Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-12-01
Saturday, December l, 1906

Educational conference, which was
opened in Richmond Tuesday night,
was a brilliant success in the number
of teachers and school authorities in
attendance, in the interest manifested
in its proceedings and in the zeal dis
played by everyone participating in |
the exercises for the betterment OF the
schools of the State. The principal
speaker of the evening was Governor
Swanson and in an address full OF in
terest, he urged the necessity for bet
ter schools and pointed the way tol
their improvement, if the people
through their officials will avail them
selves Of the opportunities presented
by recent acts of our Legislature. 1t
is an admirable speech. and in every
respect we'll in keeping with promises
made by him before he was elected,
to do all in his power to infuse new
life and vigor in the educational sys-
tenn of the State. Every line of 1t has
our approval, but the part of it sub
mitted below is especially worthy OF
commentator and will be heartily
endorsed by all of the people who are
interested, not only in the schools,
but in the welfare and prosperity OF
the State. The part of it especially
worthy our attention is as follows:
Another need is high schools in
the rural communities so that a bet
ter and higher education can be
there secured. Many people leave
the country and go to the cities in
order to obtain superior educational
advantages for their children. The
exodus from the country to the cities
oc, asioned by this is immense and
increases every year. This congestion
of population in the cities at the ex-
pense of the country is detrimental
to the best interests of the state.
Three-fourths of our people live in
the country and must depend upon
the rural schools for education.
These schools must be improved,
must be given higher and more thor
ough courses if we are ever to possess
great educational elevation of the
masses of our people. Recognizing
this necessity, the last General Assem-
bly, responded to their needs and
made an appropriation for the crea-
ton of high schools in all the coun-
ties of this state. The securement of
this state appropriation has been
made dependent upon an equal
amount being provided the school
from other sources. Opportunity is
now given to have splendid high
schools throughout this state. Already
149 high school have been created
under this act. The rural communities
are generously responding to the leg
islative aid, and the time seems to
be approaching when the children in
the country can obtain an education,
or equip themselves for college, equal
to those in the cities.
But the greatest evils that have af-
flicted the public schools of Virginia
for years have been the shortness of
the school terms and the low salaries
paid teachers. The school terms are
entirely too short. The pupils can
not have that daily and continuous
increase in knowledge and growth in
mental faculties which are so neces-
sary to educational development.
Frequently pupils forge during the
long vacation the knowledge acquired
during the short session.
Then, the pay of the teachers of
this state should be increased. Vir-
ginia, on an average, has been paying
the poorest salaries of any state.
Seventy-seven per cent. of our teach
ers are women, and until this present
session their yearly average salary
was only S194.14.
The cost of living has greatly in
creased in all directions, and yet we
expect our female teachers to live on
that paltry sum.
So small is the compensation paid
in comparison to other occupations
that our male teachers have been re-
duced from SO per cent. in 1876 to %
per cent. last year. If this rate of de-
crease continues the male teacher
iii Virginia will soon be an extinct
species.
For the work done, the responsible
ty imposed, the capacity required,
the school teachers of Virginia are
the poorest paid persons in the state.
know the mental worries, the phys
ical discomforts, the exacting work
that conscientious teacher must
undergo.
My heart goes out to the poorly
paid TEACHERS of Virginia, and l
pledge them to use all the power of
my office and all the influence 1 pos
sess to have their salaries made COM
mensurate with the compensation de-
rived from other vocations. The
best interest of the state requires it..
Accomac was well represented at
Il r. n.