Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-01
STEARNEs OUTLINES
NEW ELIGIBILITY RULE
Satisfactory Service on Part OF In
cnmbents In Itself Renders
Them Available.
RULES APPLY TO NI4w MEN
Division Superintcndents Hereafter
Chosen Must BE Actually Engaged
In School Work or Have Taken
Two Years of College Course.

MjsrcaiinS of the new order rc!a;.
/ .n2 I" minimum qualifications for di-
vision sapcriricEUcnts. believes Supo.-
intci''.. ~ l.. G. :tCarncs. Of tue State
department Of Public Instruction. is
""poa*iSi" Eoi the incorrect asSumi,-
tioi ~ nian. quarters that tho object
OF tho regulations was to render many
- the Supcrintcndents nov in office
ineligible Il succeed themselves.
Aside ron nc fact that the reru-
iatIons state explicitly that satisfac-
tory service on the part nf iucumbents
/ IN itself renders them eligible 10 re
| appointment without regard To our new
rules" says Mr.. Stemrnes. in ii review
OF general school conditions made pub
! lie yesterday. the State would hardly
stuitify Itself By declaring. in effect
/ that the men who have been making
( history which we are continually
! Boosting u are TO y large extent or
in measure unh, fer the positions
I they occupy.
The nc" regulations to secure more
| cHect!Sc supervision are but the out
conc OF tventy-thrcc years OF efforts
/ on the part OF the division supniin-
iendents themselves. aud every step in
I the approach 10 adequate professional
supervision has been suggested either
| ~ = division superintendent or by an
cadivision superintendent.
WoRkfNG For RETIREMENT
| ron QUARTER or CENTURY
Nearly quarter Of century ago
/ the division superintendent drew up
petition addressed 10 the Legislature
asking that they DC required to de-
I vote their entire time to the duties Of
! their Office. aud TO nutlify themselves
professionally for tie positions they
/ occupied. This was done al time
when modern school administration
I Was absolutely in its infancy as af
ieciinE state or county school systems.
Al the time this petition was pre-
sented one or the highest Educational,
authorities in the State---a man whose
I support was necessary IL the success
/ of the plan-is reported 10 have said.
| The first thing you know, the school
4 people viii make the office OF Superin-
I tendent of Schools so technical and
professional that no one but a school
/ man can fiji it Ii appears now that
I his words were a; least prophetic.
I'm 1915. the State Board Of Educa-
/ ton. on account OF the rcnla rlsa BILE
development Of the State high school
system! and the resultant growth or
the higher institutions OF learning. a.
well As Of the elementary schools de-
clared that liberal provision for close
expert supervision was an economical
means OF Increasing returns upon our
annual investment for educational
purposes. The board also went on
superintendents Of schools those whose
training and experience showed that
they possessed the necessary admins
trative. scholastic and professional
/ qualifications. This regulation of the
board received Legislative sanction in
the Valentine law of 1916, Mr.. Valen-
tine himself being a former superin-
tendent Of Brunswick County
LIMIT ELIGIBILITY TO
THOSE IN EDUCATIONAL. WORK
Acting under the Inspiration and
sanction OF the Valentine law the
board has adopted regulations in ac-
cordance with its resolution on jan
uary %. 1913. And il may he of in
terest to add that similar rules. some
of which 80 even further than the
Virginia regulations. have been adopted
in large number OF the States OF this
/ Union.
Our new regulations limit the field
Of eligibility to those who have been
actually engaged in educn tional work
during the past ten years: and unless
! the applicant is a fun graduate of a
standard college, has taken two
years OF college work, embracing at
least three hours OF education per week
| throughout each session, il is provided
that he mus, have had at least three
years Of experience as teacher. school
supervisor or principal within that
period
Superintendent Stearnes touches in