The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-25
STfARNES SPEAKS
To HALIFAX PEOPLE
Declares Multiplicity of Books Forced
Over His Protest, Which Ia Matter
of Record.
ADDS TO SCHOOLING COST.
Had Privilege of Starting One Room
School Movement and Was One of
Men Who Originated One and Two
Room School Fund.

on Monday Superintendent r. c.
stearnes addressed large and repre-
sentative gathering at Houston, Hall
fax county and while. with one ex-
ception devoid OF sensational features,
IT received the close and Interested at
tention OF the assemblage The strik
ing point mentioned had reference to
the recent book adoption. The change
OF text books, said the speaker, has
laid an extra burden approximating a
half million dollars on the people.
Ella borating this point he said; Very
much to my regret, and over my pro-
test which is IA matter of record, the
state board of education changed
about So per cent OF the elementary
books. and also increased the number
Of titles on the elementary list, until
a child in Virginia may now he re-
quired 10 buy 1871 books dncludng
copy books and music books) on the
elementary list. and in the primary
and grammar grades as against
eighty-three on the old list. The re-
suit is that our book bill has not only
been phenominally large on account
of the change of textbooks. but II will
continue to be large on account OF the
multiplicity of texts In the new list.
Recently ! have seCured statements
from several local dealers, and In
every instance 1 find that the mer-
chant has sold practically four times
as many books during the past two
years as he sold during the session
Immediately preceding the 1915 adop
ton. This means that the state has
purchased twice as rnanv books each
year as it was accustomed to purchase
before the adoption went into effect,
The evidence tended to show that our
annual book bill. prior TO the new
adoption, was two hundred and forty
or two hundred and nifty thousand dol
lars. II the reports received from
these local dealers. widely scattered
throughout the state. are a true index
TO the tax that has been placed upon
the state by the change OF textbooks,
the total amount to date Will approach
a half million dollars. And. as l have
before stated, the heavy charge is
obliged to be CONTINUING one as our
present complex list OF books-basal,
first supplementary, optional supple
mentarY, and general supplement
tary-is obliged to he an expensive
one.
System of Ccrtification.
An Interesting chapter of our de-
velopment." said Superintendent
Stearnes. has been the perfection OF
state system of certitication. In sos
We had more than 100 different first
grade certificates. more than 100 dif-
terent second grade certificates. and
an equally large stock of third grade
certificates, not 10 mention about
dozen different varieties of profess
sional certificates. This was due to
the fact that we had county system
of certihcation. and each super nten-
dent had a different standard Our
state board of examiners took hold Of
his situation and adopted a system
which standardized the certificates I
have referred to. and at the same time
introduced the principle of granting
certificates upon the academic and
professional training of teachers.
without examination. This increased
the number OF names that certificates
bore. but greatly simplifed the prob
lem that was presented to the trustees
as each certificate represented exactly
what its name implied. in whatever
county the holder might reside. When
the state board OF examiners trans
ferred the new system OF certifications
to the department of public instruc-
ton, we found that about thirty diff
ferent certificates were In existence
The only contribution that can claim
to have made In the whole matter was
TO suggest the wording that would
make each certificate show upon its
face the special training that the
IlRIItl itdu ltfelNtus anu tHt tHdt dtttI
Of school in which 1t might be used,
Touching the point of operating ex-
penses OF the state school system, the
speaker said: We have centralized
and stmplified our organization until
fourteen persons are doing three times
as much work as twelve accomplished
in 1906. In other words We have re-
duced the state operating expenses
from eight-tenths of one per cent in
1906 To flve-tenths in 1917, although
our scale of wages necessarily has
been increased by the higher cost of
living, ! challenge any state depart
ment beyond the borders of this state,
or any local department of school ad-
ministration within the state, to show
a better record than this"
Stressing his special interest In the
one room country school. Mr.. Stearnes
said Il believe 1t is conceded that
had the privilege ofF starting the one
room school movement. and Of being
one of the men who originated the one
and TWO room school fund. This. how
ever, was hut the logical result of
nay work as Il division superintendent;
Tor was county superintendent and
not a city superintendent and iaborAd
fourteen years among the country
-e1oots making specially of the one
room school We have increased the
enrolment OF our public schools as
l5tFh ii lvte f..a