The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-09
Public SChOOIExan7inafOnS

Editor Of The Times-Dispatch:
Sir-Permit me to preface. the basis
OF this article. the following extract from
remarks OF Dr. Cannon. as reported by
The Times-Dispatch:
I'VE need 5000 teachers; we need over
1000 new teachers: 1890 stood the exani-
nations this year; 100 secured first grade
certificates; about the same number
cured second grade. and about so secured
third grade
Now. It is a clear proposition to the
minds Of all candid thinkers that If the
Virginia public schools are IN fun opera
ton. allowing for a large number Of hold
overs. some thousands OF teachers must
now be occupying their positions under
some sort OF claimed discretionary power
exercised by board OF examiners. shall
not pretend to discuss this matteE from
a legal standpoint though Superinten-
dent NJ D. Hall. Of Fairfax. contends
that there Is no law for the use OF such
power, for which. I was sorry to see. as
by your report. that he received scant
courtesy at the hands Of many OF our
should-bs dignifed educational leaders.
But the question before the Virginia
people to-day is whether or not the exer-
else OF so large and sweeping discre-
tionary powers by State Board OF Ex-
amfners is less detrimental 70 the cause
OF public education than any possible dis
erection which may have hitherto been ex-
schools under the old system OF e1ami-
natlons1 I think not. nor can see any
reason why We may expect any relief
I from certain. perhaps imaginary. abuses
| through largely extending that power Of
discretion whence such abuses may be
/ derived.
! Change does not necessarily imply I'm
/ proveunent and this change seems. CON
structively at least 10 have been made
upon a principle little complimentary TO
/ county superintendent Of schools. Nor
| can 1 say that this particular educational
/ move for higher things. which does not
1 seem TO move anywhere Gor I fail 10 See
/ how thousands OF discretionary appointed
/ teachers can accomplish more than a Ike
number OF those examined and licensed .
Is made in any complimentary spirit 90
the old teachers who have hitherto borne
the burden Of the fabric.
In consideration Of what has been ao-
complished educationaliy FOR devastated
and depleted state we might pause 10 re-
| fleet as 70 whether or not we are attempt
ing TO erect a new superstructurs on a
fallacy Are the teachers hitherto con-
nected With the system so Inefficient that
they must be eliminated from this beau
tiful rising fabric by drastic system OF
examinations? But 81 seems that you
cannot get rid OF bad shilling, for. from
above quoted figures. they must have
been dischargd to be employed again at
higher wages. though it Is to be d.
voutiy hoped that the good ones were not
eliminated.
: have heard Superintendent 7. NJ shu-
] mate Of Loudoun, as late as 1886. say
that there were few schools In his county
from which pupils could not directly enter
the various colleges OF the State--as
matter OF fact. did so-and SD in every
other county IN which environments were
the safne-I shy environments. not money.
In many parts OF the State public
schools are NOT what they should be but
q false diagnosis or the case may lead TO
fatal plumbers and unnecessary expense.
SO Il may be well that our educational
leaders in improvement largely college
professions and teachers Of city schools
probe a little deeper before committing
the state to Ideal platitudes. They might
investigate the practical worth OF an I'M