The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-05

only one days vacation at Christmas
and at Easter. and tho taking OF two
weeks vacation at the time the boys
are most needed for planting and har-
resting the crops. would have the
Senool year extend from the list OF
September to the o5th or June: and.
further, would double the present
saiaries OF the teachers. and. having
doubled the salary. would increase
~ according to the efficiency OF the
teacher, All teachers should be re-
CURED to be proficient in certain fixed
courses OF instruction. and those that
are deficient should take six weeks
viaed by the state, these courses COM
mencing the LIST of July each year.
Ihe new teachers should be expected
20 pass examinations, which are made
more rigorous from year to year.
mere Is no reason why Il teacher
should teach only Ave or six months a
year ana do practically nothing the
remaining time. \ good teacher should
certainly receive as much money an
nually as does a nrst-class bricN-
mason. provided he works as many
hours. Tor the foundations of future
state as are the foundations OF the
houses to be used by the citizens.
AS inc state gives this education
srGs ior inc promotion of good citizen
Slris' say, between the ages OF eight
ana sixteen. to attend school. Educ.-
tion should be compulsory. ana strict
nruaht regulations should be observed.
inc work of n teacher can ONLY be
rule. ''
Of since a good newspaper'is a Medium
oi htormation. education and cultlva-
,ion Tor the general public. / ask you.
M. f.dltor. to toll us why education
Is not compulsory in the State of Vir-
IN mn" wb ana ! also beg yon, to inform us
Is education optional?
alternate day the boys can go
% me mill. carry horses to the Ehop.
monk IN the gardens. etc. Tho girls
Rlhd or manual work. 1t seems to be
an old heritage dating back TO ante
nellum times, whereby white women,
no"eEer poor, regard working OUT
rr = VIII not serve ss cooks or nurses.
IheS consequently never learn how 10
Gook, and scientific nursing is an un-
H. omn nrt. When they are married,
~ meals they serve their husbands in
ulIner patls arc an denomination, ana
II Is owing to the good air and mrs
watsr that the children live in spitc
,heir mothers. Much OF this false
prioe may be obv!ated by tho teachers.
mat work of any description is hon.
orable is one OF the first Lessons to he
'auEht In n democratic government.
III at school the child shows marked
ProcIlTities Of study. he Or she should
pc ADVISED and encouraged TO continue
az scnool. II not, ono may well stop
school and 70 to doing -Ome other kim,
"s w1Fk and SIN be one of the most,
community. He has sufficient cduca
tioh Tor practical purposes. The hon
est hard working citizen Will always
DC the hulwark OF soc!ctr.
The State should provide further
education (see below for the boss ana
Slris that show marked aptitude in
their studies. and especially for those
woo desire to become teachers.
l 40 not believe IN. DDrr4.l ErLo.,g .-
such. one must first know a subject
oetore ne can teach II. The normal
.uea seems 10. pay too much attention
TO methods nj teaching. too little at
t%ention to the subject matter. There
IS no royal road to knowledge. neither
rs there an easy wa or short cut To
II Inc gaining of Knowledge. l!sS
proficiency In anything. can be accom-
plished only by hard work and bv con
t%inuous labor. jefferson intended mat
the University of Nirgir!a should he
me cap-stone % puzzle education In
the State. II the authorities In that
institution and those In charge 81
public education would got together.
they might prove OF valuable service
tho one to the other. Illip-.- for ex-
ample, Is giving her state university
Si,oo0,OO6 for the next two years. while
1000 TO 5000 udents lre being In
structed on the campus OF her unlve,-
sity. The same conditions prevail in
many other state universities. cspc-
cially IN the West. Perpetrators schools
for the University OF Virginia might,
he established. say, In Richmond. Nor
folk, ~Lynchburg, pHnvlile. Roanoke.
Alexandria. etc, where. b. studying
and working on alternate days, IN.
boys and girls could practically pa,
their way. provided the instruction
were free. For @ mplc. y could
work in 4 factory one day while r
was at school; the ucy DAY 3 could
continue As work in the factory and
let y be at school. This Instruction
should be under the control Of the
faculty ot the University nf Virginia.
from which institution students could
he returned from year to year as
teachers in the schools. Those bows
ana girls who show proficiency at the
end Of two years In the schools should
receive certain Scholarships. awarded
by the state, say. in value $500. Bv
means OF such scholarships the most
worthy and intelligent scholars could
go TO the University OF Virginia for
two years. or. in COMPENSATION for th-
schola rships they might be required
to teach a year in the schools at some
time later.
BY following some such plan as the
above the poor ->Uy ar girl who liz in
dustr!ous Is given 4 chancc 10 rise.
and is not forever tied by poverty 10
the lower rounds Of the ladder of
fame. however brilliant he or sine may
he. HARRIS HANCOCK.
Professor or Mathematics,
University Of Cincinnati.
EllerSlIc