The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-20
Eighty One Thousand
Children Over 10 Years
Old Cannot Read.
STEARNES SHOWS
REASON FOR HELP
Laws for Compulsory Education
Are Utterly Futile in Many
Sections, When State Fails
to Provide Teachers OF
Schools-Others Sub
NIT Schedules.

Educational needs OF Virginia from
tn" barest One-roorn mountain school
house to the comprehensive, Ilaus for
enlargement of the University of Vir-
%lnia, and for the creation of n CO.
ordinate college for the higher o,itic,-
ton of women, were presented to the
senate Finance Committee at a series
OF hearings YESTERDAY
The utter inadequacy Of the stat. to
carry on the work OF public education
was graphically brought out from the
statement that there arc to-day 81 GOO
white persons over ten wears OF age
IN virginia who can neither read nor
"rite-that there are all over the State
large groups Of children absolutely
without access 10 any school-that the
average pas for teachers throughout
the state is less than s2CS per anuu,n.
on to the showing that the state main
tains four collegiate institutions for
men. bur has no school for the higher
education OF women. even Of a suf-
hciently high standard TO train its own
high school teachers
WANTS Increase OF s3nO,OOO.
Facts and figures were presented to
show that Virginia is far behind states
OF similar per capita wealth in its
provisions for education. and in the
total value OF school property With
all the progress the State has made IL
nancially and in other directions. the
appropriation for common school ctu-
cation--that is for the support OF the
small country schools-!s now no
larger than il was In 1905
Superintendent Of Public instruction
Z. 9. Stearnes led in the presentation
OF tho school budget. and boldly asked
for an Immediate increase OF not less
than 100000 for the common schools
alone Laws for compulsory education
he said. were utterly futile while in
neither the teachers nor the schools
In Buchanan County. which has tho
largest birth rate, with one exception
Of any county in the United states
- per cent OF the children between
seven and twenty years Of age cannot
read or write. or the $4,000 children
or school age in Virginia. only 427. 900
arc in school. and % per cent or those
who enter the primary schools never
reach the high school grades.
Members OF the committee paid close
attention sometimes asking pertinent
questions. Governor Elect Henry G.
Stuart heard the discussion. Former
superintendent OF Public Instruction j
ID. Egglcston was present. and was
able 10 give additional facts and
Before presenting the common school
budget, Mr. Stearues asked that the
state appropriation for high schools
be Increased from 100000 TO $3.50
GOO ana that the fund OF $4,000 for
normal training in high schools be in
creased 10 $4,000. He asked FOR s.. 600
Tor school libraries and $4,000 for the
'eachers pension fund as heretofore
Less Thnn In 1905.
The common schools received from
State appropriation last year s4s5.
IN addition 10 the State school levy. an
appropriation which. after certain de-
auctions made by direction Of the
General Assembly for special uses. Mr..
Stcarnes showed was actually loss
than that made In 1906
There are $1,000 white persons in
virginia over ten years OF age vino
can neither read nor write" said Mr..
stearnes. 1T seems TO me 10 he uso
less 10 consider compulsory educetio,
when there are all over Virginia
groups OF children in many localities
without any school. The state must
come TO our relief in some adequate
way, or we Will go backward
on cannot raise enough money i'm
sparsely settled rural community TO
support schools The Constitution
provides that the burden should he
horne in equal parts by the State and
the counties. If VirGinia spends e.
per capita on education and other
states Sl', how can YOU expect us TO
orlhS the schools up? You SHOULD NOT
cohsiuer Tor minute an appropriation
iof the common schools of less than
s125.0 900 '''''''
"h"t Richmond Contributes.
y, ~ q. n. Z. Chandler showed that
etiiioh'' Win approximately the same
per capita wealth. had S55 per child in
vested in school property: Virginia. SII
per chlid. The city OF Richmond II.
said. paid on the State school tav or
10 cents on 500 Approximately kI5o
ooo ana got back IN its apportionmrnt
rom 'he state S6l.Oo0. or the money
paid TO the state for school taxes in
this city, therefore, 30 per cent comes
back for the aid of tho Richmond
schools. and 90 per cent goes to nid
the rural schools.
Payment of an average of S26S as a
sa larry for school teachers is not a liv
ing wage" said DR.. Chandler. "Of tbe
$4,000 children of school ago in virl
sinia only G8 per cent attend the pub
lie school. There are $4,000 children
In the common schools for whose edu-
cation we ask S725.000"
superintendent Joyncs. of Accomac
County. said the people OF his section
ala not believe tho state was doing its
part by the schools. rs his county puts
up from county and district taxes and
local contributions $45,123 as against
the total appropriation of the state
for schools in that county of $2S.47O.
Teachers Poorly Paid.
superintendent Edwards. of Prince
George County, spoke briefly and in
troduccd Miss Belle Williams a teach
er OF long experience in country school
work, who told of the poor equipment.
crowded rooms. bad sanitation, five
months term and poorly paid teachers.
Thoroughly prepared teachers, she said.
were working in her county for s45
month, paid for only five months i'm
the year. j. H. Saunders. representing
the b.577 members Of the State Teach
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