The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10
'EGGLESTON ON
FALSE ECONOMY
State Superintendent Writes
Strong Paper OH School
Building.
SHOULDN'T HOARD MONEY
Picture OF School Building Shown
IS i'll Prosperous County and
Board Has Surplus.
q nY j. ID. EGGLEsToN, .JR.
State Superintendent of Public Instruc-

d
Tie pioturc exhibited herewith shows
schoolhousc In one OF the richest
coutties In Virginia. The publication
seems 10 he timely because i have
been informed by moro than one prom
inent man In the State that pub
licl education Is being "ovcrdone":
that we arc going too fast; that
3'tliere is bound to be n reaction" be-
cause the department. is insisting that
tschoolhouses shall be properly venti-
.stcd. lighted and heated, and properly
located.
Some one will say that this school
house is IN exception j am prepared
I TO prove that IL is not. The exceptions
are so NUMEROUS that many of us who
have investigated this matter are in
cined to think that they are the rule.
This schoolhouse is not bad. because
1t lis a log schcolhouse; indeed. a log
sscllcolhouse is superior in looks to
tho. desolate-l looking Imprinted baa
that defaces the landscape throughout
the State. II is bad because 1t is too
small. because It is not well venli-
lated: becausb It's surroundings are
anything bot inviting.
- Has Money TO spare.
The school district in which this
yschool is situated has $4,000 surplus
\ in bank The last report shows thai,
the surplus of county school funds In
this. county amounted to over $4,000.
This is one of the graTest problems
1ith which the administration has to
4 deal There seems to be deeply
rooted conviction among large mum.
her of trustees that 1t is economy to
hoard school money. What / have
said on school economy in my bien-
NAL report, take the liberty OF re-
peating here:
with an increase of school funds.
1t becomes more essential than ever
to place the schools on a more definite
basis. Unless the STATE and local au-
thoiities use the increased revenues
not only economically but Intelligent
ly the people Will certainly call for II
reduction of the levies. There can be
no result except abiect failure unless
school officials keep two things in
mind: First, that economical manage
ment of the schooy funds does not
mean boarding the school moneys: and
second, shat there must be. a proper
and definite ideal toward which to
work.
Shouldn't BE Honrdcd.
school taNes are not voted by the
people or the supervisors to be hoard
ed We must get, away from the idea
that economical expenditure means
boarding money or spending as little
NJ possible 1t means the expenditure
of the money wisely, without waste.
/, is a frightful waste 10 hoard money
and waste the children's opportunt-
ties. A school official who thinks that
the wise management of school funds;
is the accumulation Of those funds in
bank from year TO year. or whose
policy is 10 spend no money unless it
is wrung out of him. has not a proper
4. tai n To-
fortunately, there are several districts
and counties In the State where money,
voted by the people or levied by the
supervisors for the better education of
the children, is boarded in the banks;
and the schools in these counties and
districts show the results of this short
sighted policy. That is school ,econo-
my which gives to the children tile
largest opportunity to learn as quickly
and thoroughly as possible and spends
every available dollar that is necessary
& Tor this purpose