The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-21
SCHOOL INQUIRY
TO Be THOROUGH
Special Committee to Begin Its
Work to-Alorrow .Aitcr-
noon.
POLLOCK BECOMES CHAIRMAN
Charges include Excess Pay,
Lack OF Adaptabili,y and Eric
ton in Management.


ton in Management.
Investigation of the public school
system of Richmond ordered several
months ago. viii begin to-morrow af.
icrmoon and will bc pressed 10 a
prompt conclusion.
The original committee OF seven
incnbers four from tho Common CUum-
ell ana three from the Board of Alder
men, was appointed under authority
OF Joint resolution approved Deccm-
per -, 1911 and was made up as
follows: Gilbert Is. Pollock, chuirInun
Jacob tmlauf, Il. K. Fuller aud John
liirschbers. from the common Conn-
Gil. and Joseph NJ. Kahn. John j. Mitch
ell and Marx Gunst, from The Board
OF Aldermen. Later MIR. Pollock asked
To be relieved from service on the
committee. on account of pressing pri-
vatc business. and President Peters
appointed in his place. both as mcrl-
Der OF the committee and as it's chair
man, w d. Butler, from Lee Ward.
No meeting of the committee had Been
called. and at the joint session Of tho
City Council held ON Tuesday night IL
WAS predicted that 1t would never
meet,
Pollock Rc-umcs embarrassing.
Yesterday President Peters received
and accepted the resignation OF Mr.
Butlcr as member OF the commit
tee. and rcappolntcd MIR Pollock as
member and chairman Mr.. Pollock
mas accepted and has called a meet
ing Of the committee for Tomorrow
afternoon Mt $50 o'clock.
Nj. Butler wrote to President Peters
as follows.
member OF tn" special Joint committc.
on nvcstigation Of the Public schools
Department..
In doing this permit mo TO say that
rrlinquish the assignment with some
reluctance. as il would have given me
pleasure to have assisted in tho work
pointmcnt as member and 10 serve
rs chairman to fiji tn" vacancy caused
by the rcsig natlon of the former chair
man OF the committee comes AT this
ncss-a season which usually extends
way into tho month OF June.
Having due regard for the mem
hcrs OF the committee and the import
ant duties with which they are ch:irs
ed, do not feel that 1t would bc
proper for me To assume tho chair
manship wncn | know that cannot
give the time and prompt attention
tho Investigation deserves and re-
Quires
with assurances OF respect beg
to remain. Yours vcry truly.
w. -. BrTl.EE."
scope OF Investigation.
The resolution approved December
= ordering an Investigation % the
public schools WAS tho resul, of the
inquiry mmdc 10y IN" Council Commit,
at time when salary Increases for
certain grades OF teachers were uud,r
coHsid Grafton. The resolution rccitcs
at some length that since the Ordi-
nance, Charter and Reform Committee
mas reported to tho Council that from
partial Assassination made throngI
subcommittee. consisting OF Mcssrs.
POLLOCK. Butler and iIirschbcrl. il has
ls "a .it.Hts
ahd supervisors OF the public schools
ar" paid much in excess OF what thcy
should be Tor tn" services rendered.
mat il uppcars that the curriculum in
the elementary grades = not what ii
should 10, and could he greatly bet
tered and improved by the substilu-
t"n OF Il more practical and efficient
course ~ training than that NOW in
v0guc. and that it has been rcucrt.d
mat there IS serious friction aud lack
OF harmony and Do-opetation between.
IN" teachers on the one hand and tho.
principals ana Supcrintcndcnts on thu,
other, which has a tendency 10 greatly
dcmornliZc and decrease the efficiency
oi the schools and that the mai ri
portion Of the expense OF conducting
the public schools is borne by the city
OF Richmond. yet the schools arr con
irollcd in many matters lay TIA. state
h0ard Of Education. whore coytrol
would bc better vested In the local
school authorities.
BrOnd Instructions.
=.
N" special committee was named to
institute It thorough Investigation N
relation to tn" matters and things
herelnbcforc mentioned. aud any other
pertinent natter concerning the man
a;Scnent and control OF the public
schools Of Richmond and To make 4
report OF such investigation, together
with recommendations with proper or
finances and resolutions CARRYING out
their proposed recommendations"
In view OF the inaction OF the Coun-
ell committee. after three months OF
delay. tile city school Board has adopt
ed and forwarded to the Council Il So
ries OF resolutions respectfully demand
Ing that the inquiry he proceeded with,
and offering it's Willingness to give
the committee any Information in its
power. for the members to appear IN
person 10 he Examined. and offering the
special committee access to All books.
papers and records of the Public
Schools Department.
Intention Diverted.
Mr. Pollock. who was chat rmam of
the subcommittee az the Ordinance.
that he is thoroughly in earnest n
his effort 10 reform the school sys-
ten ana make the course Of study
more practica bic. He says tho SUD
Of pupils in the elementary grades was
being diverted from the usual studies
which go TO make IN basis OF cdu
cation to dancng music, knitting.
woodwork and many other "friils" nr
education for each OF which the COM
mittce was Informed expert instruc-
tors were employed receiving salaries
many times what is naid t" -.
binary teachers of tho elementary
grades
The special committc" win outline
tomorrow the scope OF rs inquiry
and determine on a definite method
Of procedure and the INJURY will con-
tinuc next week rapidly as praeti-
cable. S
Suurcnc Court Proceedings.
Tho following cases were argued
Yesterday IN the Virginia Supreme