Evening star., 1943-09-23
Virginia Board
Asks Funds for
Teachers Raise
Formal Application
Made for Is Million
In SoIory Increases
By the Associated Press.


RICHMOND. Va, Sept. 23.-The
State Board of Education made it's
formal application to Gov. Dardens
Advisory Budget Commission yes
terday for an additional $138l9, TAO
to be used during the 1944-46 bien-
MUM to improve the economic lot
of the Virginia school teacher.
Under this proposal-an increase
OF $500 400 for the first year and
$7,139, $40 for the second-the State
would increase its contribution from
this years 1925 per teacher unit to
$1,000.
The Board of Education's pro-
posal is part of broad program to
attract and hold topf1ight teaching
talent rather than merely a pay
boost for present teachers.
Stresses Schools Need.
From business standpoint alone
we need action" said DR.. Dabney
S. Lancaster, State superintendent
OF public instruction. AFTER the
war, faced with staggering debt,
the only hope is to train young peo-
pie to become skilled workers and
efficient producers. To this end Vir-
glnians have right to expect bet
ter educational facilities, and they
are ready to support sound pro-
gram Of education. We believe the
people of Virginia desire as sound
system of public education as the
resources OF the commonwealth will
permit.
The large majority of Virginia
chlldren are not being offered the
educational opportunities that they
must have if they are to hold their
own In our present complex society.
Far too many are receiving inade-
quate training. and concerted action
Is needed now if we believe with
JEFFERSON that democracy can sur
vive only if founded upon an edu-
Gated citizenship.
Asks New Posts.
Among other State departments
presenting their budget requests was
the Department of Labor and In
dustry whose commissioner. John
Hopkins Hall, proposed reclassifica-
ton and salary increases for a
number of his employees and asked
Tor creation OF six new positions to
enable the department to keep up it's
necessary inspection and safety
work. Mr.. Hall also asked a salary
increase for himself-from Sc 900 to
$500 the first year to $1,000 in the
second.
In the belief that it would be i'm
possible for many localities to abide
ny the present requirement that
they add 80 per cent to the States
contribution per, unit, the board
recommended that local contribu-
tions be -pegged at the amounts
furnished by localities in 1912 or
l942-3, whichever was greater.
This would make it possible for 10
calities to supportS other phases of
public education more adequately.
,.y.l Wants Mpre Men.
Should the boards recommended
tions be granted IN full, the average
Virginia teacher salary would be
about 81 ,400-or still about 5000 be-
low the national average for teach
ers, DR.. Lancaster said.
Dr. Lancaster also suggested that
about half the teachers in high
schools should be men-not on
purely Institutional grounds, but
because they can exert better con-
troll and obtain better results with
high school boys. This proposition
brought an expression of agreement
from Gov. Darden.
Total requests by the board
amounted to S23,0l0,5S4 for the first
year of the biennium and s22 ,522 $40
for the second year. For the bien-
mum, the education requests would
call for an increase of S12533, 1924 in
appropriations from the general
fund.