The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-01

oh, South Richmond.
The modern accepted theory OF tho
State, assumes that the government
NOT only can levy taxes for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of schools,
but il is just Us much It's duty by TINS
means to protect itself against ig-
noranCe and its consequences as IT is
u protect itself against paupers 10y
maintaining almshouses, or against
criminals by providing jaiis and peni-
teutiarics- a democratic community
cannot endure without adequate pro-
vision for the training of all its Citi-
zcnship IN Intelligence, in character,
in leadership and in economic eff
cheney AS matter of life and death,
therefore. the State undertakes to
train its children. An educated Citi-
zen is more valuable asset to the
state than an ignorant one. He Will
produce more revenue and be less
Likely to become a liza ability. II Is only
on the ground of an investmcnt-an
economic neCessity--that the state can
Justify the imposition of taxes for pub.
lie education. Public education. then,
is after all an exercise by the govern
ment Of the police power, even il not
." +N' os"1~eo w oPehNci' II - ''' CIV
"ltloh great soclai ana economic e.
iott H. 'heteiore' we 9tatV "'''H
tains system of public schools IS an
economic and social necessity, il has
the right and should exercise it of re
curing all children to be educated
r." P'eseF' heH minimum degree
our present constitution should he
amended so as to remove every bar
rier in the way Of an effective Compul-
sorry education act and in the mean
time as strong a Statewide compulsory
Ia" as possible should be enacted.
II we believe in universal education
az the foundation stone of democracy
az we profess. If we believe that an
educated citizen IS more valuable
asset than an ignorant one; II we he
ieVe that lIiiteracy lis a blot upon our
proud civilization; If we believe that
the presence of ignorant and unedu-
Gated people places social and moral
obligation upon US. If we believe in
doing the right and just thing by our
neighbors. then We must support
statewide compulsory education not
withstanding the fact that there are
some difficulties. thought not at all
insurmounta Bile, in the way of its en-
forcement.
BETTER SuDcryision.
The n r, A. has declared in it's
platform it's belief that II ia sound
educational principle that whenever n
teacher is Mt work or a child is In
school be il in city town. ar country
district. both teacher and child should
have +he heneft of close narso,ol and
professional sunervision
The correctness of this nrjnciple
cannot ha successfullv aiSnutad and
seems so anpnrent 40 70 rce5 no
argument
want 10 nav a trihutn to the fdeI-
itv and efficiency of our hoav Of divi-
sion snnerinsnnjents as q wbolo and
ia mnlxo q nloa for mo roro,,l of
the nrovincia, CIV az .Ynnortatior,
when an attenut il made 70 soIcct oun
who does not haunen ia vote in tho
.diyisiou tn he served
In the FIRST Mace the division su-
nerjn+nndept is a Sta+a oeicio1 ar1 ,o+
primarily a county otncer He is 60
iectcd bv the state Roard Of F,duca-
Eton maid largely from state funds IN
snnervise and diract tha wnrL in Which
the State is = large investor RIO
should therefore. be selected nurelv
on his ,ueri+ bis trairfrc his ox
rer,enre his nnrsonal ina Vote
slonal qualifications
Perhaps the most distinctive feature
of CITY school organization ana ad-
ministration is the unity Of it, work.
Instead IF bofnp enltt ~, 90 o,,r COM
ties are into small school districts with
separate boards of control and ftnanra
for each. and with no unity of effort
or purpose. the schools are n,anypel
as a unit. Ono small schoo1 hoard and
one administrative organization con-
troll all the schools.
Tho contrast with our countv svstar,
Is marked in all that relates to EN-
cient educational organization and ad :
ministration. Instead of county
system analogous to our CITY n1an. we
have district control in which there il
freouentlv little unity of purpose This
decentralization in educational admin
istratioh leads to an inefficient tvpe Of
educational and community service
The district system is no longer adant :
ed to the need of the future and a
system more in harmony with mod
ern business methods should he
adopted.
The county Is used AZ tho unit For
almost all other forms OF nnhl,c ms,
ness and should ne adontea for
schools
There should be a small county
board with paia f,scaI apent ard
statistical clerk and with tho smner;n-
tendent as tho cbta> ad,niris,ratiar
officer with fuller mower than he VOW
no..exsas