The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-12
VIRGINIA MAKING STEADY STRIDES
IN THE GREAT CAUSE OF EDUCATION
State Superintendent of Public
instruction Reviews Existing
Conditions in State
People are Awakening Every
where to Importance of Edu-
cation and are Showing Inter-
est by Building More and
Better S:hocl Houses Every
where

Apropos of the many press notices
which have appeared in regard TO
successful school openings throughout
the Commonwealth, State Supcrinten-
dent of Schools r. c. Stearnes, speaks
most encouraginsly of the outlook for
the 1313~i4 session. For the frat
time In the history or the state there
10 q sufficient supply of white teach
ers Tor white schools. and the depart
ment is already looking forward to
the day when some Of the lower
grade certificates win he eliminated,
The Virginia system of certificating
teachers will make the process of
elimination easy. and all parties con-
cerned may approach that duty intel-
Hgently since the information will be
full and accurate.
AT the recent meeting OF division
superintendents, which was held in
the city of Radford. the following
resolution was adopted:
Must Give Full Time
THE position Of division superin-
fendent is a mans fuli work No
other occupation should be or viii he
1ndert AIKEN during this term Of Office"
The visiting OF the schools in
fuller measure than heretofore Is a
most crying need. perhaps the need IF
the hour. Each perintendent viii
strive 20 So systematic his work as
To be able to spend three fourths NJ
his time IN The field meeting teachers.
patrons, pIpls al the schools and in
their homes"
u. Activity Oh the part Of he division
klayaar!ataasas-.-a4t~-s tf--e+sv
nest. This probably accounts in a
measure for the fact thut he schools
are supplied with teachers nd That
they are opening with large enroll
ments. In some Of the csunties ar
rangements have recently been made
to aid the division saperintt niant In
his work of inspection by she M po at
msnt Of supervising teachers. These
teachers Will be engaged In general
supervision t. a cnnsidera hie extent
but they are usually persons who are
gifted In particular b~anchts which
the progressive spirit Of the day IL de-
mAnding In our rural schools.
Industrial Training
At a recen. meeting of the county
school board of Rockingham county
= special supervisor who had been
carefully trained in industrial work
wag employed and some Of hc mem
hers OF the county board we're uf the
opinion that still another assistant
would he needed TO take care of the
county
The superintendent Of srhacls Of
Southampton county has nrc posed To
mis- county sch0ot board thai "A super
risfng teac cher Of Industrial branches
be employed In each district Of that
county. and Pittselvania county IL
Aiso considering the matter. IN Sc
aecting thes supervising teachers
their general ability ia considered. az
M h.ssy
.vissng particular lines of work. In
this way. the entire work Of a school
will profit by their visits.
The state superintendent called
Ia sicular attention To certain concrete
evidences OF progress which have Ina
pressed him. AT a large meeting OF
the patrons and pupils which he at
ten6ed In Gaiax IL was found that
the public revenue from all sources
amounted to only $500. The am
bitious program of the enterprising
school board called for an expenditure
OF $4.Sah, and the people were of one
mind that the difference should he
raised from private sources, Accord
tngiy, the school was opened with a
large tenroilment IN the grammar
grades full four years course of
study In the high school. and special
teachers Of vocal music. instrumental
Ayaic. elocution. and domestic science.
Fairfax Progressing.
At Oakton In Fairfax county II
was found that a beautiful building.
modelled after plans sent out by the
department of public instruction, had
been erected al a cost of $4,000. The
people themselves, through their local
league raised over $4,000 OF this
amount.
Superintendent Stearnes attended n
meeting of the board of supervisors in
King and Queen county on September
33rd, and the point at Issue there was
whether the salary Of the superin-
eendentsof schools should be supple
enented 50 as to justify sk!llful man
In giving all of his attention to school
duties. The members of the board
stated very frankly that they had
never heard before that there was any
law by which they could supplement
the salary of the division superinten-
Dent, but that II II meant better
schools, they were very glad to pro-
vide comfortable salary for the chief
school officer OF the county and they
Voted accordingly.
In Caroline county on September
3Oth the State superintendent was per-
mitted to gather among his souvenirs
the picture of the American Premier.
\ Honorable William Jennings Bryan.
defeating one-room country school.
At Chase City on October LIST. he
found that one OF the most interesting
exhibits OF the county fair was in the
school building. At this fair the
negroes had remarkable exhibit, and
Superintendent Stearnes was told that
the premium for the best tobacco Went
20 colored man.
An Educational Fair.
On October End the State superin-
tendent attended the county fair at
CORTLAND. This fair is unique in two
respects: In the first place. all ex-
penses are paid by voluntary contri-
buttons and there Ii no admission fec,
and In the second place, everything is
erpuped around the school as the CEN
4 xerx One may say that the school
epar1t and the Idea ok naahing the