Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-11-25

EDUCATORS MEETING.
United States Commissioner of Edu-
cation Makes Address in Which He
Favors Compulsory Education.

Richmond, Nov. 25-In his advocacy
of national compulsory school law,
longer school terms and perman-
ency of position for the teachers, p
T.. Claxon, United States Commits
sioner of Education, made power
full impression last night on the
gathering of teachers and educators
for the ninth annual convention of
the Virginia Education Conference.
The session, which was held in the
auditorium of the John Marshall High
School, was presided over by n. +.
Clement, of Chatham, who in short
Introductory speech, praised the work
Of the division superintendent, under
whose auspices the first open session
was held, and called attention to the
value of their work to the community
and nation. Mayor George Ainslle
made felicitous address of welcome
and Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
ton R. c.. Stearnes delivered his an
nual report on "The Years Progress. "
Governor Stuart, who had been Sched-
uled to speak was unable to be pres
ent and sent his regrets. Nearly 1000
people were present at the meeting.
In his welcoming address Mayor
.Ainslie said that healthy and we'll
trained citizenship was the most i'm
rortant thing a community could have
and that this was the work Of the
teacher. ut is appalling to think
he said, "that so few children out of
every thousand who attend school
ever reach the high school, and Of
how few of those who do reach the
l.igh school remain long enough to
graduate. For this reason / hope the
recent school survey conducted in this
city will result in putting into. the
school system vocational instruction
and guidance.
Dr.. Claxton was introduced by Su.
pcrintendent of schools K. C. Glass,
of Lynchburg, who paid high tribute
TO the Federal Commissioner of Edu-
cation, and said that introduction was
necessary only to give the speaker
time in which to collect his thought;
and 10 survey his audience.
IN his review of the years work,
Superintendent Stearns had said that
at least 100000 more was needed to
curry on the work in the State. and
that he did not know how the money
could be obtained. Dr.. ClaXton sai,:
that Virginia was fully capable Of
raising the money, by reason of her
natural resources, by reason of the
native ability of the people themselves
and by their acquired ability. These
three factors, he said, when multiplied
together, will result in material
wealth, civic betterment and political
power and glory The third factor he
described as an increasing quantity,
which would grow as the people grew
and continually result in greater civic
noral and educational wealth, which
is ,translatable into the material
wealth of dollars and cents.
Discussing the need for education Of
ali the children, DR.. CLAYTON said that
''if any child is unable to get an op-
portunity equal to that of any other
child no man can make good that
loss. The State will approach .perfec-
ton as you approach the fulfllment
Of. that idea.
/ .""All children should go to school.
iIiemocracY must have a compulsory
<ssff661 law. That is the only way in
Which democracy can avoid high trea-
SOM against itself. The school term
shep]d abeI longer and Of nearly the
same length in various parts of the
State. Another thing that should be
done is an Improvement of,the teach
ers. A large! majority Of teachers in
the Southern States have had no pro-
fessionat training. You doo't allow a
boy under twenty-one years to 'prac-
tics law or to sign contract or to 60
other things which man may do,
but in the vitality important matter
Of education it is permitted boys and