Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-01
ADVOCATE CHANGES
IN SCHOOL SYSTEM
Educational Commission Prepares
Five Principal Recommends
tons for Legislature.
ASK INCREASE IN TAXES
Would Abolish Present Manner
of Naming Local Boards and
Raise Teaching Standards.
ASK INCREASE IN TAXES

Adjustment OF the present >vs,en
OF school boards a constitutional
amendment to provide that the State
bcard OF Education be appointed by
the Governor. higher qualifications for
public school teachers. raising the
qualifications for division super.nten-
dents and an increase in school tax
rom - TO 20 per cent were the fve
principal recommendations TO the
legislature agreed upon so far bv Tho
virginia Educational Commission. ac-
Gqrding TO a statement given out last
night when that body adjourned
After two days session the com
mission adjourned last night without
hnishing its work and will meet again
on october s. at which time the final
revision OF the recommendations con-
cernlng the changes in the school sys-
tenn throughout the State, which must
Ds IN the hands Of the members Of
November !, will be approved by the
The hve principle recon mmendations
Larger participation Of the popuiace
In local school affairs and the recon-
mendation men that the present complex
trict board. State board and county
board should be abolished.
Would Elect Members.
~ is further recommended that the
the control of a county school board.
cFhis boar1 should be composed OF
one, one man sia, from each Magisterial Dis
OF the district, thus making a county.
Unit OF operation rather than the dis
trict unit OF school administration.
County boards thus elected Will ap-
point division superintendent from
a list Of ellgihles to be prepared by
the State Board OF Education.
The second recommendation which
mas been approved by the commission
ls tnat a constitutional amendment -
Provide for State Board of 5Educl7
ton to be appoipted by the GoverneE
70 such a numbeE and for such length
Of term as may be fixed by law. q
AtnotheT .ecoinmended amend!ncni
Pubic Instruction shall be appointed
by the board without reference 10 h IL
place OF residence.
CndeT this arrangement. according
TO the statement of Superintendent OF
Public instruction, the entire school
machinery OF the State will be re.
will have a State board and a state
superintendent local boards and a
local Superintendent, responsible 70.
the administration OF the school sys.
TEN.
Want Higher Standards
Thirdly, the commission has agreed
70 recommend higher qualifications
for public school teachers and the best
possible salary for them.
This recommendation calls for the
adoption OF nine months school
term and an average salary of not less
than S15 month, or yearly average
of s675
This would require that the amount
appropriated for institutional pur-
poses be increased from s5,500,0oo TO
so.50o.00
The commission estimates that no
less than s3,500,0o0 will provide funds
needed TO pay teachers in Virginia
even an average salary of school
teachers in other States," Mr. Hart said
last night
Recomme endation by the commission
that the State school tax be increased
from il to 20 cents. and that the pres
ent constitutional limits on local tax
be removed. has already been approved
by that body. it was given out last
night The removal of the constitu-
tional limit on local tax was asked
it is said. in order that reasonab ble
Raise Qualifications
Lastly. the commission recommends ID
that the state Board of Education
raise the qualifications for the posi-
tion of division superintendent OF
schools, and that the salary for this
position should be fixed at figure
more nearly in proportion to the i'm
portant work the superintendents have
under their supervision.
Superintendent Hart leaves today
for bowling Green, where he will ad-
dress county teachers institute
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Super
intendent Hart will address similar
meetings In Clarke. Winchester and
Frederick Counties