Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-10-12
Mr.. CURLErT ON SCHOOLS.
EDITOR VIRGINIA CITIZEN.

EDITOR VIRGINIA CITIZEN.
1t seems that the people of our State
are at last awakening to the necessity
of better schools, more efficient officials
and more competent teachers. This isl
1T should be. The Democratic party
made no mistake in selecting Mr.. Egg
gleston as state superintendent of
schools, he is man Of unco mon
energy and peculiarly well fitted for
this most important office, and the
writer does not hesitate to add that if
our sc. DOL. system does not receive a
decided impetus for it's general better
ment, it will be because our county
superintendent and district trustees
are inefficient and derelict in their
duties, for which the people should call
them to account. One of the principal
causes of failure in our schools in a
general way is the lack of interest,
personal interest exercised by the pa
irons of schools in their own locality.
Try to encourage the teachers by your
moral and sympathetic support. If your
child tells you of some disturbance in
the school, tending towards demoraliz.
ing or destroying the school disciplin,
it is your right to call the boards at
tention to the matter, and it is their
duty to investigate it.
The last legislature did everything in
its power to give every mans child an
opportunity to secure a good founda-
ton for general education.
But it was never intended that our
primary schools should suffer to bene-
mt our high schools, and it would be in
my Judgment, unwise to sacrifice the
district schools for this purpose, for
again the poor mans child is barred
perhaps by distance or other causes,
and the law is nullified for the benefit
of few and to the serious detriment
of the many.
There is no honor in serving as a
member of the district school-board.
except in cases of duties well and
faithfully performed; therein all the
honor lies. So it seems whenever a
member cannot through business reas-
ons attend to this important local Office
and ne can secure more efficient
person, he owes it to the community
not to cucumber the Office any longer
than he can vacate it. Now word to
the teachers themselves, we must never
lose sight of the fact that we hold the
most responsible position in our COM
munity, bar nonel
We should educate mentally and
morally-or spiritually, if you prefer
the coming generation of men and wo-
men, We have an. opportunity to leave
an impress upon the manners, conduct,
and general character of every bow and
girl with whom we come in contact:
early impressions are lasting. If for
no other reason, we should do our duty
because better teachers means better
pay.
Now, another thing; don't think a
little authority puts us on pedestal
above our patrons. Remember we have
charge of the dearest things on earth
to them, their little ones, and thew
necessarily have right to know the
causes of punishment, etc.
Courtesy is the true insignia of the
real lady or gentleman.
This letter is prompted through in
terest not only in the success of our
schools, its officials, and teachers, but
In the earnest desire that the acts of
the last legislature may be appreciated
to the fullest extent, and our laws
through the efficiency of our local of
ficials may prove of great benefit to
the whole people. Yours,
JNo. CURLETT.
Wheaton, Va.