Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-11-30

The VIRGINIA SCHOOLS. The reports made
10 ihc Governor by the Superintendent Of Pub
lie Maucatou and by the various Boards hav.
ing charge ct the educational interests Of the
State, ali show degree OF activity iu educa-
ton, which, amid the adverse surroundings Of
the State. is as surprising as it is gratifying.
lhe Board Of Visitors OF the Upivcrsity OF
Eirsinia report 333 matrieuialons during the
veal over one half Of these students coming
from outside Of the State. 4 distinguished Eng-
!ish divine who within q few years past made
\ visit to the University Of Virginia with view
TO examine its organization aud practical opera
tons, expressed the opinion that the English
universities OF Oxford and Cambridge night
leavn some useful lessons by studying its strue-
turc. The report, in speaking OF the free ed
uoatioa to Iirginis students over eighteen years
Oh, says:
AT the last session cl the General Assem-
iv an act was passed making an addition OF
:.lJ 900 to the annuity OF he University, upon
the condition that it would receive into all its
schools except the professional, Tree OF charge
;or tuition, al! Virginia students who had at
,arca the age OF eighteen years, and had
mad such proficiency in their studies rs would
ynab!e them to profit by the Course OF insiruc
ton afforded By the University.
The partial experiment which has been
made tends to prove that the decision of the
visitors was wisely adopted. \ sufficient time
has not yet elapsed Tor a full test Of the prac
,cal operations Of the law ct last winter, but as
lar as the faculty have been enabled to judge
they arc unanimously OF opinion that It will be
productive Of beneficial results.
During the year generous donor, residing
"a Rochester, n Y, who refuses to allow his
name to be disclosed gave the University some
sc, 900 to be applied to the purchase OF cab
met OF mineraogy, geology, zoology, aud to
the crecton OF suitable building Tor the re-
ception and display OF the cabinet. The ylsl.
tors without delay contracted for the erection
OF the building, and considerable progress has
been made 10 the work. UuIcr the terms O.!
the contract it is to b., uuder roof by the lst
January, and completed by the l0th of May,
1877. 1t is known that. in consequences OF the
mnoTcrished condition OF the Commonwealth,
,deouate provision has not hccn made for The
increase OF the library Of the University. Its
therefore deficient 10 many OF the valuable con.
;ributions to science and literature which have
been published since 1860. Mr. W. w. Cor
c0rap, OF Washington, gentleman whose
raapy noble benefactons to public objects have
made his name almost the synonym OF eDllght
eaed generosity and benevolenee, by letter
addressed TO the rector q few weeks ago, ten
lsred TO the University donation OF $4,000,
payable in live equal annual installments, TO
ae applied TO The enlargement OF the library.
\ letter from The University to citizen oil
Lyncl:burg states that MIR. Corcoran has pre-
srnted. through Hon. n. Ii. II. Stuart, rec
tor, The sun Of 1000 to the University, 10
addition to the five thousand recently gwen by
:!im to The library The fifty thousand will be
.pphed to the endowment OF the schools OF his
tory aud literature and moral philosophy.
The report OF the Board Of Visitors OF the
Virginia Military Institute shows that lnstnu'
ton to have total liabilities of all kinds, 500
l04.Saa. a portion cf which is in Il funded debt.
The committee appointed on llaance aud re-
,luction of expenses rec0mmcnd that such steps
be taken Immediately as will bring the annual
expenditures within the annual receipts; and
10 do this a general reduction of salaries or
consolidation OF departments Is recommended.
They also call attention to the evil OF permit
ting cadets 10 run up their Indebtedness to an
amount exceeding The limit positively pre-
>rribed by the board at previous sessions, anu
recommend that the superintendent be au'
thorized to ''compromise the amount due on
account Of cx cadets.
DR.. Ruffacrs report of the condition of the
public schools gives the following:
"pcrcentagc of school population IN average
,!ai!y attendance White, 76.5, colored, 'o.l.
Number Of teachers White males 2,49o'
Ehte females, l,4S9; co'ored males 4lo; col
orel females, 2lS. Average monthly sa'aIies
from all sources : Males $54.9o; iemaies'
o. ~ > lrn
!,S24 frame, 1876 brick, 81 stone; LOO have
GOOD furniture, and 1880 are owucd by dis
lyictS; 335 were built during the year. Inc
value Of school property owned by districts IS
:S:l,73O. The number of county and city su
pcrintc qdents, o. Average ct county superln-
teuleuts' salaries from State, $3.50, and trom
COUNTIES, Sl9j. Average OF city superlnteh'
dents irom State, $245i from State ana c"y'
l,llS.74."
lie regrets that the school fund has not been
keen kent intact and urges that all fuuus "nlcn
have gone to the credit of other accounts may ne
again placed to the credit Of the schools lie
adds:
"l'rimarv education has entered hlgnor
sphere 10 Virginia. Well informed persons
even fuDsympathctic. admit tins with feSpec,
To the schools 10 many OF our large. towns anu
tIes. Teaching III these schools IS ois.'no' ,a
:eieuce reduced to successful practice. Alto'
gcher the school system was never SO pfosl,G,t:
ous. so well managed or SO strong III puo''o
ayor as it is to-day" .,p.
DR.. Il. says: Our receipts from the e. Iea.
body money have diminished from $3.50 10
1874 to SO 500 in 1876, ADD there Is reason 70
apnrehend still further reduction IN future
years
The Luua,i. aud Deaf and Dumb Asylums
ATE reported 10 be in good condition.
tAMPHcR ICE. Rose Lip Salve, Li9uilu 9il,