Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15

or is 1t to offor also t.wo-yoar oo1le~s
courses complete in themsolvos7 Ia
II simply TO prepare students for up
per college work or is It to attempt
also. through special courses of Its
own, to offer tho best equipment for
lite feasible through two years of col
iese work? This was tho question that
brought out most discussion In tho
southern Association. just as tho ques-
ton or authority has boon the main
question of debate in the Virginia
Association.
What the State Board DID.
Both of those questions hnye ham
answered definitely by the State Board.
AS to the matter OF examination. the
BOARD assumed no authority over tho
schools claiming junior college rank.
but as tho granting OF certificates for
teachers rests in the hands of tho
board. tho only action taken WA to
offer junior college teachers c.rtifl.
Gates to tho graduates Of institutions
approved by the board
Ihus the institutions themselves in
vito tho State Board to apply tho tests
ana every ono OF tho ten junior COL
leges In the State is regularly visited
ana examined rs to efficiency by the
proper agent of tho State Board
Tho boards action In rcfcrencc 70
tho course OF study was equally sim
ple and definite. Thirty session hour,
or college work, founded upon a four
teen-point entrance requirement. is
prescribed for tho Junior college diplo-
ma. but the board specifies tho sub
tects In only half of this work. nam
ing one year OF college work I'm Enr-
iish, mathematics. history and science
AS the college course Of one wear in
each or the first three subjects covers
three college hours, and rs that in
science with laboratory work) covers
SIX coilege hours. this plan Of tho
state Board means fifteen hours OF
required work and fifteen hours TO bo
prescribed by the Junior college Itself
AS the graduates in these courses
are permitted to teach in the high
schools. the board has simply provided
TOT proper training in the branches
required In every high school In VIr-
GINA nut mas left the shaping of tho
courses largely In the hands OF the
schools. This seems jut and gem
erous arrangement. as II offers oppor-
tunity for the Junior colleges to work
out their own problems with mini
mum or restraint. The only limit to
tho work OF tho fifteen hours left open
Is that 1t must be work of college
grade.
The Question of Authority.
Ihe test for Junior college rank pro-
posed by the Virginia Association of
colleges and Schools for Girls. shows
an interesting phase of idealism This
pian' actually adopted. but never acted
upon by any junior college registered
oy the state. ignores the classification
or tho State Board and proposes exam
NATION or students by five Northern
colieges as the only means OF attain
ing recognition and registration as n
Junior college. Any institution desir-
Ing such ranking must declare it's in
tcntion and must send three students
In five years to stand approved exami-
nation In thirty hours of college work.
the examinations to be conducted by
1--WE colleges outside the State. and not
recognizing the junior college norm
NO moro drastic and dominating ac-
ton could be conceived, as this plan
puts both the testing OF work and
standards and the prescribing Of
courses In the hands of the Ave desig-
mated institutions. In fact. IL the plan
were carried out. an important depart
ment Of education In Virginia would
be placed in foreign hands
1t seems strange that with SO au-
thoritative and so sympathetic a court
OF reference as the Southern associa-
ton at hand and ready to recognize
the new type of school. the Virginia
association should have gone so far
affeld. Even moro surprising is it that
our own university and the colleges
OF standard rank in Virginia should
not have been Invited to form this
court.
AS a matter OF recorded fact. as
shown by the published report OF the