The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-11-19
Public Education in Virginia.
THE FORTHCOMING REPORT OF
DIR. RUFFNER.
THE CONDITION OF OUR FREI
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGIATE
INSTITUTIONS.
what They Are Doing and What
They Cost.
A SPLENDID RECORD FOR THE STATE.

The Forthcoming annual report Of DR.. W.
TT. Ruffner, Superintendent Of Public Edu-
cation. will give an important and interest
ing account of the public schools of the State
during the scholastic year past. 1t says:
"The years work was commenced with
greater yigor than had previously been mani
tested at any time. Our finances were in
comparatively good condition our opera
tions had been confessedly successful; hos
tility had ceased; the system had taken
deeper hold upon the public mind; leading
men were giving it unwonted countenance;
both political parties had placed the school
system prominently in their platforms;
everything proclaimed that universal, impair
tial. free education for white and colored,
had become q settled feature in our State
policy: when, 10 confusion and demoraliza-
tion suddenly peryaded our ranks; and had
the House of Representatives seconded the
action of the Senate of the United States
in the matter of scivil rights our
school system would have received
it's death. blow in two hours after the fact
became known to the Legislature. Many
building and other enterprises instantly
halted, subdued opposition revived, ana,
strange to say, some schools suddenly lost
the most of their pupils. And what was to
he especially regretted, the growing feeling
of cordalty toward the education o! the
colored people was chilled. Fortunately, /,
| the alarm did not occur until the schools
generally were nearing their conclusion, ard
|. fhus we are enabledto exhibit results which,
| though not so favorable as they otherwise
would have been, still are highly gratifying 2
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
Thirteen thousand more children were
| enrolled in the schools last year than the
| year preceding-thus retrieving the loss oil
| the previous year, and gaining 1900 over
the attendance of any previous year. Ihe
cain in the counties is very great, which VIII
he seen by observing that there was loss
| In the cities of 1874, which makes the gain
in the counties nearly $4,000; and it Is
worthy of note that the gain OF numbers
during the past year is relatively greater
with the blacks than with the whites. The
enrolment of whites in 1878 was 1925 !;
| in 1874, 121,7S9-percentage OF gain, 1oo
The enrolment of colored IN 1873 was
Al, 500 in 1874, 52,OS6-percentage OF gam
9.43. ;, ...o,,s
The average percentage of daily attend
ance on the enrolment is about the same fol
the wears in the aggregate of whites ano
hacks. The blacks fell off little IN the
country, but they improved greatly IN a tneil
| dailv attendance in the cities. In the rura
districts the percentage was for colored In
1874. b5.6: in 1874, SIT. But in the cities
tIe percentage was: In 1878, 1873 ID 1914
]. 6s.4~a gain Of 10 per cent. in one year.
in 1878, in cities, the percentage OF Wnlle
attendance was twelve per cent. better than
that of the colored. In 1874 the white at.
tendance lend was only two per cent. better than
that Of the colored, and the colorea attend en-
ance of 1874 was three per cent. better tban
ahe the - hite attendance of 1878. Allof which
shows I thut the education of the colored peo'
pie pie is is progressing very fayorably. know y
Of Of no complaint in respect to ,'s separate sIst,
schools for the two races, and have sse every
nreferred by both races. The separation i
not only necessary, but sin itself is s.sgh
both bot morally and educationally. The nam;
ber of colored schools, and hence Of eolorse
| pupils, would have been greater but tor In'