Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-20
Questions Wi.dom of Chnnrc.

To the Editor of Tho Times Dispatch:
| Sir,-The Hoover Williams bill,
providing for the adjustment OF dis
trict school boards and making county
SchoOi boards, the Unit OF opcrat ion
Tor the public school system. il APP
pear To us, should be seriously CON
sidcrcd before being enacted into
law, because of the radical changes
proposed from the present law under
which we are operating. Under the
present system. each district Is en-
titled To three trustees. appointed by
the electoral board of the ,county,
who are paid out OF tho district funds
$40 for each year. except the clerk OF
said board. who receives SO for each
school in the district. which. In the
average district In the State. would
amount 70. say, $40 FOR each year.
this being all they receive FOR attend
anCo upun district, as we'll AS county
meetings. which would amount to, in
the average county. about 500 for
al! the trustees in the cuuut y-whcrc-
as. under the change. the one trustee
in each district Is to be elected by
the popular vote and may receive
u per diem for attendance upon the
proposed county school board linz
lied. however. To twenty meetings
for each year. Therefore. on tho basis
Of twenty meetings. the cost for the
average county would be $500. az
against SEQ under tho present system
and that without considering the sal
AIRY Of the clerk. provided for in
taid hill.
The difference Of the expense OF
administration. however is not the
mos; serious md objectionable foa-
turc OF TN" hill. wha, is NOR" ee-
rious. TO our mind, is tho mixing "f
our school system In pulitics Tho
present System OF appointment "f
trustees. may not hc n" best but
certainly much better. than expect
ing worthy and compciru, men or
women /" engage In II political fight
| Tor such an Office. 1t would simply
mean competent trustees would not
10" secured. for certainly the 500
salary would not lie sufficient induce
mont To enter "A political campaign
Tor the position Of such rosponSihili-
ties. Another grave objection Is tho
adjustment or district boards and
leaving the distribution az district
funds to the county hoard. District
funds under the present system are
levied FOR the specific purposes OF
the district. such as erecting school
buildings maintaining sam" and
other necessary Incidental cNpcrs.
e the district Under the proposed
change tn" county. being tn" unit. ne"
"iS'fltl VIII nav" the right 10 use
any funds without the coupcn, Of
I'll" county board. which. We fear. Will
result IN contention and disSatisfaC-
tion between the members represent
!nG tn" several districts in the county.
All good citizens want good public
schools and tho most practical laws
u govern them. Therefore. We feel
that No should consider seriously. be.
fore making changes. especially on
entering tho political elections Of our
trustees. Now that women have III"
right to vote and hold oficn ana as
tho" are naturally adapted to all
matters whore their chi!dren's inter
est are concerned. we believe that
tho present electoral board would
find them more responsive tu the APP
rointm"nt. 10 serve on district boards.
than men have been and certainly
We could expect and depend upon
their ,unsclfish and devoted per
Torrance of tho duties az the Office.
whereas. our Virginia women would
hesitate TO make the necessary politi-
cal campaign.
RApPATIANNOCK.
Flint hin. Va. February 10. 1922.