Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-02
State EDUCATION HEAD
\ ADVISES MANY CHANGES
Report by Superintendent Hart Sus
{. gests Aholishing Trio Of School
Boards.
SUBSTITUTES SINGLE BODY
Higher Salaries for Teachers. Com
pulsory Education and Statc-Owncd
Text Books Among Proposals in
Report.

Reorganization OF the state De-
partment Of Education and clear
definition OF each branch is made in
the report Of Harris Hart. Supcriu-
tendent OF Public instruction. accord
ing to summary just issued. Changes
In the manner of administration also
are urged.
1T is recommended that the district
school board. the country school board.
AS at present constituted. and the
trustee electoral board be abolished.
and that county school board nc
substituted for all three OF these. This
Der elected from each nasisterial
district. or members elected from the
county a, large. Il is urged The local
school affairs OF the county should
So far as administration is concerned,
the district lines Should he abolished.
In large counties or school districts
/. the present provision in the Law for
l subdistrict board may be preserved,
'rP-ovided such board or committee ne
appointed BY the county school board
TO cooperate in purely local matters.
VIII simplify Matters.
The county school board. so consti-
tituted, should have the right 10 lay
school levies up to 4 maximum fixed
by law. The board could then csti-
mate precisely what the needs of the
produce & fund more nearly adequate
for these needs. Teachers should DO
elected by this county board only on
the Recommendation Of the division su-
perintendent.
1t is proposed that members of the
county schoo! board he paiG rea-
sonable per diem. for each day they
Sit on school affairs up 10 a maximum
number of days IN any one year.
Superintendent Hart states that this
arrangement will simplify. school
he sees are tina, the trustee electoral
board, tho various distric; school
boards and the county school board
all merged into one small county
reduced from 1850 to $50: units OF
operation reduced from $50 10 49,;
number OF clerks and separate school
accounts reduced from $50 TO u.s.:
prompt payment OF obligations, cspc-
cially the monthly salaries of teach
crs; more direct action in All school
matters TO meet the demands of the
people.
Higher Snlnrles Ncccssnry.
4 different method of determining
the salaries of division superintendcnts
and a clearer definition Of their duties
is reeommsnded The standards Of
TO be developed and raised. Higher
salaries are believed necessary. The
only solution, according to the "epor,
Is a large increase III state funds.
which combined with IA higher rate OF
local valuation would produce the in
crease.
The rural SCnOoIS receive attention
IN the repcr, N the matter OF bui!d-
ings. Many are said 10 be inadequate.
in regard to supervisors for rural
schools. the report says: ut is of
the highest Importance TO have trained
supervisors. who VIII give all of their
time to Increasing the efficiency OF the
rural schools by encouraging proper
methods Of instruction and proper ar
rangeinents ,or conduct These super
visors serve 10 couple the rural schools
;mme dIaiely WIN the division super
Iiducaiiom. They viii make IL possible
for the rural school TO move out Of
the rather obscure zone within the
range of all Scnool improvements"
Plan for state Books.
Compulsory attendance is discussed
in the report and the need SHOWN for
Il revision OF the Constitution. which
will make an adequate compulsory law
possible. As necessary adjunct TO
compulsory education State owned text
books are recommended just as soon
as the finances OF the state VIII make
Il possible 10 have this forward step
taken without Gripping other phases
OF educational development.
Under the plan proposed, The state
would contract for books al wholesale
to maintain a vel! supplied depository
In the CITY o. Richmond; and local
school boards would order IN accord
ance with their needs through the
State Board OF EdUCat.oI. plan =
proposed whereby sC@.ool Da5ks may be
actually available - ne beginning Of
each session, and thus -t!e tremendous
waste. due 10 operating schools win
out proper equipment. would De AVOID