Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-28
forced, while IL is the duty Of tho Gov
crnor to hnvo all the laws executed.
ERNEST j.. CopLES
New Haven. Conn. February -.


New raven. Conn. February -.
The Co-Ordinnte college.
To the Editor OF The Times DiSpatch
Sir---in the discussion with reference
to the various bills before tho I.egiSIa-
turc relating to the public school sys-
TEN. have been struck with the lack
Of realization that that system Is II
unit from the primary grade up 10 the
university. There are many members.
but on. body" Each member has 4
different office. 1t is, therefore. II mis-
take tn allow one member 10 compete
with the other. They ali work to-
gether for the good Of the people OF
the Commonwealth.
The elementary schools give clement
airy education to the great mass of
the people. They furnish the rank and
file OF the army OF educated citizenship.
The high schools train for leadership.
and the higher institutions OF learning
for higher leadership. The normal
schools train teachers for the element
arg schools The university trains;
young men to lead in the highest way
in advancing the civilization of the
generation IN which they live. ana in
handing il on 10 the generations that
follow
All Of these have lofty functions to
perform. All deserve the active sup
port of the State No one of them
should be neglected. They are ali
members Of one body. and til. cy.
cannot say to the hand. I have no need
OF thee. or again the head to the feet
| have no need of you" If one member
suffers, all the members suffer with Il.
and If one member is honored. all the
members should rejoice with it
The proposed coordinate college will
have functions to perform not per
formed by any Of the other members
Of the SCHOOL system now in existence.
nor should il take the place of either
OF these.
II is the special function OF the nor
ma! schools 10 furnish trained teachers
for the elementary schools Of the State.
TWO thousand new teachers are needed
for these schools each year That
means that If they were furnished by
the present normal schools, each Of
these would have to turn out no less
than 800 graduates annually. I have
nothing but praise for the work of
these schools. but they are utterly in
adequate TO perform even the work
that is their special function
hcalizinS the great demand for
trained teachers. tho Legislature cstab-
!iShcd some ycarS ago high school nor
maj training classes TO supplement the
work Of the normal schools. But both
normal schools and high school normal
training c!aSsca ar. able TO supply only
a fraction Of the demand for properly
trained teachers for the elementary
schools.
Nearly all Of those turned out arc
immediately absorbed b. the town
schools. The rural districts arc thus
compelled 10 suffer from the necessity
OF employing unframed aud incxpcri-
cnced teachers. As soon as the rural
teachers gain efficiency by experience.
they. too. are absorbed by the city and
viliaE" schools. Until tho problem OF
furnishing 2,n"o trained teachers for
~ ,.i ,r,O.. ~ . sol
has beer solved. it would he a crime to
divert the funds given 10 tho normal
schools for this purpose in order 10
give general Academic training TO The
young women Of Virginia, or 10 furnish
trained teachers for the high schools of
Tn" COMMONWEALTH.
Think al The great dignity and worth
there is in training teachers for the
elementary schools These teachers
influence the whole life OF the pupil.
whereas the college teacher wields his
inflncnr" after tho life OF the pupil is
I" - large extent already nodded
The functions OF the college arc thos"
belonging 10 Il university. and not To
Il normal school IL our high schools
there are twice as many girls as there
are boys. Equality OF opportunity Is
q principle that lies at the very foun-
dation OF public education. IL the
state gives higher education to the
boys il il under tn" same obligation
10 give higher education 70 it's girls
In our high schools 20 per cent OF
the teachers are women. II is mani
fc*tiy the duty Of tho state to provide
for the training of these teachers.
IL our children are 10 be educated
successfully. IL is essential that they
appreciate the Importance OF education
To accomplish this. il is importaI!; that
the mothers OF the State hc educated.
Tho civilization OF :. STATE depends