The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-06

college training. but rather enhances
1t, as the rural schools draw largely
from the high schools The "emer-
gency certificates were issued to fill
in the vacancies and some OF these
go to our high school pupils, and some,
am ashamed TO say, to graded school
pupils, because in no other way can
the vacancy be filled. pupil OF mine
Is at present serving as principal of
a rural schotl having several other
teacher, and their principal has had
no teaching experience, no executive
experience. and simply a plain high
school course.
How would the rural schools benefit
by the defeat of the coordinate COL
lege bill? We might go back to the
Arkansan--if his roof falls in. what
becomes OF the flooring? Is 1t not
time. after so many years work on
the flooring. to look after the roof?
The school system has become more
efficient each year, building up care
fully, and 1t Is indeed time to top off
the system for the women which
Same was attended 20 for the men
very long ago. The rural schools
would be the first to suffer, and suffer
the most. from the defeat OF this bill:
for what would happen The pepula-
ton of Virginia il increasing the peo-
pie are becoming more prosperous.
many OF the city schools becoming
overcrowded, compulsory education is
becoming more popular: and the re-
sultP The graded schools OF the
larger places Will use the normal
supply. as now. and call for more, as
now; the high schools will draw from
beyond the State. as now, but because
Of the great expense of Northern
university course for our Virginia wo-
men. the women taking this work will
not he in proportion to the demand
with the. continuous feeding of the
graded school to the high school
standards would have To come down
to supply teachers Mt home prices
and some "emergenc.. certificates
would be issued TO high school teach
ers Now. what of the rural schools?
They would have harder time than
ever TO get teachers properly trained.
and would still get them from the
high school. though under new con-
htions. some OF these teachers would
be emergency" trained themselves
II this appears pessimistic, allow me
10 quote rom my own experience
again. Since October one OF our
grammar schools has had to have two
rooms added 10 1t to accommodate the
pupils. though the building Is new
and commodious. The principal wrote
to three normals In the State to get
the two new teachers necessary. These
normaIs were not able to suppl. them.
and at present one OF the recent high
school graduates is teaching one grade
and a teacher from outside of the
State, and who was obtained through
an agency, Is teaching the other. The
salaries are considered very good in
this place. This is on.J one example
NJ which ! could
der these conditions. what does the
future promise for the rural school?
How will the Coordinate College
help the rural school? The normals
have as much work cut out for them
selves as they can manage and for
reasons for which one cannot blame
the Satte or legislators. the normal
graduates are going to the cities and
towns, chiefly. where energy and re-
sources center. The high schools are
going to look to higher institutions OF
learning for their teachers: the CO.
ordinate College for Women at the
will not only answer the
financial question as for our broth
ers. but with the prestige which Its
degree Will carry and the fact that
it is lat home" more women Will
avail themselves OF better educa-
ton: high school standards Will rise
and in time the influence OF educated
women will be felt In parent-teacher
associations. upon the children and
through the teachers and other wo-
men. in the rural schools which will
also have larger and better field
firm which to draw teachers. The
statement that mot one girl in a
thousand will he eligible" from the
rural districts to enter the college,"
Is open TO criticism. / should doubt
its accuracy very much. but II any
thing like true, 1t must be largely
due to the inadequacy of the train
ing in the rural schools, condition
the Coordinate College should help
mend The policy that advocates the
defeat OF the Coordinate College.