The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-22
EDUCATION BOARD
SGREAT POWER
Religious Herald Fears State
Might Dominate Independent
Colleges.
CONFERENCE IS SUGGESTED
Richmond College Defers Action
on Proposition for Stand
ardization.

In an editorial headed 1.-The State
board and the Colleges published in
ihis weeks issue of the Religious
Herald. the Baptist journal of thi.
CITY Il note Of warning is sounded re-
Sarding the relationship between the
independent. nontaH-supporte col
ieses Of Virginia and the State Board
oil Education. with its almost unliin-
;tcd power.
The subject under discussion is the
.hort of the State board to establish
educational standards for COLLEGES and
universities. When these standards
are adopted. and an inspection by some
representative of the board proves
satisfactory. such colleges Will DO
registered and their graduates given
license to teach in the public schools
without examination. Overture-s of
this sort were made last February to
Richmond College. but at the meeting
OF the trustees of that institution held
q lew days ago. the committee asked
that it be given further time and that
II be enlarged. This was agreed to,
and the present membership OF the
committee is composed as follows:
Former Governor Anorew jackson
Montague Rev. williem E. Hatcher.
T. D.; Rev. W l. Ball. Lieutenant
ioVernor j. Taylor Eiiyson. Rev. L.
w. Boatwright. president of the COL
lego; Rev. w. c. James. D. D., and Rev.
l.. II. Pitt, D. D.
Wants An Understanding.
Inc Religious Herald. discussing
the situation. speaks with authority In
saying that the delay of the COLLEGE
IN taking action is not influenced by
any lack of cordial sympathy with the
great work OF public education in Vir-
ginia. Anything in Its article which
savors of adverse criticism or the
State board. 1t says. is offered in the
nope that 1t may provoke the friends
OF public education and the friends OF
these nontaX-supported colleges TO
little more thought concerning tho
important relations between these two
educational forces. and perhaps may
bring forth some constructive policy
which Will promote a better mutual
understanding and larger mutual
sympathy"
But the paper feels that the pro-
position OF the State body TO stan
dardize the independent colleges and
10 orinE them under inspection lis
more significant than on it's surface it
appears TO be- The relation between
the educational forces. il is pointed
out is one of equality. Specifically. IL
seems TO voice It's fears in saying:
las there is much mora likelihood in
the long run that the State authorities
In education might dominate the pri-
'"'S iiStitulloI muse VINO believe in
the value of the private institution
arc justified In being extremely care
full on this point"
Tho unusual power lodged in tho
state Board OF Education is referred
to. The eight members (only sin vote
I, clectlons) choose all the school SUI
perintendents. and the latter largely
Influence the selection OF teachers 1T
Is tremendous responsibility" COM
ments the Herald. 1T may he that IL
Is hest to have the authority in our
pubic educational work centred in n
small group. We are not now discus
sing that point But the fact that SO
much power is given to this group ma
turally and II seems to us rightly
would tend 10 make the independent
colleges a little cautious In dealing
with the bord"
Again. ut is interesting to note that
or this board only State officials of
one sort or another are found" The
SIX older independent colleges for men
In Virginia have no representative on
the state board. Not quarrelling with
this. the Herald thinks that the board
would do well to seek tho counsels and
cordial support of the colleges en-
gagged in like work.
II therefore urges A conference of
representatives OF the colleges and of
the state board-"a frank, fraternal
conference. in which the whole ques-
the colleges and of the colleges to the
board should be studied and consider
ed, with view to the promotion oil
the closest possible cooperation be-
tween them"