The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-24
MISS RICHMAN TALKS
ON SEMI-EFFCIENCY
SCHOOLS AND TRADES UNIONS
PARTLY TO BLAME, SAYS
GOTHAM EDUCATOR.


That the schools and trades uatoi-
ism are largely responsible for so
called senli efficiency is4&he opinion of
Miss Julia Rtchman, the distinguished
New York educator. who delivered an
address befors the Educational Con-
ference Wednesday night under the
auspices Of the koyS' Corn CLUB and
the Club of Girls Domestic Science.
Although Miss Riehnaa regards un
ions as al absolute necessity in the
regulation Of hours and the fixing Of
minimum wages and factory coudi-
tons, she believes the unions. as well
as the employers. make a mistake in
not providing bonus for those who
viii do more work and better work.
Under the prevailing system. she says,
that q premium il placed on semi
efficiency, If not inefs3ciency.
Japan. she says. knows the principle
of efficiency in schools better than any
other nation. because every child in
that country Is taught that everything
must be done well. America Is az we'll
equipped as any other country with
brains. she SAYS. but has not yet learn
ed how to use them
Teach the Child.
To sum ZIP Miss Richinan's views on
the subject Of schools, too little atten-
ton is paid to teaching the child in
America and too much attention Is
paid to the course of study.
Miss Richmand is much impressed
with the progress of educational work
In Virginia and the methods employed.
She was particularly impressed with
the boys ard girls demonstration work
as revealed to her Wednesday night,
and she Gays she is going back to New
York with the determination TO put
some OF her Virginia Impressions into
practice AS soon as possible.
Members Of the Boys Corn Club who
receited experience in progressive
farming were f. w Gordon. Meckien-
burg county; Albert stone. Campbell
county. James King Gray. Loudoun
coanty; George X. " est, Louisa eoun-
ty.
Firis who talked On the subject OF
domestic science were Miss Della Will
hanson, Nansefnond county; Miss
Helen Hughes. Sottoway county;
Miss Crewes, Halifax county: Miss
Natalie Terry, halifax county.
One of the features of the meet.
kr8 was the music furnished by the
hequemeourg school OF Music.
Chandler Interested.
Special treatment for backward pu~
pills In the Richmond pubhc schools
VIII likely result from the address
delivered by Miss Hickman on tina;
subject "Wednesday morning before
the Educational Conference. Super
intendent Chandler. who was especial
ly impressed with her remarks, says
that he will make an effort to secure
special provision for at least twenty
pupils who have shown themselves SO
Tar below the standard in department
and otherwise as to require segrega-
ton from other scholars The ways
ana means Of accomplishing this re-
suit are yet to be worked out, al
though DR.. Chandler has In mind one
Of his teachers. who, he believes. Is
exceptionally equipped for the task
of handling delinquents. There are
at last twenty more pupils that also
need segregation for their good. as
well as the other pupils. he says, but
their cases are not 20 urgent az those
he hopes to segregate nrst.
The difficulty In the way Of put
ting Miss Richman's views into prae-
tice more effectively, says DR.. Chan
der lies in the fact that Virginia has
no compulsory educational laws which
are In effect In New York and othe.
NSAeCSs ASCtadeC Va tuiSy H0 &AyD, there
IL no way to force q parent to send
hts child to Z special school for de-
fectives,. II he should object to doing
so, as would probably be the case In
a number OF instances
Transportation an Item.
Another problem confronting DIR
Chandler 10 lack OF provision for
transportation. This, he says, would
prove TO be considerable item. as
It would be unreasonable to expect
pupils attending such q school to paw
their own car fare from various parts
OF the city. or II they were forced 70
do 20 they might use that ~ an ev-
cuse for not coming to school. In
Boston ana other progressive cities.
he has been informed by Miss Rich
mnn, civic societies have assumed the
burden Of this phase OF the problem
and have readily supplied the neces-
sary funds with excellent results
DIR. Chandler was particularly inter-
ested In Miss Rtchman's talk on de-
fective and backward pupils because
OF the fact that he has about the same
number OF children in his Richmond
school system as she has In her New
| York district.
Bird 10 . Veteran.
Among the prominent educators at :
tending the conference Ia Professor
Hugh 8. Bird. superintendent Of the
Fredericksburg schools. For twenty
years Professor Bird flied the chair Of
pedagogy at William and Mary, and
during that period he impaired instruc-
tlcn and sdvice to twenty three nj the
100 superintendent now Included In
the Virginia conferences. Five years
ago he gave up educational work Ia
enter business bull ~ returned to this