Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-03
COME TO CONFER.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS

Their Annual Meeting- -Grsded.sehseI Dis
ens.lea- -Basiness Proposed -Gsverner Lee
kc., &c.
About thirty county and city school
superintendents assembled yesterday a'
IL O'Clock at Smiths Hall, on Fifth
street, in their fourth annual conference.
Superintendent Farr called the con-
ference to order. and at his request
Rev. DR.. j. William Jones led In prayer.
The following officers were present
President r. r. Farr, Secretary George
W. Hawxhurst, Vice Presidents w. II.
Strother, Ii. S. Roller, and A. G. PEN
dleton.
COMMITTEE on SCHOOLS.
On motion of DR.. G. W. Dame, the
Committee on Schools of the General
Assembly were invited to attend the
sessions as honorary members to take
part in the deliberations Of the body,
though not to vote.
BUSINESS.
The committee on orxbr of business
was appointed as follows: Rev.
George ". Dame, Rev. A. P. Funk
houser, j. L. Hamilton, Major A. G.
Pendleton, Major E. y. Branch, +. NJ
Garnett, Judge George s. Stevens. I,
L. Marshall, w. ii. Strother. G. w.
Ward.
Superintendent Fsrr made a state.
ment in reference to the Peabody
medals" and the methods Of distribu.
ton.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
Several Of the superintendents made
statements and asked questions indica-
ting some difference Of opinion as to
what constitutes a "graded school"
Superintendent Garnett, Of Rich
mond, was called out and explained
the system Of graded schools in
Richmond. A number Of the superin.
tendents explained the system in their
own counties, and there seemed to be
some difference of opinion among them
The country superintendents espe.
cially protested against the idea thai
there is not as good teaching in the
country as in the city, although the
country schools have not the advantage
Of as good machinery. The definitions
of the different teachers seemed rather
mixed" and in answer to q question
Superintendent Farr said According
to the definitions given here anything
is a graded school"
RICHMOND SCHOOLS.
Superintendent Farr read from tht
law, and explained it. In the course
of his remarks he said that while Rich
mond has much Of which to be proud
she ought especially to be proud Of bel
public schools. He did not think il
wise to introduce the higher branche.
into the primary public schools, and re-
minded the Conference that this is no
necessary to constitute a graded '
school.
PEABODY MEDALS.
Superintendent Slaughter, OF Dan
Vile, offered the following, which was
adopted:
Resolred, That the superintendent
who have substantially complied with
the law in their efforts to grade theii
schools, be allowed to compete for tn,
Peabody medals, provided they hav'
taught seven months, and are Of per
manent character.
WIDE RANGE.
The talk went on and took a wild
range, every superintendent seeming Il
feel at liberty to talk about the ques
ton under consideration and anything
else pertaining to the subject Of public
schools which might happen to pleas
his fancy.
AMENDMENTS.
DIR. George w. Dame offered the fol
lowing, which was adopted That ;
committee Of five be appointed to repor
what amendments to the school law,
are necessary to make them more eff
cient.
DIR. Dame spoke of the fact that il
Pittsylyania county the public schools
had broken down all Of the priyat
schools in the county, and he urge
that this be done in every county b.
making the public schools the best.
Mr.. Hamilton, of Rockbridge coun
ty, would not allow private schools 4
interfere with the public schools.
Recess till 3 p. NJ.
Night Session.
The session Of the conference las
night was held in the hall Of the Hous,
of Delegates, and besides the superin
tendents there were present numbe
Of visitors and invited guests-amonI
them many ladies and members Of tn
Legislature.
Rev. DR.. George W. Dame openet
the session with an appropriate prayer
and the roll being called, aquorum va
found to be present.
Superintendent Farr read note from
the Governor expressing his regret tina
he was detained, but promising to b.
present later. He regretted the Gov
ernor's absence, but was glad to intro
duce an old friend Of the conference il
the person Of Professor VI. 4. Nevill
Of Maryland.
PROFESSOR NEWELL.
This gentleman began his remarks b.
facetiously saying that it was the frs
time be had ever been called on TO I" Ill
a vacancy caused by the Governor o
the Commonwealth. lie had been toll
in Baltimore that he need not come hore
as he would only find "a conference o
corpses," but he had found this tn
liveliest set OF corpses " he had eve
encountered. lie said that these super
intendents had seen the workings Of th
school system from the inside, an
they would soon be able to study
from the outside.
Professor Newill then proceeded I
speak earnestly Of the duties of tn
citizen to the schools, and expresse
his strong conviction that these super
intendents were not friends Of tn
schools on account Of the office the
| have held, but will be equally so whe
they 60 out Of office.
Superintendent Farr then said tha
l.. - -. ..lnaattra of In