The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-03
The Approuehln. Edlucn.lonni Confer

EDITOR 81 The Times. ,ypntf si,,oat,onal
Conference to be held In Roanoke
OF the most important educational
meetings ever held In virginia. -,
not be overeytiinnted. Never before In
the history OF our school system na ~
the INTRINSIC value OF organized effort
amonY teachers been 80 fully reeog-
nent OF Public instruction 80 ear.
nestly urged teachers OF every county !
and city to .organize local Asso ciat'o .t,
sfato through them afln5s tat
the educational forces of Virginia may
Jointly bring the needs OF our schools
and school system to the attention te.i. o. o.
those In Whose hands the destiny ST. ny OF
Tho State Teachers Association has
received unmorited CRITICISM In the
past by those who have held nloof
from It, because 1t has not. conducted
specific lines.
From this class OF our critic friends
the association has had no financial
support and few practical and helpfni
The chief reason why the association
has not pushed Its work with greater
vigor is because 1T has been beset on
ers. It was only by the indomitable
courage Of our honored ex-president In
his devotion to duty that the assocla-
ton survived the experimental stage.
Whatever may have been the short
comings of our worthy organization in
Its early struggle FIR existence. the ex-
detrimental stage has passed. and. IKE
present educational campaign with
definite plans and purposes. at last
measuring up we think. to the ideal
set by our doubling critics.
| In response to the call OF our gal
liant State Superintendent, j. ID. Eggie-
4 ston, Jr., the State Teachers Ass0cia..
tlon pledges itself to use all honorable
means to influence our next General
Assembly to appropriate $4,000 for
the support Of State summer institutes.
/ giving free tuition for teachers; S210s-
900 additional for the support Of pris
mary and grammar schools; 100000
for the support OF high schools giving
free tuition to all students within
school age.
It pledges itself to support n min
imum salary law, and last. but not
stimulate professional spirit among
It's members. that they may fully APP
tprecate the responsibilities OF the
noble work In which they are engaged.
and equip themselves accordingly.
To defray the expense OF the pres
rnt aggressive campaign. money is
needed. and the State Teachers Asso-
citation asks each teacher who desires
to enlist In this noble. work to pay
La membership fee equal TO five. cents
Iper month for each month his school is
lactually In session during the scholas-
tic year. provided. however. that the
1 maximum assessment for any associa-
ton Is only SIS.
4 While this assessment Is ridIculously
lsmall. IL each teacher in Virginia will
contribute Just Twenty-Five cents. an
lnually we shall have ample funds to
lpush the work with such vigor that
new life will be infused into education
-Ial work In every county In the state.
4 In recent political campaign. II
was estimated that one OF the success
full candidates spent $1,000 in carry
Ing. on his campaign to get the nomi-
lnation.
one-fourth OF this sum and increased
life will be infused INTO educational
work In every section OF our State.
But the State Teachers Association
has subsisted upon the will o. the wisp
of good wishes as long as a healthy
financial policy will permit We must
have prompt responses from all local
associations. II our state organization
1.-THE development OF our educationai
system.
Is there teacher in Virginia who
can afford to hold aloof from an organ
ization whose mission y TO raise to
[ he Is engaged?
II local associations would have thei,
delegates recognized In the November
4 Conference without question, assess
ments should be RENTED before No
lvember 10th.
1t is urged that names OF delegates
be reported promptly to the treasurer
when remittance of dues IL made. A.
chairman OF the committee on enter
; tainment, every effort possible will bt
made to assign pleasant homes TO reg
a ular delegates of the State Teachers
4 Association.
The promptness with which this an
peal is answered will speak in mos
), eloquent terms.
N. p. PAINTER Treasurer. *
i Virginia State Teachers. Asso'n.
i Roanoke, Va. October 20. 1907.
bishop Hall Criticized.