The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-03
MOTHERS WOULD
LOWER AVERAGE
Barton Heights Patrons Con-
fer With Public School
Officials
DECLARE 90 PEI CENT
MARK Is TWO EXACTING
Solution of Problem May Be
Reached at Secret Meet
ing, it is
Hoped

Whether the 80 per cent on month
ly standing Is to be allowed to remain
as the mark for exemption from ex-
aminations in the barton Heights pub
lie school is expected TO be settled at
a conference Friday afternoon be-
tween the school officials and several
prominent patrons of the chooL.
This mark was established by Miss
Elizabeth Cobbs, who served the
school for two years as principal be-
fore embarking on the seas OF matri-
mony at the close OF last session.
Miss Cobhs. who Is now Mrs e. A.
Pritchett, of Pittsylvania county,
maintained the standard during her
ineumbency as principal despite pre-
yailing opinion that 1t was rather
high and exacting.
When Mr.. Joseph Harper Brent.
of Northumberland county. stepped
into the former principals shoes last
September he decided to continue the
standard of percentage OF exemption
from examinations, and 1t appears
that he has stirred UP quite "A rumpus
In attempting to do 20.
Would Lower Standard.
Many patrons OF the school take
the ground that the standard being
10 per cent in excess of that set b.
the Richmond schools, should be low
cred, and they declare they will not
rest content until 1t Ia.
The matter was first agitated at a
recent meeting of the Mothers Club
OF Barton Heights. of which Mrs.
Kosher w. Miller is president.
Friday morning Principal Brent was
In conference for ON time with Sup
erintendent Arthur ID. Wright, OF the
county school system, in AN effort to-
arrive at some solution of the per-
centage problem. and Ii Is likely that
they win have some definite propo-
sitiun to submit that viii be satisfac-
tory to all parties.
1t Is known. however, that Mr..
Brent still adheres to the belief thai
80 per cent. Is not too high. in view
OF the fact that all pupils who fail
TO reach thar mark on monthly ave-
RACES have the privilege of standing
examinations for promotion. These
examinations are held twice each
serm-once IN January and again in
June. An average of Is per cent is
required on examinations,
30 Per Cent Passed.
II IL said that so per cent of the
pupils. who stood the examinations
las month came through successfully
and that percentage, the teachers de-
clare, Ia In excess of the number in
the Richmond schools for the mid
winter term.
Mr.. Brent was no In hts Off ce at the
school when the reported called, but he
was ably represented by a very clever
young lady, who fills the dual position
OF school marin and special Office work
She expressed the opinion that the 80
per cent. mark was not too high, bu,
declined TO go into the history of the
proposition. and the details leading tT
to this present aclte situation.
The mothers. who are agitating the
proposition, are also non-committal or
the subject. declaring that 1t is not a
matter for the newspapers.
Mrs. r. w. Miller, was very emphatic
In declining to talk for publication Fri
day. n so was Mrs. r. C. Carr. Both
OF them will attend the conference In
the school. Mrs. A. c. Stevenson and
Mrs. II. l.. whitiock will also attend.
$500 To Represent School.
Representing the school side of the
controversy will be Superintendent
Wright Principal Brent. and Miss
Harriet Snow and Miss Mary San
ders, teachers In the school.
The meeting will be secret. but ii Is
likely that "a statement will be issued
after adjournment.
Mrs. Miller has no children in al
tendance upon the school and will bs
present as official head OF the mothers
One Of the mothers, who has a lit
tie boy in attendance, said Friday tina
there are SO many unnecessary sub
jects included IN the public school
system of to-day that she Is somewhat
at sea as to what to do with her son
though she would probably let him
attend the Barton Heights school unit
he was fairly well grounded in the
three RS. Then she would probably
e him elsewhere.
One OF the patrons. it is stated, has
three pupils In the school INF objects
to the high monthly standard on the
ground that they are no physically
able to keep up to the mark without
serious injury TO their health. The
school officials. on the other hand. poin,
out that in such cases the situation
could be largely cleared by a certificate
from a physician.
1t IL understood that as a result O.
the pending controversy the name OF
the Mothers Club may be changed q,
its next meeting. The mothers, II
seems, claim that their organization
Is not altogether similar in purposes
to organizations bearing the same name
In Richmond and elsewhere, and sc
they wish to adopt some other name.