The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-02
SCHOOL SUPERVISION.
The Salaries Paid to Superintend.
ents Entirely Too Small.

f.uitOr or Inc llSp3tcn
The degree OF interest shown in tho
public schools OF Virginia during recent
years by the press and by the people
generally must be a source of genuine
pleasure to all who are Interested In the
cause of education. Careful observers
cannot fall to see that this interest is
genuine and Widespread: that those who
have enlisted their efforts In the present
educational movement in Virginia do not
mean to fall; that the results OF the
efforts now being made for the good OF
the schools of the Commonwealth will
be seen In marked and rapid improve
ment in the work OF the schools.
The interest which is just now being
shown by the State Legislature in the
matter of school supervision. which in
large measure reflects that felt by the
people of the State, Is a hopeful sign
to those who are particularly interested
In his work, whether they regard It's
recent action In retaining the State Board
of Examiners and Inspectors with APP
proval or disapproval.
Without attempting to enter into a
discussion OF this question. l wish TO say
that while school supervision is engag-
Ing the attention OF the Legislature. the
fact should not be overlooked that the
salary paid local superintendent is In
many cases rldlculously small. To quote
from your recent editorial: I'm some
counties the superintendent receives but
5000 a year for his services. and 1t Is
too much to expect that in all such
cases a competent examiner can be had
for that pay With this statement 1
fully agree. Now. IL these superinten-
dents arc Incompetent (for certainly IL
they cannot grade a manuscript with
tolerable accuracy, they cannot be de-
pended upon to supervise the work Of
teachers efficiently. and II their inconl-
petence is to be attributed to the meagre
salaries received. what remedy should
be applied? We must either advocate
such an increase in the salary of these
officers as will command tho services Of
competent men, or say by refusing to do.
so thnt competent men ara not needed
to fill these positions, which would be
absurd. No one will question that the
position is a responsible one, and one
whose duties cannot be properly dis
charged by any other than n capable
man. What are. the services of such n
man worth? Two hundred dollars a
year, or a little more than sixteen dol
lars a month, we arc to suppose, pro-
vided he gives his entire time TO the
work and pays all expenses incident to
carrying on the work.
A common laborer, who is at no ex-
penso. frequently receives twice this
sum. a teacher in the. public schools
who receives twice this amount or more
is regarded, md very properly so, as
being poorly paid for his services. 1t
must be clear that II ones services are
worth anything in such n position, they
ARE worth much more than is provided
for by the present law. The salary paid
should evidently correspond in some
measure with the quality and quantity
OF the work required.
Then the method of determining tllt
salary is manlfestly unfair to the super
%intendents Of small counties. The sala'
ries of division superintendent range
from 500 to nearly sl.W mot to sneak OF
those of city superintendent, which FIRE
quent,y exceed the latter SUM. accord
Ing to the population OF their varloul
divisions. Why SO great difference? nh,
greater number of teachers In large coun
Ties. will give but little additional worl
to the superintendents OF such %countie.
30 far as the examinations of teacher,
In concerned, since the State Board o
Examiners will grade the manuscript
Of all teachers. The larger number O
schools to be visited should NOT accom-
for 40 great q difference, since a recen
regulation of the State Board require
that in all counties In which the nu,nhe
OF schools does not exceed seventy-fIvo
Observation-Disclosures shall visit each schoo
under their supervision Mt least twlc,
during each year.
II il not commanded that this salar;