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Mr. Thomason Primary Schools, Editor of The Times-Dispatch: SIrs—After allowing a nuetter of no million dollars for possible decrease In revenue during this year, the Central Assembly has at its disposal $1,200,000 above the expenditures and appropria tions of last year. This is a large sum, and if wisely apportioned and Properly expended may accomplish great good, T am not unmindful of other interests which should, and i doubtless will be, cared for; but T am convinced that money apart in the education of the common people is by far the best Investment a State fan make. T am a strong believer in higher education, but Dellova that either from the viewpoint of effec tiveness or public policy the primary object “should be a education of the masses in the rudimentary branches. We live Jost hecun the policy of de veloping a State system of common schools, and the resuita have, beyond question, demonstrated the correctness of the theory. To do less than continue ample appropriations would be re flctionary and unfortunate. This prin ciple should be followed, and State appropriations continually increased into every child in Virginia is given an opportunity to get a good com mon school education. We hear much jor the doctrine that education should be a unit—the primary school the base and the university the capstone—those charged with the duty of looking af ter higher education have now a cplen aid opportunity to give a Practical ‘lustration* of their belief in and de sire for that unity that is essential to the welfare of all. If the Institutions for higher education willl exert their Influence to bring about a fair appor tionment of the surplus between the common schools, high schools, colleges and university, all will be well) but should they take the narrower view, and go back to the policy of the past, lenving the children of the masses unprovided for. It will arouse a spirit of resentment against the injustice that will bodo no good for the broader edu cational movement now developing In Virginia. As paradoxical as [Itear sound, college and university environ ment [5 not always productive of broad vision and compréehensive sympathy. The tendency to sometimes exclusive. Here lurks a danger against which our educators may well be on guard. It should be remembered that an in crease of §100,000 In the appropriation for common schools will only give about #0 oaenta per enaplta of school Population. The proposition to giv only one-twelfth of the available sur Plug to the 400,000 schoolehildren of the State, and to give dollars to pupils in colleges and university where cents are doled not to the children of the country districts of the State, cannot be regarded by those familiar with the facts as other than unfair, not to say unfriendly, to a major Interest In pub lic education. The State is amply able to glve the common schools an poil cional appropriation of$200,000, and tt Ia to be hoped that the General As sembly may see its way clear to do so. Very respectfully, A. F. THOMAS. Lynchburg, Va, February 10, 1508.
Newspaper Details
Richmond Times Dispatch
Richmond, Virginia, US
Sat, Feb 15, 1908
Page 4
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