Evening star., 1946-12-15
Virginia 6. 0. P.
Asks Election Of
School Officials
Chairman Sends List
Of 10 Suggestions for
Action by Legislature
~ the A,.oeioted Pres.

LURAY, Va, Dec. IA. r. Doyel.
State Republican chairman, pro-
posed today the popular election Of
the State superintendent Of public
instruction, members Of the State
Board Of Education by congressional
districts and Of local superintend.
ents of schools.
In List OF 10 Suggestions for the
extra session Of the Legislature"
forwarded to Gov. Tuck, the COP
leader also proposed:
. /. Abolition of the local school
trustee electoral boards and present
school boards, with the school
boards functions being transferred
to the local governing bodies.
2. Establishment of minimum
salary for teachers based upon
qualifications and experience.
3. Provision for payment of teach
ers on 12-month basis at salary
OF mot less than 500 per month
throughout this State"
Longer Contracts Advised.
4. Teacher contracts OF three to
five years duration, instead Of the
present year-to-year arrangement.
5. Provisions for "at least 20 diff.
ferent vocational training courses"
in the high schools for the benefit
Of pupils who do not go to college.
6. Further consolidation of high
schools to provide "the proper NUM-
ber Of students to make vocational
training practicable"
Z. Free textbooks supplied by the
State.
8. Establishment Of a fund "for
the purpose Of financing college
training for those unable to attend"
8. Proper training" for youths
committed to State institutions as
neglected, dependent or delinquent
children.
Board Would Be Bigger.
Mr.. DoveIs suggestion concerning
the election of the State superin-
tendent and Board of Education
would take the appointments of these
officials out of the hands of the
Governor. 1t also would mean an
enlargement of the board, which
now has seven members.
I'VE talk of keeping our schools
out of politics" Mr.. Dovel said, but
our school system has been shoul-
der deep in politics for more than
20 years. If these officers were
elected by the people they would
be accountable to the people and
forced to conduct the States largest
business In some semblance Of .
businesslike manner"
| Along with the. elected county
superintendent of SGnoolAEMr. Quvel
said the local schools should be
run by the governing bodies Of the
cities and countie& s
Z ne board 6E xapefvisof8 are
3e1e65ed by the Heop1e and directly
/ responsible to the people," he said.
This also would relieve our circuit
judges Of at least that much dab
bling in politics"
| Tax Withholding Opposed.
The COP chairman also noted
the effect Of Withholding taxes on
teachers net income, reporting that
more than $1,000 would be deducted
from Page County teachers income
for this nine-months term alone.
1--WE should urge" he said, "our
members Of Congress to exempt our
school teachers from the payment
Of this tax"
Mr.. Dovel charged that too much
emphasis and too much of the tax
payers money is being spent on
State supported schools with little
thought given to the welfare of the
80 per cent or more who are not f1.
nancially able to attend college"
He said high school courses were
laid out for the small number who
do plan to go to college, and as
serted that those who do not con-
template entering college should
have better preparation for earning
| a living and supporting a family.