The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05
VIRGINIA IN REAR
IN SCHOOL WORK
System Stands Forty First
Among States i'll General
Efficiency.
TEACHERS ARE POORLY PAID
Southern Communities Have
Much Illiteracy-Sage Founda-
ton Statistics.

Virginia takes fortY-hrst place
among the forty-eight states OF the
Union. IN general efiicitscy OF her
school system, according to "a compare
tive study Of systems in thc several
States. made public yesterday by the
Russell sage Foundation. The publ
cation is most exhaustive, going IN
detail into the conditions in every
state concerning the ten tests or en-
cheney laid down as standards by the
foundation.
Recent writer's have said in maya
zines that Virginia has shown the
greatest growth to be round In the
2 country in recent years. But II IS
not claimed that she has reached
high rank The statement ot condl-
tons made by the Russell sage Foun-
dalton recalls the remarks Of J. d ks-
gleston before the Virginia Education
al Conference when he said that ncitn-
er the critics OF the system nor IT'S
over-ardent friends present conditions
as they are.
Conditions in south.
Those States ranking below virginia
are all in the South. and this at ence
helps TO define the position OF th's
state. In the matter Of rural schooi
nouses this State, with the rest or
those in the South. is low In the scale
for they were in dire poverty for a
generation after the War Between the
states. Considering the negro popu-
lation, the percentage OF schooi at
tendance is necessarily low. peculiar
conditions apply in nearly every test
States below Virginia in the table
which summarizes the report are IN
their order, as follows: Kentueky; Ar
kansas, Georgia, MISSISSIPPI, Nortn
Carolina. SotIh Carolina. while Ala
bama brings up the rear of the pro-
cession, being lowest OF all IN the
efficiency tables.
The FIRST test is on the number Of
children in school and out. Vermont
here ranks first. with s5.l per cent OF
persons of school age IN public schools.
Is per cent in private schools, ana
only 7.3 per cent outside Of the schools
Maine il second. Virginia ranks forty
fourth. with el.s per cent in public
schools 35 per cent in private schools
ana 3t7 per cent outside 1hs state
has no compulsory education Law, eN-
cept a local option feature 50 far use1
in only two or three LOCALITIES There
are. besides racial problems Louisiana
is last IN this list
Money Expended.
In the matter Of total school revenue
virginia shows UP we'll standing
twenty-hfth among the forty-eiSht
states above her average in material
wealth New York. naturally. is first.
and Pennsylvania. also naturally. is
SECOND. NetdGds Win tIudt app
priateness. is last. But Virginia spends
more money on her schools than Do
such IRISH communities az South Dakota
Maryland, Maine. NORTH Carolina tthir-
ty-thirdp. Mississippi. Alabama New
Hampshire Gorty frsD. and Delaware
tforiy-seventh).
OF the total sum raised in Virginia,
51.7 per cent is from local taxes. 3s..
per cent from state taxes. ! per cent
from permanent funds and 90 per cent
from other sources.
The third test IS The amount invest
ed in school plants, with the average
value per child Massachusetts is first,
with s72,sS5.32s IS value OF school
property. school population OF s3o.ss0.
and average value per child Of sll5
Virginia is Sforty-second. with prop
crty worth ss.555.sii. school population
Of 627.s07 and average value Of 81
per child.
This State is forty-frst in the aver
age annual expenditure per child, as
IL spends IS each per year. North
Carolina spends only 81. and South
Carolina only 81, while Washington
state spends So. and California 81.
The figures for the Southern states, or
course include children OF all races.
Days of Schooling.
In average days OF schooling per
year. Virginia is fortieth. her children
spending an average of fifty eight days
in the year a. school. North Carolina
gives her children hfty-one days. and
south Carolina nifty days Massachus-
etts. ranking first, sends her children