Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-02
REVIEWS PROGRESS OF
h / PUBLIC EDUCATION
State, Superintendent r. G, Stcarnes
Makes Interesting Address
Int Annual Conference.
SCHOOL FUNDS HAVE GROWN
Total Enrolment Increased by Near
~ 10000 During Past Five Years,
and Percentage OF Juvenile Hit
cracy Has Been Cut In Half.

eracy Has Been Cut In Half.
Vital activities OF the present were
regarded az the Keynote, OF the ad-
dress made by r. C. Stearnes. Super
intcndcnt OF Public Instruction. at the
Virginia Education Conference In Ses-
sion the past week at Roanoke. He
declared that he believed the school
people represented In small though
earnest measure the patriotic heart and
consecrated effort of the American ma
ton. the faith and courage and strength
and spirit that animated and inspires
them now.
He gave an encouraging account OF
progress during the past five years.
stating that he was proud to have
borne part in an era Of such splendid
advancement, but his ardent desire
seemed to be that FULL advantage
should be taken Of the rich opportuni-
ties of the present. and that the school
teachers should pledge, themselves
anew for service Of enduring faith
and ceaselesS energy. He. insisted that
all differences should be forgo all
prcjudices sunk. and that Virginia edu
cation should 20 forward with united
hands and uplifted eyes in the duty
OF building a democracy OF intellectual
freedom. where their forefathers had
built a democracy Of political freedom.
GREAT INCREASE SHOWN
IN SCHOOL FUNDS
Superintendent Stcarnes declared
that the outstanding educational fca-
turc of the session Of 1851 was the
unparalleled financial stride which the
schools had made lie stated that the
funds were increased in the maSnit
cent sum OF @l,ili.063.39. the largest
increase in the history of the State,
an increase in fact, which was nearly
100000 greater than the increase OF
any two preceding years. This in
crease brought the school funds up TO
the striking total OF $o.l32.30g54. In
1907 the school funds amounted to 49,
f7304S.4l; in 1912. sJ.G1G,o64l6, and in
1917 they have reached the 100000
mark
The speaker called attention to the
fact that the pamphlet issued by the
Department of Public Instruction en-
titled Counting the Cost, which was
widely discussed as the first effort to
formulate a budget for the State school
system. asked for a total increase in
school revenue amounting to S3,534.-
90, which amount would have yielded
a per capita income Of $40 for each
county pupil ENROLLED and a per capita
income OF $50 FOR each city pupil en-
oiled for the session OF lsl3-l4 He
':;,tcd that he was really surprised
himself TO find that the people had re-
pondcd TO 49, appeal to the extent of
;2.G3i.2YS.S6. thus bringing the State
Y!thin 100000 Of the desired goal.
INROLLMENT INCREASED
by NEARLY 10000 PUPILS
Superintendent Sicarncs mentioned
that the enrolment had been increased
marty $4,000 during the past live
vars: that Juvenile i!Aieracy.. includ-
Ing whites and negroes, had been re-
Uu:ed from ll.2 10 b,96, per. cent: That
~, b nfl- rtiir{p.y he
hgn schools on the one hand and the
one and two-roo!u schools OH the other
hal been accomplished; that consoi!da
t..n OF schools had advanced as never
bIorc; that thousands OF schools had
ben put in good sanitary condition.:
HAT the professional consciousness OF
re teachers had been greatly quick
ciei: that the number Of school leagues
Ind been largely increased and their
iihuencc widely extended: that the
i'cal teachers associations had been
simulated to renewed and Increased
activities; that the supervising forces.
the body OF division superintendents
.ad been almost REVOLUTIONARY: and
hat plans already formulated for the
present session would probably result
in Il material !cngthcn.ng OF the ses-
sion.
NEED IS FOR BETTER
TRAINING OF TEACHERS
lie called attention 10 the pressing
need OF providing much larger num-
OF teachers and paying them bet
ter salaries. In fact, he came out
auuarely for minimum salary law
for the incubation of IL greater
mary spirit among tho young
teachers who come from training
schools and institutions OF higher
learning. SO important was this duty
OF training teachers. IN his opinion.
that he declared the primary .Nhools
yedcd better high schools to train
their teachers and woman's colles L
school teachers more than they need
cd - million dollars a year OF additional
revenue.
while the State Superintendent de-
clared for the womnn's college as the
most vital step Of concrete nature
that could now be taken in the realm OF
teacher training, he was evidently dis
cussing the question strictly from n
professional standpoint and without
regard TO the location of the proposed
coordinate college for women at the
University of Virginia, ior. he added,
"a the location Of this womans col
, lege was of secondary Importance.
Superintendent Stearnes closed BY
saying that teachers could turn with
confidence and hope % the future;
ihat the cause Of education was safe
I IN Virginia, and that the courage OF
unless and far-seeing people would
ever falter until the full measure
ttheir educational birthright had been
.;chieved.
fishing Il Good in Northumberland.
Ii