Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-11-21
Public Free Schools.

lished for the information Of teachers and other
school officers, who are not subscribers to the
Journal. 1t is advisable that all public schoo
teachers should subscribe for the Journal
J. E. Guy, Co. SUpT SCHOOLS.
CLOSING SCHOOLS FOR INSUFFICIENT Num-
BEERS ALI schools supported wholly by pub
lie funds must as ordered by the regulations,
be closed as soon as it is ascertained that the
required average attendance was not reached
during the preceding month, unless good evil
dence is furnished that the deficiency will not
exist in the future.
AS soon as the teachers monthly report dis
closes to the county superintendent the fact
that the average attendance for the month was
under twenty, it becomes the duty OF that Of
fcer to communicate the fact to the district
clerk, with instructions to close the school at
once and keep it closed until pledges are OBJ
! tanned from parents in the neighborhood which
give assurance that there will be afterward a
sufficient increase of pupils to constitute law
ful school.
This rule is as valuable in an educational as
in an economical point of view Irregular at
tendance is among the greatest evils to school
and Its pupils. large proportion OF parents
either from ignorance or other cause, are too
ready to keep their children from school for
| slight reasons, even whilst desiring them to be
educated; but if they find that they are in Sc
rious danger Of losing the school for want of a
certain number, then children will be sent with
more regularity. Regular attendance is so
essential to education that a school of irreg-
ular pupils is scarcely worth maintaining, and
the loss to the neighborhood of closing such a
school is more fancied than real 1t is true
that there are always few faithful ones who
are made to suffer in such case but the State
is too poor to pay teacher or any one else full
wages for partial work. The school can 60 on
if the public has to pay only according to the
services rendered as is set forth in the regula-
tons.
TEACHING PENMANsHIp.-The Spencerian
Copy books having been officially adopted for use
throughout the State, it is the duty of teachers
to become familiar with the system of pen
manship embodied in those books. They should
read the Instructions, and even practice the
copies Nos. l, 2 and three series, and would
also do well to study the Teachers Guide" to
the proper use of the Spencerian Copy books
and charts, a little pamphlet containing infor-
nation, valuable 10 organizing and conducting
writing classes. 1t may be obtained gratis, by
mail, from the several repositories or from the
publishers Of the Copy books Ivison Blake
man, Taylor & Co., New York by simply en-
closing two cent stamp for postage. Where
practicable, larger and more complete work
for teachers, entitled ''Spencerian Key to Prac-
teal Penmanship," should be studied and kept
in the teachers desk for reference
APPoRTIoNMENTs OF MONEY We hope
there will be as much as 20 cents head still to
be divided out the last year. The money
is not collected yet, and some of it will proba-
bly, not be ready for distribution before Janu-
airy 1t will be apportioned as fast as it comes
In.
VACCINATIoN,-Ev of the vaccination
must be furnished TO the teacher before an APP
plicant is admitted into public school, The
teacher must be made responsible in the con-
tract for carrying out this provision. Persons
who have hitherto neglected vaccination of their
children, should be warned Of the necessity of
attending to this requirement, as no exception
Or indulgence can be allowed.
CAPTATI0N TAX-The Board has concluded
that the period for enforcing the law concern
ing the children of those who fail to pay the
Capitation Tag, properly begins when the town.
ship Collector reports his list Of delinquents.-
The lst of December is the time fixed by law
for the Collector to make his final returns
When the Tax collector Of each township
makes bis final returns to the Treasurer, he
shall at the same time furnish to the Clerk of
the school district within which he acts, list
Of fathers who have failed to pay the Capita
ton Tax, and who have children In the district
between the ages Of five and twenty-one years
On the receipt Of this list, the Clerk shall
furnish copy thereof to the teacher Of each
public school in the district, and it shall then
be the duty of the teachers to eypel from or
refuse admission to the school the child or chill
dren of every such delinquent father until the
Treasurer S receipt is produced to show that
the tax has been paid.
Reverdy johnson favors the proposed aban-
Comment by the Democratic party Of the ground
it has hitherto occupied He recommends the
following policy for adoption by the next Ma
tional Democratic Convention: 'Let the men,
bers of the convention place before the country
some name which all Conservatives as we'll as
Democrats can support, and announce, if they
declare any political principles nothing which
would be offensive to either conservative Re-
publicans or Democrats. IF this shall be done,
believe that our triumph will be certain. and
surely all should unite in labor to that end who
value the Constitution of the nation and know
the worth of political and civil liberty.
THE Cry PASSENGER CARS AND THE COL
oREp PEoPLE.-In consequence of the decis-
ion of the United States Circuit Court on Sat
urday, in the case of Fields against the city
passenger railway company, respecting the OBJ
legations OF common carriers, and the legal
right Of coored people to ride in all the pas
senger cars 10 the city, the company yesterday
morning removed the signs upon the cars ap-
propriated for the use Of colored people, and
they were received as passengers in all the cars,
without any discrimination throughout the day.
Baltimore Sun, 14M
SENATOR LEWIS AND DISABILITIES. "A gen.
tleman who travelled with Senator Lewis Mon
day says that he proposes Immediately on the
assembling of Congress to introduce bill for
the removal of the disabilities Of such members
elect of the Legislature as come under the 14th
amendment. He will endeavor to hurry it
through both houses, and suggests that such
members do not take their seats until the bill
| is passed.-Lynch. Nrginaan.
| A letter from Richmond, in the Norfolk
Journal, speaking of quarrel between two of
the newspapers in the former city, says - The
quarrel is very pretty and promises sport to
outsiders Now, if newspaper editors and
writer's would only think of it-that their quar-
res do them no manner of good but only afford
''sport to outsiders there would be but few
of these controversies. -Alec. Gazette
EsT OF ADVERTISED LETTERS
u remaining in the Staunton Post Office, for
the week ending November Goth, 1871:
LADIES' LIST.
Aiha1t Mrs Willie Lee Miss J