Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-17
PRESENT SCHOOL SYSTEM
is WHOLLY INCOMPETENT
State Commission Denounces Political Parasites and Says
Educational Department Needs Radical Reformation.
Disbursements Not Properly Accounted For.

The prc5cn. scnooi system Is 'rre-
sponsible and incompetent the Virginia
Journal Of Education and the State Co
operative Teachers Agency are para
sites upon the Department OF Public
Instruction.. ard the whole cducationa l
department OF the State government
needs absolute reformation. according
to the report of the commission on
economy and efficiency in it's recon-
ncndationS~ to the General Assembly
made public yesterday.
The irresponsibiiity and incom-
potency are attributed to the system
rather than to faults Of the DEPART
mcnts personnel, bu; no excuse is Of
fcrcd for the parasites" The princi-
pal objection to the journal is that
sit 10 semi-privatc and sen'i-public. and
probably always will be used for poll
teal purposes by the superintendent
controlling it," Oc the teachers agency,
It is said, "it is another parasite which
draws sustenancc from the State Board
OF Education. though IL is in fact a
private enterprise conducted for private
profit b. j. T. Fentress aud w. c.
Biakcy. two Richmond school-tcachers"
The main fault with the educational
system. the report says. Grows out of
the constitutional limitations govern
ing the choice Of the school boar
Perhaps in the history Of the country"
il is declared. no governmental agency
has been selected b. process OF such
complicated indirection."
NO SUPERVISION OVER
TRAVELLING EXPENSES
Financial disbursements and admin
lstration by the State Board come I'm for
sharp criticism and travelling expenses
of those connected with the department
are declared to be subjected to no con-
r~1 To-
charged that the superintendent even
enters his accident insurance premiums
against his travelling expenses, for
which he is allowed $1,000 year, but
for which he Is not required to give
any comprehe nsivc accounting.
Summer schools arc declared to i'm
pose financial hardship3 upon under
paid teachers, who are compelled to
attend them. It is also charged that
pressure is brought to bear upon the
teachers 10 pei them to subscribe 10
the Virginia Journal o: Education.
Tho Virginia Book Company is al
legged to have failed TO perform the
function for which it was organized
the prompt distribution of textbooks
STATE: SUPERINTENDENT
DRAWS OUTSIDE; FEES
1t Is alleged that the Medical College
Of Virginia allows the Superintendent
OF Public instruction salary of $500
year for examining matriculatcs. It
is recommended that the superintendent
DE allowed ample salary. but no such
fees
There undoubtedly exists" says the
report, "a widespread belief in the
state that our school System is not
efficient and that We do not get aie-
quatc returns for the millions spent.
This feeling 10 based rather upon in
stinct than upon detailed knowledge.
Neverth cless. the instinct of whole
people is almost always justified by the
facts.
The dissatisfaction of the people OF
Virginia with their school system Is. In
our opinion, fully justified snd radical
/ reforms must be made.
little can bo dono by way OF fun