Evening star., 1944-08-18
SOCIETY AND GENERAL NEWS
WASHINGTON, D. G.
Teachers Pay
Increase Asked
Al School ParIey
Stute Commission Told
People Are Willing
To Pay the Bill
nx 4 statf correspondent of Th. Star.

~ TOy tIiS 0iit
By Staff Correspondent OF The Star
MANASSAS, Va, Aug. 18.-The
Virginia School Study Commission
had before it today recommends
tions by delegates from IA counties
and two cities for Improvements in
the State school system and the
assurance that "the people are will
ing to pay the bill"
Meeting at Osbourn High School
here yesterday, the commission
heard delegates from Northern Vir-
ginia counties repeat their recon-
mendations for higher pay and a
sound retirement system for
teachers, 12-year system, stand
ardization of textbooks and free
textbooks where they are NOT already
available, an improved vocational
training program, more adequate
supervision in primary schools and
more male teachers in high schools.
In a retreat from progressive
education" delegates demanded that
State schools inaugurate a system
that would assure their children a
thorough knowledge of the three
RS" which, they declared, is lacking
in high school graduates today.
Electoral Plan Demanded.
Delegates from Arlington and
Fairfax Counties demanded that
school board members be elected
by the people instead of through the
present system of appointing the
body by a school trustee electoral
board, which in turn is appointed
by the judge of the Circuit Court.
Delegates from other counties, how
ever, expressed the belief that this
would place the school system "too
much in politics"
In this regard, the Fauouier
County delegation suggested that if
any change be made, the chairman
OF the county board of supervisors
be made a member of the school
trustee electoral board, and that if
school boards are elected by the
people. the county superintendents
OF schools be appointed by the State
Board of Education.
Declaring that Virginia ought to
be ashamed of itself" for not pro-
viding adequate funds for public
education, Col. Christopher B.
Garnett, Arlington, said funds for
school improvements must come
from increased taxes on tangible
property. He said the reason the
Commonwealth does not have the
school system it should have is that
the people have never been willing
to impose on themselves the taxes
required to pay the COSTS"
Fund Limitation AssaiIed
Hitting the proposed amendment
to the State constitution to freeze
the State literary fund at $4,000, 900,
Col. Garnett said that ii the people
vote for this amendment they will
make a terrible mistake"
He pointed out that the State NAV
look to decrease in Federal assist
ance in building programs, adding
that the literary fund, designed to
provide loans to communities for
school buildings, should be allowed
to increase to $4,000, 900 in order to
adequately provide for postwar i'm
provements.
Mrs. Dorothy Dunn. chairman of
the Arlington Organized Women
Voters Committee on Youth Train
ing, said that New York, pioneer in
the system of progressive education,
has gone back to the old system in
order to teach children to read,
write and SPELL She said schools
should play an important part in
solving the juvenile delinquency
problem, and advocated the ap-
polntment of attendance officers for
each school, and the employment
of a psychologist to serve both
"maladjusted parents and chill
dren."
Mrs. G. A. Justusson. chairman of
the Fairfax County Federation of
Parent-Teacher Associations, con-
curing in recommendations made
by other delegat tions, added that a
minimum salary of ST 500 a year be
set for beginning teachers, and that
all teachers be granted higher nav
and sound retirement plan in
order for the State schools to obtain
and keep qualified instructors.
Negro Group Represented.
Ollie w. Timer, Falls Church.
representing Negro school groups of
Fairfax, Prince William and Loud
oun Counties, suggested that the
curriculum be standardized for all
state schools; the consolidation of
primary schools where feasible:
equalization of salaries for white
and Negro teachers; a qualification
standard for all teachers: compul-
sorry attendance laws; teacher load
OF not over Is pupils each for all
schools; vocational training for
Negroes, and assurance of regular
employment of teachers after two
years service.
Other recommendation included
demands that cafeterias be provided
in all schools in the State and that
hot lunches be offered pupils, MANY
of whom leave home before 8 am,
and do not return until after S pm.
Mrs. Clifford Derr, invited to ad-
dress the meeting by DR.. George H.
Denny, chairman of the commits
sion, told delegates that Virginia
is the most machine ridden State in
the Nation and that it is up to you
to improve conditions at the polls" I"
A native of Alabama who now re-
sides near Alexandria, Mrs. Derr
said that until this year she had
never considered it important
enough to transfer her voting resi-
dence to Virginia. She described
the poll tax as an ::archaic custom"
stating that she will join Virginia
voters in fighting for a better
State"
In addition to DR.. Denny. other
members of the commission include
q. Guy Via, Prof. Katherine M.
Anthony. Prof. Inga o. Helseth,
State Senators G Ctooho~,