Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-02

! cOlored schools; but their morals and gen.
eral conduct being not exemplary, the
representative colored citizens of the city
petitioned to the School Board for white
teachers, which request was granted.
To this stage in the schools history it
seems that, with the exception OF the
academy building, to which reference has
already been made, the rooms used for
school purposes had been rented.
THE OLD WESLEYAN FEMALE INSTITUTE
BOUGHT.
On the fourth of October, 1875, the city
council procured, by purchase, the proper
ty known as the old Wesleyan Female
Institute, opposite the Episcopal church,
on Main street. containing ten rooms, i've
of which are used by the city schools.
The session of 1875 g opened with fifteen
teachers and 57S pupils. Cost of tuition
per month per pupil enrolled, for this ses-
sion, 81 SO.
The schools, during the session 1875 y.
continuing ten months, received $4,000
from the Peabody Fund and ST. 500 from
the State, and the cost of tuition per
month per pupil, this session, was 81 SO.
| REDUCTION OF THE PEABODY AID.
After the expiration of session 1878,
the aid from the Peabody Fund was re-
duced to $500, and as consequence the
! teachers salaries were reduced, and
the session shortened to nine calendar
| months.
! For session of 1878 9 the School Board
asked from the city council, for the sup
port of the schools, Sc S22 so, exclusive of
rents. This sum, however, was not al
lowed, but in lieu thereof an allowance of
Sc, 900 was made and levied in the taxes Of
1878, which sum was also to include the
| rents for school buildings.
The cost of tuition per month per pupil
| enrolled. for and during the session ending
on the 18Th day of June. 1873, was 81 &,
while the cost of education per month per
pupil enrolled was $1.44.
| DIR. R. 8. HAMILTON TAKES CHARGE.
Superintendent J. J. Laid, who had
, been Superintendent of the city schools
|
August, 1878. sent to the school board
his resignation; whereupon the clerk of
; the board was directed to advertise for a
successor; and on the Nth September fol-
lowing DIR. r. S. Hamilton, who had been
for several years Superintendent of public
schools in Augusta county, was nominat-
ed by the City School Board, over several
competitors, to fill this vacancy by a
unanimous vote, at a salary of ST. 900 per
annum.
Superintendent Hamilton opened the
schools on the 18th day of September,
1878, with 1858 white pupils and $50 colored
ones-a total of 51S
On 1st November, 1878, the City School
Board granted superintendent Hamilton
permission to visit the Richmond scho OILS
for one week, in order that he might
familiarize himself more thoroughly with
the manner of grading schools; and upon
his return. accompanied by VIM. H. Ruff
ner, State Superintendent Public Edu-
cation, he made known to the Board (city)
the condition of the schools as to grading
aud the necessity of radical changes.
Superintendent Ruffner addressed the
board in a manner highly interesting and
instructive, fully endorsing the proposed
action of Su perintendent Hamilton, who
was directed to put into operation, with
out delay the proposed method of grading,
using his own discretion as to the rapidity
| with which it should be fully inaugurated
Tue schools, under this new method of
| grading, seemed to flourish; the number Of
classes in each room in all the primary
grades being reduced, thus affording the
teachers time to do better work.
| THE TRYING FINANCIAL TIME FOR THE
SCHOOLS.
Session of 1888 was shortened and the
| teachers salaries considerably reduced, for
the reason that the schools did not receive
as large an appropriation as was expected.
Realizing this embarrassment, the
School Board. on the 9th of June. 1879,
adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas. in consequence Of the failure
on the part of the State authorities to
furnish TO the Stanton public schools
the amount due them, and reasonably to
have been expected by this Board during
the last and preceding sessions, the school
appropriation made by the city council
tor the fiscal year ending April 29th, 1879,
has been exhausted, and a balance of ex-
penses for the session ending June 10Th,
1879, remains unpaid, therefore
ResoLUed, first, That to meet the ext
gency thus arising, the City Council be
and is hereby requested to provide the
funds necessary to pay IF all unpaid eX-
penses for the session 1878 9, either by an
especial appropriation for that purpose or
by borrowing sufficient amount from the
new appropriation for schools. already
made for the session of 1879 80. :"
During the month of October, 1879, the
property known as the Market Place.
containing five rooms, was remodeled and
and fitted up BY the City Council for the
accommodation of the coloreI schools.
Session 1879-'S0 opened with 665 pupils,
of which 405 were white and 25S we're COL
ored.
On 18th day Of January, 1880, scarcity
of school funds existed, to the extent that
it became necessary for the School Board
to make application to the City Council
for 81 361. 80 upon loan, which was grant
ed by said Council.
| At the close of session 1880 81, under
| the direction and control of Superinten-
dent Hamilton. the first public school ex-
hibition ever held in Staunlon, consisting
of declamations, dialogues, reeitations,
and callsthencs, Was held in the Opera
House, giving very general satisfaction
to the largest audience which had ever
assembled in Stanton.
| 1t was generally acknowledged that the
| schools fourished we'll under the manage
ment of Superintendent Hamilton, who,
on the 18Th day of March, having been
elected to the position of Superintendent