The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1916-11-01
P aren't Teach
ersAssociation

ton, of Big Stone Gap. held q
very interesting meeting at the
School Auditorium Thursday
afternoon, October 26th. Mrs.
B. B. Munford, of Richmond,
Virginia, president of the Co
operative Educational Associa
ton, of Virginia, addressed tho
association, and the public was
invited to attend the meeting.
Although tho meeting was held
in the AFTERNOON, at u time not
convenient to the general pub
lie, quite large number as.
sembled to hear Mrs. Muuford.
knowing her reputation as a
convincing and delightful
speaker.
Hon. r. 7. Irvine introduced
Mrs. Munford and paid her a
glowing tribute as the woman
IN Virginia most largely respon-
slbie for the awakening in edu-
catioual matters in the state, to
whose untiring efforts as or
ganizer and promoter of the
Cooperative Educational AS.
ISOLATION the public schools
owed much of their present of.
ficiency.
Mrs. Munford spoke briefly,
much too briefly her hearers felt,
so Interested werelthey in fol.
lowing her, on the work of tho
Cooperative Educational AS
sociation. She told of it's be
ginning when five women of the
city of Richmond organized
what was know az tho Rich.
mond Educational Association,
AMI how out of that small be-
ginning had gradually grown
the present large organization.
She gave most interesting nc.
count of the May Campaign, in
the year 1908, during the time
when MIR. Montague was Gov.
ernor of Virginia, when speak
ers had been put in every coun.
ty in tho state to preach tho
gospel of education and the Up.
building of tho public schools,
and that as result of that
campaign the first school con-
vention in the state was held,
this being the forerunner of the
great convention which is now
held yearly, in which conven-
ton all the educational forces
of the state are united to best
promote the educational work
of the state.
Mrs. Munford gave most in
teresting statistics, showing
just what the advancement in
Virginia in educational matters
had been in the last ten years,
the wonderful increase in the
number of public schools, tho
increase in the teachers employ.
ed, the increase in attendance,
and the increase in high
schools; but she also said there
was still q great work before
the workers in education for
the children attending the pub
lie schools are only 40 per cent
of the total number of children,
and the problem of getting ali
of the children in attendance ia
still 90 be solved.
Tae Cooperative Association
has grown from O membership
of 1857 leagues in 1911 to l 200 in
1916, and Mrs. Munford exhibit
ed a map, showing the location
of the leagues and the degree
of their activity, and out of tho
large number belonging Sc per
cent active leagues, earnestly
engaged in promoting the work
of the public schools in their
communities.
Working with the Associa.
ton and represented on it's. ex.
ecutive committee are all of the
other educational forces of the
state: The Department of Pub.
lie Instruction, the Department
of Dairying and Demonstra-
ton Work. the Department of
Highways; the University of
Virginia: Washington &c Lee
University, William & Mary
University; the Normal Schools
of the State, and the National
Government is also assisting,
through the aid OF all of these
forces literature is sent to ev.
cry community and knowledge