Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-26
SCHOOLS OF VIRGINIA
Many Interesting Facts in the
Report of Department of
Publ il struction.

tercsting biennial report of 571 pages,
Just at II time when the most import
ant educational measures are coming
up for final action in the two houses.
Superintendent lcggleston gives much
of the credit for tho early compile
ton OF 80 large an undertaking to tho
Intelligent and hearty cooperation of
Public Printer Davis Bottom
The report contains considerably
moro than twice rs many pages as the
nennal report of i003-1905 and as a
source of ready Information on MI
school questions leaves but little to
be desired. It's pages are frightened
by many excellent Illustrations show
Ing the progress made IN corBoliint
Ing rural schools, the Improvement In
school architecture. and the artistic
arrangement of the various sections
OF the jamestown exhibit
/ Other new features which will be
found particularly helpful ana inter-
esting, are comparative tables in iho
superintendent Introduction. the de-
tailed accounts of local conditions in
ihs examiners reports. and the clab-
orntc statement Of all sorts OF paric-
nlars in the body of the hook.
y OOiiR' dDiC5-
The comparative tables appeal al
once to the busy man who wants gcn.
ninl statistics rendy.to- hand and not
too limited In scope. Finding in these
tnblcs relative statemcnts OF school
inauces school buildings. school
teuchcrs school children and almos.
everything else of II schuoi nature. nll
roipg back for three sessions the
husy man feels that he gets birds
ieye view of Il very broad field with Il
minimum OF effort.
Then there rs the man who all
hors tables. and he. no doubt. will he
Interested in The narrative form OF the
examiners reports. Indeed. the aver
ace reader often gcts more out of Il,
single plcturc Of real conditions than
out OF many pages or we'll groupel
I figures
Int the student OF educational ar
fairs or the man charged with their
practical administration. will turn a.
lnally TO the tables. AS he considers
what the various subdivisions have
accomplished, he will he delighted to
lind that he can penetrate beneath tho
surface OF the county recorS ana see
what each district has done-or left
undonc. Superintendent Egglcston
u very pcrtinently remarks.
Districts Practical Units.
u The unit of practical admnlsira.
ton In Virginia is the district and
not the county The statistics of a
county may sccm altogether cncour-
aging, when the facts are that two
excellent districts have produced an
average which DISCUSSES the real con-
\ iition of two other districts needing
Immediate attention and heroic treat
ment This department. therefore.
has given the data for 1906 1907 nv
districts to rs great an extent as
limited time aud the present admin.
is'rativc machinery would permit"
The biennial report discusses pri-
mary schools. high schools. loans from
me literary fund for building houses.
ventilation and lighting, examiners
and Inspectors and their work. divi-
sion superintendent and their work.
teachers, compulsory education. libra !.
RES and many other live topics In the
educational world, all treated in M at
tractivc way and with due regard for
proportion not only in respect to
length of paragraphs ana a proper al
iotmeht of space to each subject. but
also in resnect 10 the entire amount
OF space devoted TO the whole dis.
cnsslon, II Is not practicable at this
nmc TO notice all. or even very many.
OF these various topics further than 10
recommend generally their careful
consideration. but ii will not be out
OF place to quote the following obser-
Natinns of the superintendent In REF
erehce to the salaries of teachers.
Teachers Poor Pay.
While II is true that in some cn,in
ues and cities the salaries of teach
crs have been increased, the deplor-
aoie fact remains that in most of tho
counties aud cities the salaries arc
| much too low. There is still vast
neid untouched by the agitation OF the
| iAst Two or three years. There are
! white teachers in Virginia who last
session received only slJ per month
lor term OF five months. Scores of
them get $50 ana S25 per month for
terms not exceeding six months: ana
! YET the cry goes up from some quar-
ters that we must call halt: that
pubic education in Virginia Is being
'oVerdone These figures do not give
any serious indication that wild on
thusiasm has run away with common
sense.
49, Good Teachers Cheapest.
;, we must continue to preach that
Is loss OF money TO pay SIS per
month Tor Inadequate service. and that
II Is a gain to pay $50 per month for
5000 service 1t is not economy bui
cN'ravasance TO educate teachers at
we state Normal school and In tho
school OF experience in Virginia, aud
.nen permit other states TO draw this
hient TO their school rooms by The
attraction of higher wages Scores of