Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-20
HONEST DOUBTS AS TO NEEDS
For PRIVATE SCHOOL!

There are three reasons for the diff
f"rences seen, without taking note Of
tho fact that secondary education has
not received the same study as has
higher education. There has been an
honest doubt as to the needs for the
private school No one wants to put
his treasure into n sinking ship. Then
the schools have not been in operation
as long as have the colleges. and.
therefore. have neither the publicity
nor the help of alumni enjoyed by the
latter. Even II they had. man gen
orally forGcts the fact that he is an
alumnus of a school when he had grad
uated from college. However. the
great reason for the small amount re-
ccived by the schools is that n large
proportion of them are operated by
private individuals. while the private
colleges are operated by private cor
porations. No one is inclined to make
any other man, and no man expects
any other man TO make donation TO
his own private business.
The next question that arises is.
therefore. as to whether or not it would
be best for all private schools to be
operated by private corporations.
careful consideration viii agree. I
think. that this would not be wise.
One of the most stimulating Influences
In the educational world comes from
those who in their private institutions
have the power TO initiate. Every man
who has had the experience of work
ing with board of trustees or board
of visitors has found himself hampered
in his power to initiate. to carry out
his very best ideas Is there, then. n
plan by which the worthy schools may
be helped without taking them out
Of the control of individuals? The fol-
lowing plan is proposed:
Let there be submitted to the friends
of education the question of establish
ing foundation for secondary educa-
ton with the power TO receive funds
as permanent endowment. the income
from which may be distributed an
nually OF biennially on the basis of so
much per student attending full year
or session. among those schools that
maintain such a standard as may be
agreed upon. In the case Of the foun-
dations now in operation, we find two
plans. One is for one corporation to
turn over TO another corporation funds
for the permanent endowment, etc. of
the latter. The other is for one cor
poration TO turn over to another cor
poration or to individuals a part of
the income from It's invested funds
for the benefit Of the latter corporation
or Of the individuals. In the proposed
foundation only the second of these
plans would be in operation.
1t is hard to overestimate the value
to the schools of such an income. It
would put such a premium on main
tenance Of standard that many of the
problems of the schoolmaster would
be simplified. The students in these
schools would realize great benefit
| They would easily see that good work
and good conduct conditioned their re-
naming in tho schools. The boy would
not overestimate his own Importance
to such an extent is too often the
case now. The schools place on the
roll Of honor. with the income attached
thereto. Will be more important than
the fees of the boy who presumes that
the school will let him stay because il
must have his fathers money