The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-07
u T bxSN1L
Stevensville. Va, July S.
A Patron OF Public Schools Advances
Some Ideas About Changes in
The Virginia System.

Editor virginian:
Sir:--I read with much interest
your account in your isue Of the 3rd
instant. relative to the probable
changes in the public school system
of Virginia. as suggested by State
Superintendent OF Schools. Professor
Harris Hart.
Having served in the educational
field in the state for a quarter of A
century and more, and watched with
great interest every move made
towards the betterment and uplift OF
the system, hope that my views on
the probable changes are. worthy to
be laid before the public.
will state first that ! am In most
hearty sympathy and accord with
Professor Harris suggestions as to
the election of school trustees by the
people and the reduction from three
to a school district to one. But
can go further.
am in favor of eliminating the
office OF division superintendent en-
tirely. and let the one trustee to the
school district be a man, or. maybe.
la woman, equipped clerically as well
as enthusiastically to superintend the
work of the schools in the districts;
salaried. and devoting whole time to
the work during the sessions of the
schools-equipped so as to help by
actual class work when visiting the
schools, and not merely to give a
theoretical lecture or to make a
ford address. Both are good enough
in their places, but what the young
teachers need especially is practical
work done right before them, it mat
|ters not If they have graduated at a.
60
the real work problems will arise that
previous training will scarcely ever
meet
Let these school district truste es
form the county school board, meet
ing every month. with the board of
supervisors and having the common
wealth's attorney as member ex-
oficio. Such trustee should be able
to report directly to the state supertn-
tendent as now do the division su =
perintendents. and, while this would
increase largely the number Of re-
ports, the clerical force of the state
superintendent ONCE should be able
to take care of them.
am In favor of state supervisors,
or inspectors, II that be the proper
name for these officials. But only
a few are needed. And let them be
and making reports pro and con on
every school visited. Personally I
hold a high respect for the corps Of
division superintendents In the state,
but regard the ONCE as unnecessary
and one that might easily be supplied
by duly qualified district trustees. But
IT the office of division euperinten-
dent be continued then Let that ONCE
De elective and not appointive. 1t
may be argued that this would nut
the school system in politics. Well. it
Is argued now that it is a matter Of
"a pull If this be true, which in
worse politics or the pull? 1t would
seem decidedly more democratic to
give all OF the qualified voters Of a
county the opportunity to elect the
OF their county rather
than the appointment be made at
the suggestion OF the teachers OF that
county already serving under the
superintendent and fearing lest their
necks may be severed II their sigma
lures DO not appear on his petition,
The popular vote would seem the bet
ter method
There are so many changes needed
IN the public school system OF the
state especially as applied to the
rural districts that I feel sure our
state superintendent feels that he has
labyrinth OF difficulties before him.
But 1t is porper to remark that your
correspondent among very many feels
that Professor Hart will grapple these
dimculties with determination and
force and strive to the uttermost to
untangle.and straighten out the vex-
ing situation.
While all teachers will admit that
the so-cailed high schools Of the