The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-10-17

Eblic Instruction
Hg by DIR. Edwin VI
p6ridgc.
pappearcd i'm person
n that he had been un-
tet any satisfaction what
kOm the authorities i'm lu-
- ,c Arg county, and that he was.
ScQucnfly. forced 10 make the
karEes before the State board.
lie further declared that he had
~ axe Co grind. and that ne was
POI trying 60 get any job for HIM
PeM or for anyone else.
The board received all the M
pef'S in the matter and later in the
tternOOn will consider them in
executive session. It ~ probable
hat some OF the school authorities
rom Luncnburg will later make
'cply 10 the charges.
accompanying the specific
charges i 4 letter in which
more allegations arc made. and
N addition DIR. Mann presented
a number OF other papers or
4 exhibits, some of them letters
and statements of other citizens
Aof the county, sustaining the
charges.
n DIR. Mann charges that the
u public schools in his district are
run Go suit the trustees, not the
public; that the laws are either
ignored or violated; that the
rights Of the school patrons are
ignored; that health conditions
are appalling; that the Common
wealth,s Attorney of Lunenburg
has refused to take up the mat
ter. and would not write an in
), dtctment against the trustees
q when called upon to do so by the
Lunenburg grand jury.
he charges that the finances of
the district are not being prop
e-ly managed; that money has
been miSapprOpriatcd; that school
trustees have been financially in
terested in the construction of
school buildings.
FORCING EN- TO TOWN.
The general tendency is, he de-
clareS, to eliminate most of the
primary schools i'm favor of the
graded schools, and this, he
points out, 'is forcing the poor
farmer TO move to town 50 that
he may give his children even a
primary education"
DR.. Mann's charges are i'm
some respects similar to the
charges recently made involving
certain irregularities in Chester
field county, which the State
Board did not investigate, though
several designations were handed
charges were to be formally pre-
scented.
ONE-MAN POWER.
. They are similar TO charges
HShich have come directly or in
-directly from various parts of the
State, being, il appears, the re-
suits of the management of the
present regime, which, by auto
cratic methods, has centralized
has the power of car, and
which Internationally or other
lWtSc-built up political Organi-
Zation not unlike an octopus with
head and body here and with far
reaching arms and tentacIes ex-
tending into every city and into
every school district OF every
county in Virginia to the detri-
ment of the best interests of over
10000 children enrolled in the
public schools i'm the State.
Efforts were made to have a
legislative investigation of the
general system last winter. and a
resolution calling for the inquiry
was offered in the House of Dele
gates.
The proposition was bitterly
opposed by those standing high
in the councils of the State Board,
and though much that was en-
tightening was brought out i'm
hearings, and over $4,000 was
recovered as a result OF private
efforts of school patrons i'm CheS-
teriicld. the resolution was finally
defeated, and there was no inVes-
tigatiOn of the State DEPARTMENT.
P of Education. OF which Superin-
tendent Joseph ID. EggIeston is
the supreme head.
DIR. NIann's Letter.
Or. Mann's letter reads as follows
70 State Board of Education, Throug'
State superintendent Publ
Schools, Richmond, Va:
Gentlemen the interest of on
public schools and the welfare of tn
children in this district, ] have tn
honor to present to you, after a thor
ugh study of our public school laws
he condition and management of tn
public schools here, and 1 most ear
testify beg that you give this matte
our careful consideration and investi
,ate the charges which 1 present t
-ou against the School Board of Trus
ees, Browns Store District, Lunen
'urg county, Va.
1t seems to me that up to the pres
mt time our public schools have beel
un entirely to suit the school trus
ees, and the school laws have eithe
'een utterly ignored or Wilfully VIC
ated
The rights and justice to the peopl
4 the rural portions of this distric
ave been utterly ignored, and the,
ave been in no position to make al
pen complaint, for if they did the!
cared that they would receive n,
chool for the next year. In this they
'ere very nearly correct.
In this county there is a decided
endency to operate graded schools tC
he elimination of most of the pri.
nary schools The graded school is
great advantage and is perfectly
roper under certain conditions, but
ever when il destroys the little pri-
larry school, which is practically the
of our public school sys-
I'm In the rural districts
This closing Of the small schools in
ne interest of the graded schools, in
iany instances, is forcing the poor
lrmer to sell his farm and move to
he small towns or cities so that he
lay give his children even primary
ducation.
This is quite a serious matter in
his section of Lunenburg county.
here the colored people are in the
laJority and where they are buying
p these small farms, as the poor
hite man sells out through necessity.
/ the interest of his children. How
&c we TO keep the boys on the
.rm" under these conditions?
After a careful study of our public
.hool laws I made an equally careful
I'd serious study and investigation Of
he conditions and management in