Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-31

''hs'Nt 'pil'Sc Tor women
inJudicious. in that it must ucc.ss,r,ly
require very largo cXpeuditurc ON ~,
part OF the Statc--thc university hoard
suggests 100000 as a starter-in ord,r
10 2t all fulfill the expectations OF
'hose advocating its establishments
DR.. Alderman knows and has show,
mat he realizes, that the university
does not fulfill Jeffcrson's concontion
! that it should he the real capstorc IN
inc educational system of the state.
rms is due in largest measure to rho
facts that there was not worked out
/ from the beginning clear line OF inter
ncpehuencc between the primary and
Intermediate school systems and tbe
university, and that the mistaken pol
ICY OF establishing, too many indoncnd
ent state institutions was undertaten
ana carried out. It is too late to begin
TINS over, nor is it in any respect de.,
! Sirahle under the conditions that have
developed, and that are too we'll do.
hned now, to admit of any Interior
ence, but why make the same mis,als
| with the institutions for the education
Of women?
IL mas been suggested that one of the
norman schools be converted into a
university for women This docs ,ot
present in itself the remedy. hut Nor
| erlH directed does. in my iudgmcnt.
supply the ideal solution
ic"rS ago, discussing the question of
increased normal facilities, I EXPRESSED
the opinion that what was needed was
not more ull-ncdgcd State normal.
but one fully equipped and p-onorI..
supported State normal. with a number
or local schools that could furnish tbo
instruction needed for the first and sec
o.u year courses This was demon
strated as practical, as the New Lon
don Academy for years conducted nor
maj instruction. and it's certificates
! We're acceftcd by the State Board Of
f."ucation as evidence of qualification
20 tH'ch IN the schools of Virginia. most
OF those qualifying securing positfors
Immediately in tho adjoining coun-t
ties or Bedford and Campbell This
system could and should have heen
ampiihed, and 1t would not have been
necessary to establish the eytr, tbroa
state normals we now have, and furth
ermore, proper support and devotion
iheht or the then State normal would
nave lohE since provided such n con-
trai institution OF learning for women
'hat no question such as this would
now be agitatinG the public mind
IL Is too late to discuss it from exactly
TINS standpoint. but it is not too late To
call halt in the mistakes that are
sun being made, and to attep1nt 70
point the way to what is moro SYM
metrical and useful and also that will
NC Vastly more economical from the
standpoint of expenditure
Recognizing the spirit of rivalry no
tween four institutions for exactly tho
same purpose in widely separated SOC
ions or the state. which rivalry mint /"
prove Il great drain on the resources
~ me state as well as place "A tax on
the legislators in balancing their cl,ims
law was enacted at tho last .oss;n, {.
creating one united board for ALI tho
normal schools. The rivalry, bowover 80
must nc only removed to n new forum,
went to Il friend of mine wbo ,.,
appointed on this board ann rr,ro., W., ~
~ accept, expressing the opinion thot
1917 was great work TO be done in 81
n''aicihE up and pcrfecting a great =.
;S'e," OIL education for women. lie do
! cl'hed on account of press OF oth.r brsi
ness. W o''ct pusl-
INC initial step In pcrfcctinr sucb
| ., SsStem Wonid be the selection IN.
nus board OF the very best tvnc ~ /.
,h .iat can be found. making him
inc president of the whole system 49,,
inc administrative officer of tbo ,,,;.,
po"Id' Rave one institution snIcctoi
~, t'c state normal and university for
Women and then develop it to tho
a ,uiit -, along all modern lines. Require
an INC other normals to limit thcir
activities to instruction i'm tho Grs+
'h9 sccond-ycar courses. and have ,lI..
students In the third and fourthye
courses transfer their attendance To-
| the state normal and unjycrsitv for
women. Under present and mrs, con
"itiohs 1t is fact. l believe, that nor
exceeding 80 per cent OF matriculatcs
at inc normal schools go beyond tho
second year. Why have four expen-
siVe and competitive establishments
duplicating the third and fourth -years''
WORK when one could do it all at great
~ reduced expense to the State and &,
properly developed and equipped. do 1t
win much greater efficiency? At the
Same Tune and at the minimum of
cost the state could provide for fur
nishinG the many other lines OF de
velopmcnt that would give lnstruc
tion that would he best for the higher
and more perfect education OF women
There arc splendid possibilities
j have no pride of opinion as IN
which institution should he selected.
nut n great system can 10 built mn
ana perfected by tho selection of tho
nan most cihinentiy qualified as the
head OF such system and making him
IFS president and giving him ungruds-
ing support At the head of each minor
institution and as his first assistant
at the major one there would be In adj
ministrative control, under the Dresi-
dent of the whole system, a vice-nresi-
dent, or preferably with the desicna-
ton OF dean, for each institution, which
positions would, no doubt. be ably
hlled by the present heads OF the now
separated institutions. \ spleudidlv
compact and useful system could be
built up, and the women OF Virginia,
would have a system of higher cdu-
cation of which they could be proud
anu which the true men or Virginia
would delight in upbuilding and de-
vcloping to the fullest: and there are
many. many avenues OF development
that would be open to such an iHsti-
tuition that would necessarily be de-
MED To simply coordinate college
for women as an annex TO the uni
versity. which will, for all time, till
tile traditions and system OF the uni
Ncrsity become extinct, he q source
of dissatisfaction to the opponents OF.
the separate lines Of thought
/ would not object, as I have stated.
to another institution to be established
Immediately contiguous to the univer-
sity as the head OF the system OF cdu-
cation for women. but 1t must be tho "a
head of a separate system, and not
under the same management as the
university. Such an institution would
require II very large outlay, and there
is no necessity for its establishment
when We can develop one of the insti-
tutions we already have.
What is needed, however, to perfect