The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-09
EDUCATION IL VIRGINIA.

! X. Z. Stearncs, In his annuai report or
! the progress OF education In Virginia
has given much ground for encourage
ment. and has shown how much re
mains to be done.
| In spite of the great increase II
school revenue, which has grown from
| s3.lS4.00o In 1905 TO s5.si6.oo0 In 1912
| Virginia is still far behind other States
| both In the length OF her school tern
| and In the salaries paid her teachers
Virginia, rs Superintendent Stearne.
points out, only spends 50 per capita
, IN preparing our boys and girls for
life: the State Of WASHINGTON spends
$50, and the State OF California spends
s27 during the same period.
Yet Virginia has made enormous ad-
varces in the appropriations for pub
Tic education. We doubt II any other
State IN the Union has shown greater
appreciation OF the value OF education.
and has backed up Its. judgmen, with
more liberal support than has this old
Commonwealth.
The increase of s2.5coooc between
1905 and 1912 in school appropriations
was more than the total sum spen, by
Virginia for all purposes in 1921. snd
the total amount given TO Virginia for
education In 1875, 6.ooe--was more
than the State spent for nj, purposes
IN 1909,
With such record to lis credit and
with the earnest supper, and assistance
fs n a -
ton. Virginia has every prospec, Of
leaving Its unenviable position Of for
tyarst in q lis; Of forty-eisht States,
measured IN po!u, OF educational ia
cilities offered to the children and peo-
pie OF this Commonw ealth.
Sut we should not overlook the fact
that me Western States that are spend
ms 50 much for education have not
been drained o: their youth by emf
grafton TO nav territories; nor are they
bearing the burden OF war 10, of
their own making, and fought within
their own borders.
There is, o. course, q grea; differ
ence OF opinion az TO the best method
OF education. The Times-pispa,ch feels
very strongly that the children could
gain more by being taught TO think
clearly and toreetully about a few SUB
tec,s ;nan ;hey can from any amoun,
Of s-a;terings that may be given in
the cultural. artistic and musical
courses tina; have such vogue a, the
present time, a child cannot learn TO
think With Intelligence and coaceatra-
- 8 L.
Who possesses these qualities. and.
therefore. the founGation-sion Of sue
cesstul education IS the quality Of the
teachers.
Virginia today is paving the highest
class white teachers IN average OF
s5te per annum: the next class. $500
7er Annu.n; TO the lower class even
less Is paid, and they are relatively
wo-ta much lass.
IS Superintendent stea-nes points
out, ;he petty increase OF ElJ year
IL salaries raised tho standard 81 VIZ
e!nia teachers enormously in lell-l2
oye- lslo-ll Thirty-nve per cent
more teachers In tho year just pas,
we're specially trained than In the pre-
cedt0E rear. And there can be no
doub; that Mr.. S,earnes Is entirely cor
rect II his opinion that to increase the
salaries of the higher grade teachers
will directly and greatly increase the
quality of the teaching received by the
children
During The seven years preceding
1912 Virginia established $40 new high
schools. and the enrollmen, In Thorn in
creased from $500 - 1880 In SPITE
OF the increase IN high school attend
aace. and the great Increase in State
normal schools and summer normal
schools. there are stMl $1,000 white
and 10000 colored persons in Virginia
above tho age OF ten. who can neither
read nor write. Low salaries for teach
ers. short school terms. Il high per-
centage OF iliteracy-theso are the
problems tina, Superintendent et.ernes
has TO confront, and for tho .az. o.
saving Virginia from such 4 burden Mr..
stearnes Will need all the support and
assistance that can be offered him by
patriotic and thoughtful citizens.
a high standard of education with do
Virginia more good than any other
henent the sta.e could receive. Mr..
S,eatnes has a great task b fore h,,n.
and The Times Dispatch hopes and be-
l'evea that lie wl'' accomplish his .ash
with cicdi, to himself. and with pr.a,
benefit To the Commonwealth