The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-01
SCHOOLS PARAMOUNT
NtfO IS MORE MONEY
President Maphis, OF Teacher Assoc
citation, in Annual Address, De-
Clares Favor For Survey.
QUESTIONS TO BE DETERMINED
Believes Mill Tax Best Method of In
crcasing Funds For Maintenance of
Education Systeuf-IcgtsiatiSc Pro
gram should BE Mapped Out Now.

aive constructive survey of Virginia
public education system, Presiden
Charles c. Maphis, OF the Wright;
State Teachers Association. made hi
annual address TO the Virginia Educa
sional Conference at its session in thu
city Auditorium last night Mr.
Maphis' address was one OF the foa
lures of the eleventh annual confer
euce OF the educators OF Virginia
which concludes tonight with "a meet
ing under the auspices Of the Cooper
alive Education Association in Johr
Marshall High School auditorium. j
showed that Mr.. Naphis has made 9
deep study of school conditions in Nir-
ginia and that Nc has pronounced
progressive ideas with reference f
steps TO be taken 10 advance the IN
terests OF education In the state,
After he had given credit to the
various officers OF the several organi-
cations aTfl!ated with the conference
Mr.. Maphis declared that al this ses-
SION the plan OF action for the next
TWO years should be outlined at once
He held that the plans made at last
years sessions were made too late to
lie ~ any great benefit. as the time
Intervening between the conference
ara the session Of the Legislature had
been too brief To permit putting the
program INTO operation,
Mr. Maphis. In part, said 10 the
teachers last night:
Quest IONS TO BE Considered.
y Is logical and proper that the
men and women actually engaged in
educational work and who are respon-
.! bic Tor Its success or failure should
more and more mold public sentiment
and shape the educational policy Of
the Commonwealth. We should be
- ,Crh i.fNl4
enough to construct an educational
platform and adopt an educational
policy ard proclaim 1t SO loudly and
,se,rsssteutly that those who make our
laws shall at least want TO know what
we think before enacting educational
legislation My experience and oh
servation are, that they are only too
giad 70 obtain reliable information
no welt d.gested views on public ques-
SONS
] most urgently recommend that
a. p section adopt some one vital fun
a.pental topic for continuous study.
luvestie cation. report and discussion
until a definite satisfa Glory scientific
conclusion Is reached which may be
expressed in accepted standard, off,
gial regulation or legal enactment
Questions Ia BE Answered.
For example, how much money
should Virginia spend annually on her
public education why? What is the
test method of raising this money? Is
the present method of distribution and
apportionment the Just and proper
one?
Has this or any other organization,
or any man or set of men in Virginia
ever attempted to make a comprehen-
sive study Of this question, gather all
the facts, compare judgments. and
suggest Statewide plan? Have we
not rather attempted by piecemeal &c
patch up a financial system which we
know TO be defective and faulty and
against which We have lodged only
vocal complaint?
Iif, Geographical Bars.
What principle in the opinion of
This body should govern in the selec-
tion Of division superintendents? II
tnia principIe Is not observed by the
state Board Of Education because pub
lie sentiment and political pressure
are against it. why should not this
body create a stronger public senti-
ment in favor of the selection of this
important State officer on the basis
of training and merit, and remove The
geographical barrier which has beer
artificially erected and forever banisl
me iII pof Id ZION idlIdtA bl tle dSiii'
sgogue.
7 NJ Legislative program for lblt
should be adopted now. and an allied
offensive campaign with universe
service should lie launched, against
which traditional prejudice. narrow
conservatism. political demagogism
selfish localism, ana ignorance of The
Fundamental principles underlyint
proper school administration will YIELD
as the valiant bat misguided Teutor
has yielded at Verdun and the Somme
My proposal is that we organize and
conduct another May campaign IN
1917. that we adopt a platform limited
70 a few OF the most pressing and
fundamental educational needs and
that all the different educational forces
represented in this conference join In
waging vigorous campaign of edu-
cation In every county in the State
To that end recommend the appoint
ment ~ "a representative committee
TO make d survey of our situation and
to frame a platform. prepare suitable
bulletins Of information. organize our
forces and plan the campaign.
Would Like tn See Survey.
In reality should like to see a sur
vey Of the whole public school system
made with the assistance OF such out
rue 6RtutIFS as tnC 1Utttu
States Bureau of Education and the
General Education Board, somewhat
similar to the Maryland survey. in or
der that we may have for our guidance
a complete and thorough study OF
the system embodying not only the
views of our own leaders. but of COM
petent experts who can give us the
benefit OF their experience in wild eI
fields.
shall attempt briefly to enumerate
a few of the questions whieh / deem
most pressing and which should con
stltute cur platform. The enumeration
viii be simply a reiteration Of recog-
nized needs familiar to you all Su-
perintendent Stearnes, in his admir-
able report last night. has referred 10
them, and on more than one occasion
your attention has been directed 10
them,
More Money For Schools.
The paramount need OF course is
more money. 1t is gratifying and en-
Couraging TO recatt our remarka bic
progress since 1906 and TO note an in =
crease in annual revenue from s2,432,-
1902 in 1905 10 s7.201. 76s In 1915, and
in value of school property from
~ T. - .U35, 500. but in his
admirable pamphlet Counting the
Cost" Superintendent Stearnes SAYS:
THE cost OF education throughout
he Union Is slightly in excess OF $40
"r a1nun per pupil enrolled No
one Will dispute the statement that