The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-24
Education and Politics,

. "
Sir--llav1ng always taken much inter
est III the public school system Of the
state of Virginia, should like to say II
few words. through the columns OF THO
1lmcs-Dispatch. on the question bearing
the caption that apears above, with
special reference to the election aud
qualifications OF county school superill-
Tho efficiency of any organization do
pends in a very large measure upon the
ability and fitness Of the officers placed
in charge OF the various departments.
Especially should the qualifications of
applicants for the appolntees to positions
In enterprises under governmental con-
troll, be carefully and strictly scrutlnized.
portance to the necessity Of securing the
lest teachers. Is tho necessity Of appoint
| ing tho best men to supervise the school
| work.
| of Virginia there are very few. and by
| MANY considered very unlmportant.
duties connected with the office of county
superintendent. This impression prevails
lntendent should perform, but on account
of those he actually. does perform. As a.
matter Of fact. there is no more important
great discretion and latitude given him.
the superintendent is too often content
to draw his salary and let the schools
run themselves II men were appointed
to these positions, more because they
POSSESS the necessary qualifications, and
less on account of wnat little political
following they may have. it would sud
denly be seen that there are moro duties
attendant upon the Office than appear
from a casual and cursory reading of the
regulations OF the State Board of Edu-
cation.
One reason. in my opinion, for the lack
of progress and Improvement in the conf
mon schools In the country districts, Is
the nefiiciency of the majority of the
superln1tten y, English .reverses IN
South Africa were due in large measure
to the fact that the officers in many
cases were appointed for political pur-s
poses. and not as a recognition Of the
superior merit, and the same. state of
affairs. 1T is said, now prevails in the
Russian army In the Far East. Under
the old Underwood Constitution. the State
Board of Education was largely POLITE
cal body. and It's appointments Of county
school superIntendents show to what
extent political pulls and Influences. OBJ
tanned in the selection OF officials Of the
public school system.
When the representatives Of the good
people OF the State OF Virginia met in
a convention, called FOR the purpose Of
revising the organic law Of the Common
need for changes in the public school
system Among other things the conveh-5
ton decided that there should be more
e ,ln't and less noitieGs n the com
achieve this laudabe purpose. II created
II Board Of Education. consisting OF three
educators. TO De selected from the facll-
ties Of various State institutions, the
Aerintenedent Of Public Instruction and
two division Superintendents OF Schools.
The people have right to expect that
under this new and more capable appoint
ing power. the character of public school
oincals will be materially improved,
There has not yet been time for the new
regime to show what it new policy Will be.
whether 1t VIII fulhl the expectations OF
the people in giving them larger and
better returns for their money, or follow
blndiy In the footsteps of its predecessor
and DO dominated and controlled by one
or two strong politicians who l,ave their
own future political preferment more at
heart than the good Of the school children
Of Of Virginia a. , shail eiIe on, one Instance
least 1t has taken in tho matter OF elect
ing county school superintendent, The
suqer ntendent OF schools Of ------- county,,
haying died several men forwarded their
was Young man, graduate OF II Nlr-
snia college Of excellent standing. ana
a man omnently qualified by nature and
raining, TO discharge the duties Of the
office; a highly educated, but slightly
oider physician. who was school trustee
and had always been very active in look
ng after and promoting the interests OF
HE sehoo 81 another, school trustee. who,
BY reason OF his long service on the
school board and active, practical interest
in the schools Of tho county, was we'll
lNu1'lNh, ~ Wv PldSSt hUu some nIlI
dozen others OF more or less ability, Only
one of the applicants possessed the pun
necessary TO set In motion the political
machinery of tho county, and he Was one
OF those least qualified by training and
experience TO look after the interests of
tile schools. He Was eected IL he had
not obtained his little office, n number of
votes at critical time would have been
turned from y certain candidate for
much larger Office.
Let rs hope, however, that this is an
exceptional case, and that when the time
for the next. regular election of school
supcrintendents shall come in June 1905,
We shall see In each county OF the State
an eduepted and efficient man supervising /
the work, and most important work II
is, Of the common SCHOOLS. Let the moss
backs and wre-pullars retire, and give
the educated and Intelligent men in each
county, an opportunity 10 pun lie schools
on better basis Until education aud
politics are completely separated, no real
md lasting Improvement of the school /,
system Is possible.
MARVIN SNIlpIlEY, :
ftlI IN