Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-13

RufInsr had done the noblest and great
est work for Virginia that ever could
have been accomplished.
DR.. Ruffncr proceeded TO speak on
:. The Aims and Purposes Of Normal
Schools He said the 6attering re-
marks and cordial welcome he had re-
ceivsd had 80 surprised him that emo
ton had got the better Of thought. he
felt particularly the remarks made By
his successor, Captain Farr, who had
always treated him with great respect
and Kindness. But for Mr.. Farr IL would
have been impossible to have opened
At the time he did the State Normal
School at Farmville. There was no.
thing as strong in the State as the infiu-
ence Of the public schools, and to have
the control Of the men who govern them
was indeed high honor. Contrast the
present assemblage with the small body
which fourteen years ago metin this same
hall and see the result. DR.. JL. Curry,
standing where he stood. fourteen years
ago lifted up his voice just as loud and
as long in favor Of the system then as
now. DR.. Curry was no newconvcrt, and
his heart and head were then, as now,
deeply concerned in the good cause.
Although . change Of Administration
had come, the proyerb, New men,
new measures, - did not hold good. The
present Superintendent had labored
faithfully to carry out the principles he
found when he came in office. Virginia
might be slow, but when she took a
stand she was there. She never took a
step backward, and having started out
in favor Of normal education, she would
see that it succeeded. There was
much, however, to be done. He
told of the troubles incident
to the opening Of the State Normal
School at Farmville, and the quick
work done in this direction. He COM
plimented the work, and declared that
the best teachers had been secured.
The school had opened finely and had
never lost a day. There were ninety
eight scholars on the roll of the school
proper. and thirteen in the Model
School. There were eight teachers.
He came to Richmond to get
the best teacher in Richmond. because
he knew the best teachers were to be
found there. There were so many good
teachers in Richmond that he was some
what at lost whom to recommend to
the Board. He was satisfied. however,
with the selection made. He alluded to
the young ladies of the school in fat
tering terms, and said the school was
fortunate in this respect-that more
pleasant and intellectual class could
hardly be found.
Or. Ruffner explained the method of
teaching pursued. The simplest and
most elementary principles were COM
menced with, and the views of the epupils
as drawn out were written down in a note
book; so that after awhile the pupil
had his own text. He said one diff
Guilty was that Of keeping pupils too
long upon things that they were sup
posed to know. Critics and friends
made this complaint, but the pupils did
not, because the principles were taught,
and the pupils saw this. intellectual
and moral training was what was aimed
at more than knowledge. Only the ele-
mentary course was taught now, but
nextyear the advanced course would be.
DR.. Ruffner claimed that the school
was not large enough. Instead of eight
there ought to be twenty teachers, and
instead of having accommodations for
forty boarders there ought to be room
for 200. II was well that Virginia had
done this much, but there was much
else to be done. Think Of the power
of woman over all men, even now under
a state Of neglect, and think of what it
would be If distributed under the force
and power of educational advantages Of
an improved sort. What a grand work
it was to work for the education of the
women of Virginia.
DIR. Ruffner concluded as follows {:
" Develop the women, they would de-
velop the people, and the people would
develop the State"
DR.. Richard Wise was allowed time
to make statement about some PAM
phlets concerning cattle statistics sent
out by the Cattle Bureau of the Gov
ernment. After explaining his pam
phlets they were distributed among the
superintendent.
Professor S. +. Ford. Of the Van Dorm
Institute, next entertained the audience
with some funny readings and mimic
song, and the Conference adjourned.