The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-01

rented Dy the ScnOOi bOaIu III pow PEI au-
mum, was purchased by the Board last July
for the sum of $3.50. The accommoda-
tions at this school were subsequently en-
larged and the buildings improved by the
addition of six school-rooms and q commo-
dious assembly ball. The total cost OF the
property, with improvements, was $2,400.
COST OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
The average cost on the total eXpend-
lures for the support Of schools for the
scholastic year 1e7G-'7T was Sl5.22 per
pupil, and for the seven scholastic years
from date Of the organization OF the public
school system in Richmond the cost on total
expenditures averaged $3.50 per pupil.
(See comparative table Of cost.)
The secretary estimates that the total ex-
penditures for support of schools for the
current school year 1977-'7S, ending 18th Of
June, 1878, will not exceed ST4, 4S4. Taking
as basis for the calculation that $500 chill
dren is the average number attending the
schools this year (the number oGaH be n,oTe),
we lind the average cost to be S12.41 per
pupil, which shows that public education
in the city OF Richmond cost $3.50 less per
pupil this year than the average cost Of the
preceding eight years; or, in palmer terms,
to have educated the $500 children in any
one of the preceding eight years it would
have cost $16,T62 more than it will cost this
year. The large amount saved in the ex-
penditures this year has been effected in
great part by the introduction Of halliday
schools in the system, as shown by the fol-
lowing:
Expenditures for No. Of
School Session. Support OF Schools. Pupils.
1S76'77.. ..S75.196 20 1884
1S77-'7S.. 14,4S4 w o,oUo
COURSE OF STUDY.
The original graded course Of study Of
the public schools contained thirteen grades.
Superintendent Peay revised it for the ses-
sion of 1S76-'77 by dropping the sixth pri-
mary out of the course; and for the session
of 1S77-'7S he further revised it by drop
ping the fifth primary and fourth grammar
grade, retaining intact all the studies as laid
down in the original course Of thirteen
grades. The course of study as revised
consists Of ten grades in all-four primary,
three grammar, and three high-school grades.
The Superintendent has also divided each
primary and grammar grade into two sec
tions-A and Band adopted half-yearly
promotions, to take place at the close OF the
intermediate and final examinations. These
are decided improvements on the old course
of study, which took child at least thir-
teen, and possibly fifteen, years to graduate.
A child now can certainly accomplish the
same result in ten years, and IL bright may
do it in much less time.
81. HALLIDAY SCHOOLS.
Superintendent Peay's experimental plan
OF halliday schools in the fifth primary
grade was tried in two schools for the ses-
sion 1S7G-'17. The experiment worked
well, and proved success. The children
who attended the halliday schools made as
much progress in their studies as those who
attended full-day schools of the same grade.
Superintendent Peay, therefore, with an
eve to economy, increased the number for
the current sehool-year (1ST7-'78) to twen-
ty-two halliday schools in the fourth prl-
mary grade. The maximum number OF
halliday schools has now been reached.
Halliday schools cannot be carried on in
other grades.
Two great objects have been attained by
the Adoption Of halliday schools in the low
est primary grade: !
First. Three and a half hours school
work for children of tender years (say five
to eight years of age) is sufficient for both
body and mind. #
Second. It's economy and money-saving
to the system, when one hundred and twen-
ty children can be taught by one teacher at
the additional small cost of ten dollars per
month extra pay to the teacher.
.,E TEACHERS MEETINGS.
Teachers meetings are held every Satur-
day during the school term in the Rich
mond High-SchooI building. The primary
teachers are required TO attend on one and
the grammar teachers on the following Sat
urday. Superintendent ,Peay conducts the
exercises, assisted by the principals Of the
schools. each OF whom are assigned to work
up special subject for discussion. BY this
means all the new methods are thoroughly
investigated and discussed.
VISITORS.
Over three thousand parents and friends
visited the schools during the past year.
Also many prominent school officials and
distinguished persons interested in public
education from our. own State and from
other States and countries favored our
schools with visits. .,,>e, s9,,,,s;
MEMORIAL MONUMENT TO THE LATE sUPER1S.
w .TEEDqHNT. qlEa. 80,
The memorial monument to the late Ia
mented J.. I'll. Binford, superintendent OF
schools, donated by the officers, teachers,
and pupils, was placed over bis remains in
Hollywood Cemetery on the LIST OF Decem-
Der last. It Is a we}l.proportioned, hand.
some granite shaft 19s feet high. On the
front side OF the base block is o polished
tablet with the following inscription:
/. 4 In 1fenlprian. 81 ,.s
A Tribute OF Respect Y
sz-tl
rs JAHEs III. BINFORD,
Superinte dent Public Schools,
City or B Richmond,
by tho
Officers, Teachers, and Pupils
s3l of The Schools.
Born August 21st, 1852.
Died July seth, 1876.