Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-13
HIGH SCHOOL PROBLEMS IN VIRGINIA
ARE DISCUSSED BY THE PRINCIPALS IN
CONFERENCE At V.N. |. l.. PETERSBURG

colored schools at cost of $4,000.
MISS GREGG ON BASIS FOR THE
TRAINING OF TEACHERS.
At 800 p. M. on Thursday, Miss
r. T.. Gregg. State Supervisor Of
Teacher Training, spoke on "a High
School Education as Basis for Pro-
fessiOnal Training of Teachers"
Among the results expected from a
high school training, Miss Gregg set
forth the following: Cd To elm
fnate the inadequate. ca to estab-
fish better language habits in the In
dividual, CD to give him a better
method of attacking new subjects,
ca to develop power OF recognizing
material. CD ability to make re-
search on a problem, co to broaden
general information Of literature,
science and history. CD broaden e6-
ucati0nal experience.
In speaking on her second main
idea. Things needed In the profess
ional training" Miss Gregg enumer-
ated Cd ability to teach the various
elementary subjects, (2) broad
background Of science, history, lit
erature, CD one full year of college
work as basis, (4) definite founda-
ton in principles OF education, 60
observation Of the art Of teaching.
These things are necessary lor the
training Of teachers for both ele-
| mentary and high school work.
All high school teachers, in addi-
ton to the above should have at least
two years OF college training in the
subject they are expecting to teach
and professional training equivalent
to at least one year of education.
| These requisites if met will eliminate
much of the poor teaching now being
done in the high schools of the State.
HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.
The second speaker of the session.
Mr. Henry G. Ellis. State Supervisor
| of Secondary Education, spoke on
the Requirements of the State
Board of Education for an Accredit-
ed High School" Mr.. Ellis's speech
contained a wealth of information on
| many of the most vital questions in
| the minds of the principals assem-
! bled.
After insisting upon the necessity
| of adequate and efficient elementary
schools, for no high school has a
| right to exist at the expense of the
elementary school, Mr.. Ellis spoke of
the development of Negro High
Schools, private and public. The high
school work for Negroes in the State
is mostly done by the private schools
, Outside of those schools there are
| only four accredited high schools in
the State for Negroes, Armstrong in
Richmond, Booker Washington in
Norfolk, Peabody in Petersburg, and
/. c. Norcum in Portsmouth.
COUNTY TRAINING SCHOOLS.
The County Training Schools and
High Schools in other cities and
towns have from one to three years
of high school work. For the min
imum requirements for an accredited
high school. the speaker gave as fol-
lows: CD nine months session. (2)
elementary grades in connection with
high school must also have nine
months, elementary grades in the
district must have seven months, c.
Principals must have two periods OF
supervision, ca Teaching force of
| at least three high school teachers,
holding State certificates for high
school work he is doing, (5) pro-
| gram organized on departmental
basis, CD physical equipment for eff
ficient instruction under healthful
conditions. ca library requirements.
| 800 books.
Mr.. Ellis speech was eagerly dis
cussed by the principals who were
anxious to know not only the what
of the requirements but the how
! also. The question Of finance neces-
sary to make these requirements
practical in Negro schools was a
very vital one, and one on which the
State authorities present were I'M
able to answer satisfactorily for
themselves or for the PRINCIPALS
Added legislation is needed to supply
the necessary funds to realize these
conditions in the Negro high schools.
| and it was the unanimous wish of
the body that some measure toward
the realization of these ideals be
passed by the coming legislature
DIR. GREGG. OF HAMPTON.
The evening session was held in
the Audience Hall of the Institute.
the whole body of students and a few
visitors being present Most enjoy
able music was furnished by the
Choral Society under the direction
OF Miss Anna Lindsay head of the
music department Of the Institute.
The entire student body sang jubi-
lee songs to the delight of the yisi-
tors. The speakers of the evening