q) The re enforcement OF the county
suDerintendent and teachers.
(2) The consolidation OF schools.
CD The increase of local school taxa
ton.
a. The improvement OF schoolhouses
and grounds.
The conference appeals for cO'opera-
tion.
Correspondence solicited. Address MIR.
j. A McGilvray, department of Public
instruction, Richmond. Va.