The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-30
ASK LEGISLATURE
FOR MORE MONEY
EDUCATORS PLAN TO MAKE vTR-
GINIA SCHOOLS BEST IN
NATION.
FAULTS OF SYSTEM
SHORT TERMS. INEFFICIENT
TEACHERS AND SUPERVISION
AMONG CAUSES GIVEN BY
sUPERINTENDENTs

superintendent Stearnes and Secre-
tary Chesterrnan. of the State board of
education. returned from Radford yes
terday highly pleased with the results
of the conference Of superintendent
held at that place Wednesday and
Thursday
ut will sadly disappoint those who
follow the educational activities of vir-
ginia II great and lasting good does
not come as a sequel of the division
superintendent conference said Mr..
Chesterman, land If earnestness. zeal
and willingness to work count for
aught 1t would appear that material
benefits. not only in tho way of school
methods, but In school economy, are
10 follow the meeting"
OF the 100 division superintendent
invited by State superintendent
Stenrnes to attend the conference, at
least seventy-five responded.
Eirginia's Low Rank.
The low rank the Virginia public
school system holds in the list OF Com
monwealths is attributed in the plat
form" adopted by the conference to
short terms, inefficient teaching, inn
proper facilities and ineffective super
vision"
This" says the resolutions adopt
ed, ITS largely u condition of finance
We. therefore, invoke the aid of the
general assembly in an increased APP
preparation of at least 100000 To
the common school fund, to be ex-
pended under the direction of the
State board of education in meeting
such conditions"
other planks in the platform were:
!. The position of division superin-
tendent is a mans full work. No other
occupation should be or will be under
taken during this term of Office.
2. The visiting of the schools In
fuller measure than heretofore is a
most crying need, perhaps the need
of the hour. Each uperintendent
viii strive to so systematic his work
as to be able to spend three-fourths
of his time in the field meeting teach
ers, patrons. pupils at the schools and
in their homes.
3. The call for industrial and voca-
tional training is too insistent to be
unheeded. the fields are too ripe to be
longer neglected. The work in few
counties is IA challenge to others, as
the progress in some Commemorative
Is a call to others.
Work of Demonstrators.
4. We express our hearty approval
Of the work of the demonstrators both
Tor boys ana girls. L MS Work we
will support. We furthermore ex-
press our hearty approval OF the pass
age by congress of such measures as
will give effective national support to
industrial education.
8. We express our entire approval
of the educational policies of the State
! that have resulted in the establish
ment and maintenance Of the four
normal schools. We bespeak for these
proper financial support. We shall
further approve OF additional support
for the professional training of men
! for the work of education.
| s. While admitting that every divis-
ion, whether city or county. has tre-
mcndous problems, we would espe-
cially emphasize the problem of the
one-room school. Consolidation
should proceed much further than it
| has gone but the worth, the dignity,
the Importance Of the one-room
school should be SO magnified. to 1t
such attention should be devoted, and
to it's teachers such salary and sup
port should be given as will secure
| for It the best quality of teaching.
/ 7. We recognize the tremendous in
| fuence of the Cooperative Educa-
tional association and the State Teach
ers' association. BY these public SEN
timent has been nodded favorable to
correct education and leading to wise
and beneficial legislation. We recog-
nize the value OF the Virginia journal
Of Education, and believe II may be
made n yet more effective agency In
the state.
In Social Ccnters.
g. We favor the wider use of the
school house for social and civic pur-
poses.
| 9. We believe n great opportunity Is
/ presented for allying the work of the
| V. +. l. with the educational policies
of the State and thereto shall lend
our aid.
10. We derive, educationally as well
as otherwise, the greatest benefit from
| the State department Of health. There
should be and must be reciprocal re-
/ iations of mutual helpfulness
| When it became known that there
would be a surplus of something like
! $400. 900 in the State treasury at the
! end of the fiscal year the superin-
/ tendents. with one accord. discussed
! the right TO have more for the schools.
Figures were submitted showing that
the standing of Virginia Is due to the
very low per capita appropriation for
the schools, that IN Virginia being
about 81 per year.
Election of Officers.
The superintendents organized So
ciety OF division school superintend-
naming one vice-president for each
congressional district. Following Is
81 list of the officers:
Honorary president. r. c. Stearnes.
uperintendent of public instruction:
h,Dy al q a