Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-08
CITY AND SUBURBAN.
TIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
sshoois-The Schools House OF To-Day and
the One Before the War.

Onleiai Visit OF the Council COMMITTEES on
sshooIs-The school, House of Day and
the One Before the War.
The Committee on Schools met at the
Council chamber yesterday morning at 0
o'clock. Present Mr.. Joseph c. Dicker-
son. chairman, and Messrs. George Bryan.
j. A. CabelI, John r. Hughes, Jackson
Guy, and Thomss n. Page, Of the commit
tee; Mr.. +. NJ. Garnet, Superintendent OF
Public Schools; and Charles Z. Rady. Sec
retary Of the City School Board. At
Bethel School the party were joined by Mr..
J. Y. EllysOn, president OF the City school
Board.
The committee visited and inspected the
following schools, their inspection being
confined more strictly to the condition OF
the property than the school work East
End and Springfield. T. A. Pollard princ-
pal; Bellevue, f. ". Cone principal !;
Bethel School. J. +. Thomas principal !;
Valley. r. W. Flournoy principal; Central,
5. I. Pendeton principal; COored Nor
NAL. Il. NJ. Manly principal; High. w. F..
Fox principal; Navy Hill, II. G.. Carlton
principal; Leigh. w. Il. Mctillyray prin-
cipaI; Baker, T. p. Crump principal; !;
Ella, James II. Peay. Jr., principal; Madi.
son. John A. Cunningham principal.
The City School Board recently informed
the Council that Bethel school building, on
account Of its surroundings, is enurely un-
suited for the purposes for which il IL used,
and the personal inspection made by the
committee seemed to satisfy them that the
conclusions OF the School Board are cor
rect; and the many hundred children be-
ing trained at Bethel for the duties OF life
may confidently count on the influence Of
the committee TO procure them more suit
able place in which they can spend their
school days.
AT the High School Mr.. Fox, the priuci-
pal, assembled the scholars in the assem-
bly.room, and Superintendent Garnett in
troduced Chairman Dickerson. who ad-
dressed the assembly in terms appropriate
10 the occasion. He was followed by
Messrs. Bryan, Page. and Guy.
The visit at the High School being con-
cuded, the party adjourned to Sanger Hal,
where they partook Of the hOspltalities Of
Mr.. G. Il. Rady, clerk Of the School Board,
in the form OF an excellent lunch. After
an hour spent in social enjoyment, the ser.
geant-at-arms called the party from re-
lrcshment to labor, and the Inspection was
resumed, being concluded at Madison
School about O'clock.
While sitting in the omnibus near Navy
Hill School. the committee were discussing
the recent action Of the School Board in
recommending that the buildings be torn
down and better ones erected in their
stead. When there was lull IN the dis
cussiOn, the cOlOred driver said "Lor',
Mr.. Page, they amt gwinc ter pull er good
blldin' like dat down, is dey? Why. fore
de war. when my young marster went ter
school, he had ter ride three miles and or
bali cherry day, and de bildin' was little
old lug hut Oh de- side OF de rode, plaStered
inside and oIt wild mud: and den old
marster bad ter pay for bis schooln' at dat. ="
Alexis remarks were a little out Of place.
but they called up very yIyidly in the
minds Of many Of the committee the con-
trast between the schOol-house OF to-day
and the one before the war. and the superb
oriiy even Of the Nayy-IIil building 10
those that most OF us remember. The COM
miltee expressed themselves as very much
pleased with the condition of the school
property and the apparently flourishing
state Of the schools, and will so report to
the Council.