The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-08
THE VIRGINIA
STATE 5. ! TEACHERS ]
Holds Its First Business Session
at tile Uni -,
vcrsity.
ONE HUNDRED IN: Dr. 4: DELEGATES D |. {:
Or. Lyon G. Tyler the Principal
Speaker6of the Night
Session.
ONE HUNDRED DELEGATES
Or. Lyon G. Tyler the Principal
.(specjal 10 The Times. Dispatch.

4. special to The Times Dispatch.)
J. CHARLOTTESVILLE VA. july THE
first business session Of the third annual
convention OF the Virginia State reach.
ers Association was held this morning
In the senior law lecture room at tho
University OF Virginia. the body having
been formerly welcomed to the Univcr.
sIty last night BY President Alderman
at the joint meeting OF the Cooperative
Education Commission and State Teach
ers Association
The association. which was organized
Tor the special purpose OF improving the
conditions for public education in the
State. Of developing the schools them
selves. and OF elevatng the standard Of
the profession Of teaching. now includes
in it's membership all classes OF Vir-
gina teachers from the university to the
primary schools. It represents between
$500 and 1900 members in the various
local associations, though membership In
{ the State association Is composed almost
entirely OF the delegates sent BY the
4 local associations.
Over one hundred delegates and vlsl-
tors. representing about seventy local
organizations In the various cities, coun-
ties and institutions OF higher learning,
we're present this morning wien the as
ISOLATION was called to order by President
r. c. stearnes Of Salem.
The first topic for discussion was The
Value OF n Teachers Reading Course
The speakers were Superintendent J. D..
Eggleston, OF Farmville: the Rev. Robb
White. Jr., young Episcopal minister,
son OF the late Rev. Robb White. Of
Savannah. Ga, and Mr.. r. B. Dade. OF
smyth county.
The important question OF the consolida-
ton OF schools was treated by Mr..
YoSn ~ oOto W..
w. II. kester. Of Rockingham county.
and Miss Fannie Boldridge, OF Culpcper
county.
The remainder ., The morning session
was given up to reports from the various
committees.
At the afternoon session. held in tho
academic building. the question OF cx-
nmlnations was discussed BY Mr.. ]. a.
Booton. OF Page county. who told OF a
very novel method OF grading the pupils
In the Luray school. Mr.. ]. G. Duane.
OF Dinwidde county. also gave some
valuable suggestions.
How the Mind Develops" was ably
treated by Superintendent G. II. Hulvey,
OF Rockingham county, a candidate for
Superintendent OF Public Instruction..
The night session was held in the Uni
vcrsity auditorium, and was largely at
tended by the teachers OF the Summer
School OF Methods. as well as by the dele
gates to the association The principal
j speaker was Or. Lyon G. Tyler, presi-
dent of William and Mary, College. and
member OF the state Board OF Education.
His subject was "A1oney--How 1t May. be
. Employed to Strengthen the Public School
System OF Virginia DR.. Tyler began
by dwelling upon the idea of money In its
spiritual character as force representa-.
tive OF all the forces entering into So
clety. Accordingly. money Is either a
good or evil force. according to the man
ncr In which 1t Is employed. Money Inn
properly or wastefully applied is cor
rupting and destructive OF the ends OF
good government, but discreetly and wise
& ~ used is the life force OF all socI al
institutions. educational or otherwise.
DR.. Tyler touched upon some points in
connection with the school system in
which money might be used 10 advan-
tage. Under the present laws power
was given to the State Board of Educa-
ton to appoint superintendent OF schools,
+ but the Legislature fixed the salaries.
This was wrong in principle. for the
supcrintcndents were the Immediate rep
rcsentatiyes OF the State Board, and
salaries should be fixed BY the appoint
3 ing power. One OF the great evils OF the
public schools was inadequate and in
efficient supervision arising from small
salaries, which superintendent Of schools
we're forced to supplement by engaging
In other employments at the expense OF
the State. In the same manner, tho
county school trustees were deprived OF
the natural authority incident to their
responsibilities in not having the power
to direct the levy OF taxes within the
limit authorized by law. DIR. Tyler want
ed the laws to be amended In these re-
spects; and he saw in the surplus OF
$4,000, which will be available at the
next Legislature, an Immense opportunity
for the development OF the public schools
of tho Commonwealth, which should not
be allowed to pass unimproved. a large
portion OF this surplus should be laid
aside to provide properly equipped school
houses in the counties, and instead OF
reducing taxes, which has boen always
the politicians remedy for surplus. the
annual surplus accruing in future years
should DO devoted to upbuilding the
schools BY giving proper salaries to now
wretchedly paid teachers. Or. Tyler de-
clared, In conclusion. that Virginia was
on the crest of great wave OF pros
pcrity, and drew an enthusiastic picture
OF great and prosperous Commonwealth,
with high school In every county and a
system or common schools running for
nine months In the year. and differed
byn happy. Intelligent body OF teachers
diffusing about them light OF morality,
education and civilization.
Professor A. NJ. Soule. OF the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, fol-
lowed DR.. Tyler In an interesting dis.
Course Ion Agriculture in tho Public
Schools" which he illustrated BY various
stereopticon Views, His lecture was great.
" enjoyed by the audience,