Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-18
STEARNEs ANNOUNCES
CAMPAIGN PLATFORM
Superintendent OF Public Instruction
Outlines Views rs to Con-
duct OF War.
FAvoRs TRAINED TEACHERS
Better Pay and Longer Terms, With
School for Every Child and Every
Child in School, Arc Its Chief
PlankS.

| r. c. Stcarncs, State Superintendent
of Public Instruction. last night an
nounced the platform on which he
| seeks denomination in the Democratic
State primary OF August {.
! Mr.. Stearncs declares for economy
and efficiency in the conduct OF the
schools and reviews in some detail
what has been accomplished for popu
lar education in the years he has been
connected with the Department of Pub
lie Instruction. first as secretary AMI
later as superintendent.
His platform follows:
Every child in Virginia entitled TO
the best the States income will pro-
vide.
a school for every child and every
child in school
Professionally trained teachers With
better pay and longer terms.
Division supcrintendents specially
trained. with reasonable salary and
all-timc service.
Earnest and persistent efforts to i'm
prove tho one and two-room schools
Of the State.
The continued development OF farm,
and home demonstration work.
Frequent or sweeping changes OF
teXt-b books an unjustifablc burden.
Strict business economy in the ad-
ministration OF schoo! affairs.
The fullest publicity of tho manner
in which public school funds are cx
pended.
a thorough belief i'll ali progressive
policies tending TO promote the well
fare of the public school system.
REVIEWS PROGRESS
OF POPULAR EDUCATION
In discussing his platform Mr..
Stcarncs said:
In asking recollection at the hands
Of the people OF Virginia. feel that
should render them a brief account of
my stewardship. have b"en associat-
ed with the State Department Of Put
lie Instruction fo- eleven y"ars-snven
years as Secretary Of the state Bohri
OF Education and four years as Super
intCndcnt Of Public instruction.
AS tho record of the first ten years
OF TINS period is not complete, l feel
justified in submitting the following
significant facts:
Enrolment incrcas ii fror, 3G9,33l 20
4?l. S43--33 per cent.
Average attendance increased from
cc2.jGI to sos. 9Jo--j2 per cent.
High schools increased from els TO
5?2-l72 per cent.
Schools having libraries increased
from i.os4 to 5,3o7-4oo per cent.
School leagues increased from c5S
to l.l50--3S3 per cent.
Visits of division superintendent in
creased from Hi,204 TO 81. T63-lli per
cent.
Annual school revenue increased from
sS.473.O4S.41 To s7.712.5S6-I22 per cent
Annual amount paid teachers in
creased from S2.149.6S4.1l to si,i7i,432.-
7S-l0l per cent.
Average annual salary of teachers in
creased from s2o694 to s34I.l7-50 per
cent.
Value of school property increased
from s5.7lS.170 TO 6.a94.352--la6 per
cent.
White illitcracy between ten and
twenty years OF age reduced from a.
524 TO a.l93-about one third of what
it formerly was.
Colorcd illitcracy between ton and
twenty years of age reduced from 3D.
294 TO l4,256-morc than one-half.
LARGE SUMS HANDLED
Al SMALL ENPENSE
During session l9i5-l6 tho Depart
nent OF Public instruction directed n
business involving an expenditure of
$7..l2.6S6. at n cost to the state of
S4I.S35.45. This was only onc-half
Of per cent on the basis of funds dis
burscd. What business enterprise. pub
lie or private. could show greater econ
omy in the administration of its af-
fairs?
In loO6-o7 the total State expenses of
tho Department OF Public Instruction
were $26.S75.33: in l9l5-16 they were
s+l,S35.i5. During these years the sala-
RIGS and expenses of its officers and
employees. as paid by tho tate, incrcas-
cd from s1S.9S6.7S I" s27.1s5.o4. Thus
we see that an expanding business
which in ton or twelve large and con-
trolling items has scored increases of
from ~ to Goo per cent. and has en-
larEcd the scope OF it's financial opera
tons more than $4,000 900. represents
an increase OF less than $4,000 in total
expenses Of the department, and an
increase Of only about $4,000 in its sal
AIRY account
Similar evidences of economy in ad-
ministrativc expenses will be observed
in examining tho local expenditures in
counties and cities.
have Striven to perfect and en-
force the statutes requiring local
school boards to present Il carefully
prepared budget before any school levy
or appropriation can be demanded.
Our school boards also required
To publish An itcmzcd statement Of
expenditures in the most open and pub
lie manner. This law has likewise re-
cciNcd my earnest approval and sup
port.
II may not he amiss to add that the
pamphlet entitled. Counting the Cost"
which was published by the department
In 1918. represented the first effort to
formulate budct for the Virginia
schools from state standpoint
DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER
CHIEF AIM OF SCHOOLS
Throughout our courses of study
emphasis is placed on thorough ground
ing III the fundamentals. These courses
look to the grading and standardizinE