Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-17

for superintendent elected u tn.
people.
Repeal section i3c. which gives 4
authority TO the present State Boasa \
OF Education.
Substitute for section 1917 as tol-
lows:
section 1872 In addition to pass. ii
ing necessary laws to provide text &
books to INDECENT children, tho Generals
Assembly may. in its discretion, pro-
vido that each county or city shills
inauSurate a free textbook SYSTEM.
WANT GOVERNOR TO NN.E
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
our reason for suggesting that the
Governor appoint the Superintendent
OF Public instruction is that II is very,
difficult for the people at large 30
judge OF the technical or administers
tive abilities of Il candidate for such
position. Besides under present con-
Giticns the expenses of state pr;-
mary arc very large and tho labors
OF candidate in such primary arc
very grea. and eSactinS and requiring
much of the candidates time and at
tcntion. H. IS not for the good ot the
State that such officer should carry
such q burden. Z
AS long as human nature remains
Instruction. like all other officials. wiz
fight for his Political life, and tho
present tendency is TO mako the public
school system a great political ma
chine. This movement has not, as YETI
gone very far. but it has begun and
must be stopped. Under the present
system any able and ambitious SUPER
intcndent of Public Instruction could
make himsl in our years an almost
invincible power in Virginia politics.
We realize that the question of
the revision of the Virginia Constitu-.
ton which created the present system
is enormously important. IL is difficult
for any two men to- altogether agree
upon the principles involved, but,
nevertheless. q complete reforming and
reshaping of our educational system is
imperatircly demanded to meet mod.
crn conditions. This work is OF great
extent and of exceptional difficulty
and intricacy. 1t can only be properiy
done by men who have the capacity
TO do it and the time to give, to the
work.
WANT COMMISSION TO
REonGANIZE SCHOOLS
We recommend that the General
Assembly provide for commission to
be appointed by the Governor, com.
posed of five or seven able men, a
majority of whom are educators, whose
duty it Will be to investigate and re-
port to the General Assembly of 19sa
their conclusions as to the following
matters:
I'D The organization Of the pubIe
Notwithstanding, high and normals
and all questions relating to teach;
ers training, both in tho summer nor.
mails and the regular State normats.
ana proper system OF certifying
teachers.
CD To reclassify and codify tina
virginia school laws and to make such
suggested amendments to tho Same -
may be needed to give US an up-to-d date
school system. in such a way that the
State may secure value received for
every dollar expended. E
I'D To suggest amendments to ar
ticle IN. OF the Constitution. SO that
IL may be possible to enact satisfactory
laws on school matters. s4A g
90 To consider and report a prac-
| teal system of vocational education.
cd To devise system to be. estab.
lshed by legislation making 1t certain
that the purposes of the General Az.
scmhly in appropriatinG money to elc.
Inentary schools is carried out by the
local communities. and that such com
nunities contribute a just proportion
| OF the cost of such schools
60 To consider and report az Ia
whether the normal schools be required
to drop all Of their first, second ana
third-ycar high school work ana
whether any of the normal schools are
failing in the purpose Of their crca.
ton, which was to train teachers for
the elementary schools"