The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-13
When using baking
powder it is always econ
o1ny to buy the Royal.
Royal makes the finest,
most wholesome and de-
licious food.

fined to the division superintendent.
When an Inspector went into a rural neigh.
borhood the question was asked. who
Is he?" The reply was, "IIe.is the school
inspector. and he gets $500 year"
What does he do?" ooh. he wits thu
schools and examines the teachers"
/ Such an Introduction at once develops
a spirit OF opposition that will require
| years OF patient effort, upon tho part Of
i the inspector. to overcome; and before
he can make any Roadway against Il.
any taxpayer who thinks he has iniIu.
ence with his representative In the Gem
eral Assembly. may advise said repre-
sentative to cut down expenses OF the
State by looping or the useless In
] spector.
| An Inspector visited n country school
/ not long ago and found matters In poor
shape AS gently as possible he sug-
| gested some changes. among others q
plan for grading the school 30 that the
| work could be done with more system.
That teacher was considerably shaken
up. Recognizing his desire to help in
! her work, she feared his authority and
sincerely believed that he expected too
| much Of country teacher In country
school. That inspector proceeded no
/ farther in that county at that time. but
/ crs In that and adjoining counties, 80
! that many teachers were exercised In
4 anticipation OF the visit of the inspector.
| clothed with authority. to them, abso-
I Lutte.
! The way those teachers hustled fos
| information about grading country
| schools would have delighted the MEM
| bers OF the State Boerd of Education
| with their experiment, hut notice! These
] ttaro .s,I Mt nr rC1n
| tives and friends who are influential in
| their several countries. They are the
| folks at home to the legislator before
mentioned. and they said in no uncer-
a.! tain tones, when they saw him Lop
Off those school inspectors"
| Teachers examinations In Virginia are
| accounted II mournfu necessity, unless
| they can be avoided. I don't know why
| they should be go much dreaded. since
they are usually fair. but 1t is rare
| that n teacher can be found willing to
submit to an examination unless 1t be
ar absolute requirement. Old teachers,
supposedly familiar with the subjects
will, year after year, pull out a time
worn certificate and ask for renewal
by the division superintendent. Some
| OF us think this renewal scheme has
been slightly overworked. for know
| a second grade certificate that has been
renewed for seven years SUCCESSFULLY,
but we observe that the plan appears
TO give the superintendent a good stand
| ing with the influential citizens in his
baliwick
When a teacher especially breads an
| examination, and the superintendent
| feels that he cannot conscientiously make
| further concessions. Il way of escape Is
supplied by an order from the Depart
L n I,l, ,.t, ko rtat.
| be excused from examination If she
| will attend summer school OF methods.
| Thus for many years our teachers have
| plodded on. They knew their superin-
| tcndent, and when he failed them, there
was the school OF methods with a fairly
| profitable and enjoyable time They had
mastered the situation. but consterna-
ton came when they found themselves
| ever fronted with new and unknown
| factor; to wit: an inspector! 1t is not
surprising that they sought and found
champions among their knsfolk and
acquaintances, nor that the latter should
interest the nearest member of the Gen
eral Assembly, perchance extracting
promise from him that he would lop
| Off those inspectors.
| Now let us get back to our original
proposition; viz: the difficulty of legis-
| lating ahead of public sentiment and its
| carollIng, educate your legislator" An
attempt was made to lay the situation.
as regards primary and secondary edu-
cation in this State, plainly before the
General Assembly in the belief that its
members could ind would appreciate
the situation and the urgent need OF
! bettering conditions. That the members
OF the lower branch did not properly ap-
| preciate them goes without saying; OF
It. s,,t11 IL ctt1
| in doubt.
Every effort put forth by tho friends
Of progress to prevent the repeal Of this
law is so much contributed to the in-
struction of those who do not see clear
| IL the Importance ofa&the office. Our
leading papers have helped much and
may accomplish more by their editorial
utterances. All this falls under the head
Of education preparatory TO legislation.
but, It will be great misfortune to lose
ground already seemingly gained. It
! We're farEbetter that the law should stand
and thus afford occasion for full cons
sideration. and criticism by those who
understand not it's use nor the urgent
| need ofsit. sss
Virginia cannot saffoyd 80 continue in
| her present condition. as-segards public
| education. Already she IS far behind
| most of her sister States. Shall her sons
| continue to impede her efforts to quicken
her pace? Let all truesi Virgnians ques-
/! ton whether, our opposition tsavors aught
! of prejudice,i personal cons iderations. or
! partizan obligation, and, IL 1t does, cut
! it down. "The grand old State" needs
our help and can i'll tolerate hindrance
at this juncture. ,6t g NJ
Perhaps the most scholarly woman in
| society in the capital is Mrs. Henry
| Cabot Lodge. AS the daughter OF Rear