The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-09
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY ., 1910.
HOUSE BILL 40. So.

ItONSJL Dill NV. So
Wien tho superintendent OF schools
yere selected last year howl arose
fom come communities because local
tyorftes were not designated. The
fternath of their resentment is House
fiji No. SIS. which provides that no
ian shall be eligible as a superinten-
ent unless lie is . citizen and a
ualified voter in the county or di-
ision over which he is TO be APP
oinseds This bill is thoroughly bad,
40 ought to he put TO death without
:rupies.
We ought all to get it into our
sads. once and forever, that the pub
school system OF Virginia is a
sate system, supported by the state
or tho good of the State, and that IL
loro is one thing more than another
lat it positively is not run for, it is
provide a fat appanage to local
olitics. The city and county schools
re positively not run to furnish snug
srths for homefolks who happen to
ave the necessary pull. There is only
ne thing that ought to be considered
the selection of school superinten
snts, and that is superior illness for
10 extremely important work they
nd very different standard Not merit,
it the accident Of residence, is made
e prime test, though 1t should take
5 profound student to perceive that
is merit alone. and not residence in
le least. that makes the good officer.
he proper way to choose a school
superintendent is to get the man best
lalified. giving the preference to a
cal candidate where two men seem
oout equal. The method of choice
hich this bill lays down is to get a
cal man at all hazards, giving tho
.eference to a wen-qualified man If
ich there be. a fit local man If you
IN, but local man anyway.
There is so much to be said agains
is wrong headed proposal that on
estates where to begin. 1t throw
lie school system back into the whil
local politics and tends to attac
e superintendencies to the patronag
the county organization or the dis
5ict Congressman. By dcliberatel
osing the door to new blood an
esh points of view, it develop
,actly the kind of ingrowing educa
on that the State desires TO get ava
ON. BY making residence the tes
serves notice on every able an
nhitious principal that there is n
IS which he happens to work should
appen to need a new superintendent
pine other district may soTely need
d desire him superintendent, but
may not have him. Before the APP
sintments last yer. the. school au-
8oritics of a n.Hnkcr. OF cities and
unties requested the State Board to
ind them a superintendent from out
1e. This bill would make it i'm
assible for the board to listen TO any
ch request. II would force a local
5ndidate on every community, no
after though the entire community
rongly objected TO such candidate
ID strongly desired superintendent
pm outside The state gives large
ms OF money 10 William and Mary
llege. especially to train young men
r leadership in public work, and is
itting splendid returns for its in
tstment. But this bill would make il
possible to promote these specially
aimed men to Observation-Disclosures, UNI
IS they happened to be qualified
tiers in counties or divisions where
" superintendent wero to be ap
inted.
There is no moro reason that ioca
tiers alone should be eligible 70
perintendencies than that nativ
rGinians alone should be eligible t
ofessorshps in the University G
rgipia The essential badness Q
is bill is that it sets up and enforce
totally wrong standard for trans
Ting state business of vital impor,
ice, The State Board now has tn
wer 10 choose superintendent upo
q basis OF fitness only. There
Sly one test Of whether this powc
Il being wisely and fairly used, an
lat is the character OF the men al
United under it. If the school Board
sloading unfit superintendent on ii
ate let US hear about H. If an
immunity desires to make a con
Amt against the fitness OF its supe
endent. this paper will Take plea
q in opening It's columns TO ii
argos. II these complaints are fir
ent and widespread. let us adm
lat the men on tho present Soho
ard are not III to be trusted wi
Il important a power, and let us !
ace them with others more reliab
81 il, on the other hand, it appea
lat the School Board has appoint
loroughly capable and we'll trair
perintendents. who have impro,
ucatiopal conditions in their distr
Va whore entire competency nobc
IN question. lie, us agree that tn
M no justification for tying til