Evening star., 1944-08-13
12-year School
System Sought
For Virginia
Nearby Groups Plan
To Ask for Better
Educational Setup
BY HELEN RAU.

Pleas for a 12-year instead of an
1l-year school system, in addition
to increased salaries and job Sc
curity for teachers will be made by
delegations from Arlington and
Fairfax Counties and Alexandria
at regional meeting of the Vir-
ginia School Study Commission in
Manassas Thursday. Stanley A.
Owens, Prince William County
Commonwealth attorney will act
as chairman.
While a variety of recommends
tons is expected from representa-
tives OF many groups, the consensus
appears to be, that the 1943 reports
and recommendation of the Vir-
ginia State Chamber of Commerce
on high school education in Verginia
embody all the suggestions made so
far to improve public education in
the State.
Mrs. E. E. Odom president of the
Organized Women Voters of Arlinp-
ton County, said yesterday the need
for improvement was illustrated by
State Senator William D. Medley
VINO told the group several months
ago that an enrolment survey at
the University of Virginia showed
only out OF every 10 students were
residents Of the State, because COM
paratively few students educated in
Virginia schools were able to meet
entrance requirements.
Arlington Voters Plan Listed.
The women voters will ask for
the following main improvements
Thursday, according to Mrs. Odom.
Election of Board of Education
members by the people: better
trained teachers secured by substan-
tial increases in salary; free books
in schools where they are not
already available; retirement fund
for teachers and a bonus system
whereby they would be compensated
for additional college credits earned
during the course of their teaching
experience; attendance officers in
schools where they are not already
employed; a psychologist available
for children; a definite guidance
program; and improved vocational
education made available on a 12-
month basis, with evening classes
provided for young people who are
forced to leave school early to go
to work
Many other Arlington groups will
be represented Thursday. including
the Civic Federation, headed by
Charles Cobbins, whose principal
plea will be for election of school
board members.
Fairfax Has Tax Proposal.
A Fairfax group, headed by Ben
nett King, will present recon-
mendations compiled from sug-
gestions sent in by individuals.
Their points parallel those spon-
sored by Arlington, and in addition
they recommend added State sup
port made possible by general taxa
ton rather than through taxation
OF property owners alone.
The Fairfax group asks for
81 500 minimum salary for teachers.
and for more male teachers in high
schools and as elementary princi-
pals. They also favor the l2-year
plan and the election of school
boards.
Another point which the Fairfax
delegation will make is the need for
more supervisors in the schools. par
ticularly with emphasis on supervi-
sion OF the teaching of art, music.
and physical education. They will
ask for broader high school cur
rlculum, better guidance system.
mental hygiene clinics, and better
methods of enforcing attendance.
Inc group also is asking for more
state support to provide visual aid
equipment. and for a revamping of
the teacher training program to in
clude training in mental hygiene.
Alexandria Groups to Go.
While Alexandria has not as vet
organized a definite committee to
present its points, T. C. Williams
superintendent of schools, said that
there will be representation from
the Parent-Teachers' Association.
the American Legion, the Veterans
OF Foreign Wars. the Chamber of
Commerce, the Junior Chamber of
commerce, the Board of Education
ana the city government. Alex
andria's Commonwealth ATTORNEY
Albert V. Bryan will attend the
hearing and may be the groups
spokesman.
According to Mr.. Williams. the
various city groups agree with the
counties in wanting a l2-year course
as we'll as more State support for
instructional costs, and some sys-
tenn by which compensate of
teachers throughout the State
might be equalized in order to
minimize turnover. Job security
and tenure guarantees, were cited
by Mr.. Williams as important
points toward securing a higher
standard of teaching qualifications.
Virginia Ranks Fortieth.
The Chamber of Commerce report
points out that Virginia stands
40th among the States in public
education expenditure per pupil.
and 37th in average teachers salary.
The relation of Virginia's expendi-
ture for education to it's financial
ability places it 44th among the
States, with its educational respon-
sibility indicated by the fact that it
ranks 18th among the States in
number of children of school age
In respect to adults.
Lack of adequate vocational
courses is given as one of the rea-
sons for the low record of at
tendance in high schools, in addi-
ton to the large number of drop-
outs. Virginia's survival rates are
lower than the Nations average.
with figures showing that in 1s4l
only 289 Virginia pupils graduated
from high school for each class of
1000 enrolled in the fourth grade.
Tests given high school senior,
showed poor score in American
history. and very low rating in ALI
forms of English
Deficiencies Cited.