The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-14
Retain the school Examiners.

Editor OF The Times-Dispatch:
Sir,-Touchins the pending measure
before the General Assembly, having
for its object the abolition of the
State Board of Examiners, I feel con-
strained to cite q specific instance OF
the valuable work done by one OF the
school examiners, as illustrating the
importance of retaining this board as
a part of our educational machinery.
Not quite year ago, being i'm
pressed with the great need of better
school facilities in Bedford county, l
requested Mr.. j. S. Thomas dhen e&-
aminer of the third circult) TO assist
me in a series of educational meet
ings in various localities In TINS couh .
~. Our efforts covered period or
about one week. The result of this
special work may be briefly stated as
follows:
There is now new consolidated
school building, costing over s6'ooV,
with a high school department. at
Montvale, where formerly, there was
dilapidated. overcrowded. two,room
building. There is a similar building.
hut not so costly, at Moneta. In aaoi-
ton, there is practically assured a
handsome new building, far ahead OF
anything yet attempted in this county,
at New London Academy.
AT Montvale. directly responsive to
the efforts of Mr.. Thomas. the citizens
subscribed $4,000: at Moneta they SUB
scribed $500; at New London Acad-
envy, $4,000 and at ThaSton, about ST.
500 In addition to these sums. and
largely through the efforts of Mr.
Thomas, we secured an increase of .
cents on the 500 in the county school
levy for the year 1909. thus adding
about $4,000 to the school revenue. Be
sides this. the Board of Supervisors
appropriated $4,000 for the New Lon
don Academy movement.
Thus the efforts OF one of the school
examiners. in one weeks time, resulted
in private subscriptions amounting to
$4,000, and. in addition, in an increase
of $4,000 in the school revenues, or a
total OF s14500.
This is the result in dollars and
cents. But far more potential is the
enthusiasm and impulse impaired to
the educational sentiment of this
| county by the work OF Mr.. Thomas.
1 am told that to maintain the State
Board of Examiners involves a cost
| to tho State of about $4,000 per year.
| In other words. ono member OF this
board practically paid into the Treas
ury OF the State. as result of one
| Of the annual cost of maintaining the
entire board.
| ! publish this statement for the in
formation of the members of the Cen
eral Assembly who have under advise
ment the pending bill Doubtless, my
| experience could he multiplied by the
experiences Of other division super
| intendents.
Many considerations might be urged
| against the wisdom of abolishing this
| board, but no doubt such arguments
have been fully presented.
A merchant who dismissed from his
| service salesman whose business
produced profit many times exceed
! ing his salary would be considcre
lacking in good Judgment. ] venture
| TO assert that no officer of this State
begins to produce for the State. either
In money or in things better than
money. SO large a profit In proportion
| 10 the expense involved as do the
| state Board OF Examiners. From the
standpoint Of one who comes In prac-
! tical touch with their work, I respect
fully submit that to abolish this board
would be to immeasurably impair tho
| efficiency OF the Department. of Public
instruction. S. S. LAMBETH, JR.
Bedford City, February II.