Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-27

L sSStS nte Pohitfou u ~
enviable. He has . heart, and tn,
school system Is certainly to have ths
children grow up ~ intelligent boys
ana girls, 30 the teacher does not wan
70 turn away from school one who comes
Tor admittance because be has wrong
book, and who, perhaps, is unable tC
buy those required.
Then, again, the prices OF our text.
Books are costing more at our State.
contract prices than the price 1t which
each teacher could supply all his scho
lars. This is nothing more, il true
than an imposition on the patrons o.
The schools, and better terms should be
agreed upon between the State and the
publishers, and the extra expense could
he used in the procuring Of the " free
books" II such agreement cannot be
made, then let the State publish its
own books and let the schools have
them at cost, or else let each teacher
correspond with the different publishers
and supply all the scholars with all
needed books.
Here is a table made last winter as
] was thinking on this very subject.
and was hoping the Blair bill " would
become law Of the land.
Suppose school of forty or fifty
scholars. For such a school, let us
ssppose we require the following books,
and they would be amply sufficient for
all purposes, as any one can see.
have named these. Amy others would dc
as we'll.
Here our correspondent gives names
and figures. lie shows clearly that all
the books needed could not cos;
over s353.57, though there are in bis
list 46 dictionaries and 450 other
books
Now. here is a list Of books with
prices annexed for school Of forty or fi-
ty pupils, and il could easily be made a
permanent library in any school by the
board Of trustees and teacher holding
each scholar responsible for any book
soiled or injured, requiring a new book
TO be placed in Its place at the end OF
the term.
Every year, therefore, the school
would open promptly with no waiting
and annoyance which is connected with
the present system. The cost Of the
books tabulated is s3j3.57, or an aver
age Of s7.07 per scholar. This certain
ly is small sum for perpetuating
library for fifty scholars, and this too,
for a number OF books not now required
in the school law, as per monthly re-
port, but which would be valuable as
helps to the teacher and scholars.
There would then be uniformity in
the system Of education throughout the
State, and when persons moved from
one county to another-which is often
done-theIe would be no necessity to
purchase new books, at a loss to the
patrons, as under the present system.
In conclusion, allow me TO say one
thing is certsin-country schools cannot
be carried on at present under the
same system Of laws as city and town
schools are conducted. There must be
a change somewhere. and if the law is
TO be enforced in the country schools.
as 1t is at present threatened. the time
will soon arrive when we will all say,
Goodbye, public schools, so far as the
country schools are concerned.
Teachers will not teach when the sum
Of 500, sos, or even $50 per month Is
offered under present restrictions. With
the bad weather, muddy roads. miles
10 60 through rain, hail, slect, and snow
children cannot attend regularly, and
the teacher goes and meets few Of the
larger pupils. and has to teach extra
days and get no extra pay for his time
consumed when be must live those extra
DAYS as well as the others. Country
schools are not like city schools. where
the children have good payements upon
which to walk; where they are put in
certain grades; have good houses in
which TO attend school. and all
conycniences - teachers having as
easy time as country teach
ers and receiving more for it.
| speak in behalfof our country schools
and country-school teachers. Let there
change in the law to their interest
and nobody's injury. as well as to the
interest Of the country children. Let
the people read, think, and then as one
man demand a better system in behalf
Of the free schools in the country.
Pay your teachers something, and do
not let them waste their time and tai
ents for such sums as you offer them
twenty-five, twenty-five, or thirty dol
lars per month--and give them schools
for five or six months in the year.
Let your teachers live,
y IL Cf-TIFK