The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
LONG DEBATE ON
COLLEGE MEASURE
Plan to Convert Female Normal
at Farmville Into College
Urged and Opposed.

me plan to convert the State Female
Normal School at Farmville into n col
leSe for women. giving both normal
and collegiate courses. rs proposed I'M
the WalkcrWest bill. occupied the at
tention for four hours last night of the
Senate Committee on Public Institu-
lions and Education and of the House
Committee on Schools and Colleges.
sitting In Joint session In tho Senate
chamber. Representatives OF the Har-
risonburg. Fredericksburg and Rad
ford normal schools bitterly opposed the
bill as an unjust discrimination and a
plan to change the institution In name
only. Judge Martin Williams char
acterized the bill as creating a class
distinction between institutions that
would be a backward step In the edu-
cationai system of Virginia. The dis
cussion had only remote bearing on
the question Of establishing co-or-
dinate college for women In connection
with the University of Virginia. though
the advocates and opponents of that
plan were on hand in full force 10
watch their interests.
Not Opposed to Coordinate College.
Senator West. one of the patrons Of
the bill, said that the college at Farm
Vile would be of normal character
for training high school teachers. He
had voted for the coordinate college
at Charlottesville before, and would
do SO again. DIR. Jarman. president or
the Farmville normal, took the ground
that there were very few young women
in this State who would attend such a
coordinate college as is proposed,
while there are a large number seeking
better equipment for teaching. He
quoted the records of many institutions
TO show that fewer women attend in
stitutions coordinate with universities
than take the same courses ut separ-
ate and distinct women's colleges.
The Walker West bill changes the
charter and name OF the Farmville nor
NAL to the state Normal College for
Women and authorizes it's board to
confer collegiate degrees as well as
diplomas In normal courses. DIR. Jar
man laid much stress In his opening
statement on the great demand for
properly equipped high school teach
ers AS for the cost. he was certain |
that IT could be done at very little
increase In the annuity of the school,
which was now operating at per
capita cost to the State Of 1925 per
pupil The institution already has ex-
rerienced instructors with high de-
grees. he said.
TOO Many so-CaiIed Colleges.
DR.. Julian n. Burruss, OF the Har-
risonburg Normal. was the arst speak
er In opposition. His school was doing
two years OF high school work and
two years of collegiate or normal work, |
similar TO the other normal schools of
the State. There were already too
many so-called colleges In tho
South. he said-colleges in name
some Of them not very good high
schools at that. The change in name
would discriminate against other mop
NAL schools, people might prefer
to send their daughters to Farmviile
il IL were called college.
Superintendent of Public instruction
r. c. Stearnes said he did not consider
1t wise TO change the name of the In
sttution or TO call II college. The
whole effort Of the four normal schools
OF the State was unable to meet the
demand for teachers for the grammar
grades. much less the high schools.
c. O'Connor Goolrick, of Fredericks-
burg; DR.. Garnett King. of Fredericks-
burg; George Conrad and DR.. McCon-
nell. Of Harrisonburg, spoke against
the bill as unjust to the normal schools |
in those cities.
How Cost HIS Increased.
In 1S93-94 the Farinville school had |
an annuity of $4,000" said Judge Mar
tin Williams, reading from volume of
State reports. 1T has gone up every |
year. They have asked the House APP
preparation Committee this year for
Slsf5S0, on tho basis of continuing IT |
as a normal school. What would they
want IL VIC called II college? The
States Income is approximately $1,000 |
o00 The institutions OF this State have
asked this year for Sl1,o00.ooo. 1t is
time to call q halt
DIR. Jarman has sent a letter which
seems to be public property to all the
division school superintendent of the
State-end you all know that he sits
on the board which elects those super
MISUNDERSTANDING their aid"
Now. be careful" injected Dr. Jar
man. Don't misconstruc my motives"
t1f H. I.,Irx
Williams. that the superintendent of
the Farmville Normal Is endeavoring
to get the school superintendents OF
the State TO give him letters that will
influence legislation. That Is the way
these great appropriations are sought
to be made. l say 1t is wrong. /
don't believe in State officer using
his position to get other State officials
to join In n movement OF this kind
TO urge an increase In the annual ex-
penditures of the State. This bill
creates n class distinction between in
stitutions, and would be the greatest
mistake ever made by the public school
system of Virginia."
Superintendent Russell OF the Fred
ericksburg Normal. closed the debate
against the bill.
weat Defends bill.
Senator West defended the bill as
school measure to provide necessary
teachers AT present. he said, the
high schools were furnishing the bulk
of the teachers, Notwithstanding the |
fact that the State has four normal
schools. The school merely asked the
power to confer a degree on a woman
who deserved II, and yet 1t found the
educators of the State practically In |
solid array against It.
Dr.. Jarman closed the discussion |
explaining the incident OF the letters |
referred to by Judge Williams and |
asserting that he had not lobbied for |
the bill or for appropriations.
Tho committee rose at midnight, |
without acting on the bill