The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-09
EDUCATIONAL FORCES
FOR STATEWIDE LAW
Prcseas Local Option Compulsory
Education Statute Declared InRtie-
quatc and Inefficient.
ORGANIZATION is sTRoN
-Four Organizations Affiliated y.Ith
Virginia Education Conference and
Citizens AZ Large Are Represented
On Committee of Twenty Five.

Not only the ssRicnnond teachers.
but practically all the educational
forces In the State of Virginia, which
are organized into committee OF
twenty-five, are in the campaign Tor
an effective Statewide compulsory
law. This committee is composed Oh
tive representatives, each from TOUR
organizations affiliated with the var
ginia Educational Conference and 1--WE
citizens at large.
The organizations represented ana
personnel of the committee are
state Teachers Association
Charles G. Mapfsis. University; Agar
Voolfolk, Richmond: L. III. Russell,
Fredericksburg; Joseph II. Saunders.
Richmond: c. w. Dickinson, Jr.. Car
tersville.
cooperative Education Association
Mrs II. b. Munford, Thomas 5.
wheeiright and j, II. Montgomery,
Richmond: Charles G.. Maphis. Uni
versity; Miss Ella Agnew. Burkeville.
school Superintendent Association
e L. Darst, Dublin: w. ]. Edmonds
son, Lodi: W. ID. Smith. Gate City;
Frank W. Lewis. Morattico: j. \. {.
Chandler. Richmond.
Association OF School Trustees
Z. Johnson. Cnlpeper; Eugene Ould,
Evinston; n. G. Davis, Swetnam; John
~. Chalkley. Big Stone Gap. Va; NJ.
r. McGhee. keysvillc.
Citizens At I.arge--RobeTt G. Pen
nlngton Bristol oscas Shcwmake,
Starry: s. +. GAliland. South Boston.
and Rev. II. u. c. MaclacnIan ana
L. II. Jenkins, Richmond
In the movement are the 5.e00
teachers of the state, all the school
superihtendentS, che school trustees
he "a N,aY he
SAND local leagues Of tue Cooperative
tsducatlon Association.
At the last educational conference
3,sid in Richmond November gags
committee of twenty-five represent
ing All Of the bodies mentioned above,
was organized 10 carry ON propt-
ganda throughout the State for need
ID school legislation. One of the
nieasares tn be pressed most vI%ors
nnsly hy this committee Will be com
pulsory education.
Long Since Adopted Elsewhere.
I. H. Binfnrd. the secretary Of this
committee OF TWENTY-FIVE, who Is as
seIuhl!ng the necessary data 10 meet
The arguments uf chose opposed to
effective compulsory school atteitd7
ance. issued the following ststeuent
yesterday.
The idea OF compulsion is distaste-
.
have 1t IN the matter of taxation for
the support of public schools. ana TO
ne fair ard lo&irib we must have 1t IN
the matter 81 attendance No person
IAN faYae State education aud loEi-
ealiY oppose compulsory education. II
- a necessary part Of the system. as y
Evidenced by the fact that every ma
ton having a public school system
and every State in the Union, except
since adopted II.
But the average N're3nan thinks
that as soon IS al directive culupat-
sorry law is passed truant officers w.
invade his home and at once deprive
him of all control over his children.
Such Is in nowise the case. The fact
SIS that those citizens VINO cry out the
ipudest against compulsion need nG
rpmpuis:on in inc matter OF sending
their children 10 school, But around
every school are Just enc or two ner
" no exploit their children and let
them grow up IN lit!teraCy. A CuTT-
,.,isorv Law would reach these cases
ard would in a few years remove from
virginia the reprnAch OF being one of
he few States Astounding In Hitter
10y
The committee OF twenty-five VIII
advocate n Statewide taw instead Of
which is simply begging the question
and wifi further stand for strengthen
ing the law TO the fun limits OF the
present constitutional provisions. In
other words we want state law COW
ering the ages from eight to twelve
and compelling attendance for at
teass six months in rural srctiens,
When 1t IL considered that such q
law would apply only IN children from
eight to twelve and not then. II they
can read and write. or II they iise
further than two miles from school
house, we do not see how any thought
tul citizen can fail to lend the meas
IRE his active support
No Great Additional Expense.
Tt IL thought that the main .oh-
iectiorrto a Statewide law is that 4 will
ertail great additional expense upon
the state This lie q mistaken idea
Last year there were not over es.oa9
white. children In the State between
the ages OF eight and twelve ont Of
school, but the records show that there
were 80, GEO unused seats in the white
schools In other words the tax
rayefs of the State build schoo'honses
A~,~,er .e@~hars ard furnish seats Eor
=.