The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-07
SCHOOL SYSTEM
IS OF THE BEST
Ten Thousand Teachers for
Four Hundred Thousand
Scholars
PRESENT PROBLEMS
TO BE WORKED OUT
Instructors Are Trained to
Highest Standard and
Many Are College
Graduates
lRy II. c. Stearnesl

school system with ten thousand
teachers and four hundred thousand
pupils presents many grave prop
lens. so many, in fact. that few edu-
Gators have attempted to solve them
Of their own choice and pre- determi
nation. The duty has usually been
thrust upon good men already IN har-
ness, and many great thinkers still
look upon the public school as an i'm
possibility In the sense that It's mis-
sion is to do excellent work. Alas,
how sad must be the predicament in
which civilization finds itself in this
year of grace. 1911. upon any such
theory regarding the possibilities OF
public and general education. Look
about you. noble educator. and an
ever the question. II not public
schools. then what?
Virginia Is the proud mistress OF
the school system to which ! have
referred, and 1t seems no longer
matter of discussion how her chill
dren are to be educated. That be-
ing tho case, the purpose Of this ar
ficle lis TO discuss teaehers' training
classes In high schools as part of
that system
These training classes might be
nothing more than n kind OF educa-
tional experiment in this prolific pc
Rod OF pedagogical suggestion, but 10
the writer they seem to enter into
the very texture. the warp and woor.
OF any comprehensive scheme 10
cure ten thousand good teachers for
that proportion OF the four hundred
thousand children who regularly at
tend the schools and the additional
five thousand teachers who VIII he
needed when all OF the four hundred
thousand boys and girls are found 70
be prompt and steady in their at
tendance.
Two theories are advanced as 60
the best means OF Improving our
public schools They are sometimes
found to be- antngonistic in their
practical operation. but as theories
there IL certainly nothing about them
In 20 much concerned with improv-
ing the individual school az with de-
veloping a system that shall guaran-
tee good schools throughout ITS
trtct "A county or a State. One the
ory takes the teaching force as IT Is
and strives to improve the same by
multiplying the number Of supervisors
lit Is called the principle of special
supervision. The other theory strives
10 improve the personnel of corps
or teachers TO such An extent as 10
reduce the number OF supervising Of
fcers 10 a min.mum-~-it magnifies the
work OF the individual teacher AMI
depends more on the suggestive aka
of the general supervisor than the
active participation of the specialist,
either real or eo-cailed. In Virginia
the spirit OF our laws and the tenn
per OF the people combine 10 iudi-
cate. 80 far an rural schools are con-
cerned. tho greater Feasibility 81 the
latter plan particularly in the essen
tails. Both plans will be followed,
to he cure. but the best teachers viii
L. IRt.
out special supervision. .s.%s4i. $ ,4sae.s
Must Have Good Teachers.
The problem before us Is To pro-
vide such an abundant supply OF
good teachers that school boards can
hardly make a mistake. and also. It
may be said tn passing. that the work
OF Cupid among 80 many attractive
women many find itself effectualiy
discounted.
Let US glance for a moment at the
condition OF the teaching force at the
beginning OF the last school year
There were 10.443 teachers In vir-
ginia. or this number 80 were grad
yates of the University OF Virginia.
So Of the College of William and
Mary. 460 OF the State Female Nor
NAL school. II of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute; II of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, colored. 2l7 OF
the Hampton Normal and Agricul-
tural Institute. coiered: 1,0h7 of prt-
vate and UNCONVENTIONAL colleges In
the State. and 4s3 OF colleges outside
of Virginia. Twelve hundred ana
eighty OF the teachers had attended
college for year or more without
being graduates This makes 3.s2s
Y teachers who had enjoyed educa-
tional advantages of very high order.
Basides there were 4,T31 who held
first grade or high school certificates
While 1t Is true that all OF the 1850
who had not graduated at college were
issued either high school or first
grade certificate. and that the same
fact 10 true of some of the college
graduates, 1t Is. nevertheless. appar-
ent that we have very superior class
of men and women teaching the pub
lie pchOols Of this State, more than
1000 being accounted for In the fig-
tires which have given, s-7set.4.s
/ submit that this is an encouraging
exhibit: one. indeed. which reflects
great credit upon our State Board of
Examiners. since 1t indicates efflci-
ency far In advance Of what was OBJ
served In 1905. when they came into
office.
From this encouraging standpoint
let US zee what the high school
teachers classes hav2 contributed to
Improve the situation still further
curing Tins, tHe tulrOs year or their
existence. Twenty-three Of these
classes are located In twenty-five
counties and cities. and they will send
into the school work Of the State no
less than three hundred young men
and women ready to throw the AMI
nation. courage. hopefulness and eau
ton Of well-advissd young manhood
and womanhood into the scales on
behalf Of better school conditions in
Virginia
Preparing the Teachers.
The training OF these young teach
ers 10 shown by the requirements. The
work 10 open to those who have COM
pleted two or three years of high
school work, and most OF the grad
yates were members Of the fourtn-
pear class During the past year they
1csntaausd pa sixth Pase.1