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

-ooN-
LOCAL.
PROGRESS Of Stanton Schools.
A HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
HOW THEY GREW FROM SMALL BEGIN
NINGs-WHO RSrEERED THEM-THEIR-
FINANCIAL AND OTHER TROUBLES
WHAT THEY ARE NOW.
&C., &C., &C.
We give below an accurate and full
history of the Public Schools of Staunton,
prepared by City Superintendent. W. A..
Bowles, for the late State Conference OF
Superintendent at Richmond. II is the
more interesting because our public
schools have as fine a reputation in the
State at large, as that borne by our female
colleges in the country at large:
Early in September. 1870, the ''Trustee
Electoral Board y Of Augusta county.
appointed as trustees of the public free
schools of ''Staunton Township" VIM. j.,
Nelson, Maj H. M. Bell and P. B. Hoge,
all residents of Staunton city.
THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT HAS
WAR DISABILITY.
Maj. Jed. Hotchkiss, who enjoyed quite
a reputation as thorough instructor and
successful disciplinarian, was prevailed
upon to accept the position of Superinten-
dent of Public Schools in the county of
Augusta, Staunton city included, but
owing to certain disabilities, he could not
take the oath Of Office, whereupon Dr.
Barnas Sears, then resident of Staun-
ton, and the agent of the Peabody Fund
in the Southern States and who after
wards proved to be great benefactor OF
the city schools. qualified as Superinten-
dent, and authorized Maj. Hotchkiss to
perform the official work in organizing the
public schools in Augusta county and the
city OF Staunton.
On the 5th day OF November, 1870, the
trustees elect met for organization, and
took immediate action IN procuring and
hitting up suitable rooms in which to open
schools. and in presenting to the city
council an estimate of the cost of conduct
ing the schools for session Of seven
months; the estimate being made upon the
hypothesis that the schools would contain
315 pupils and seven teachers-four white
and three colored.
By the first day of December teachers
had been examined and elected, and the
basement of the Baptist and Lutheran
churches, and other suitable rooms,
wherever they could be procured, had been
rented for school purposes.
OCCUPYING THE AGA DENY.
On the 25th day of July. 1871, the School
Board procured from J. Wayt Bell, A. 81
81. Stuart, VIM. Frtzier, Geo. M. Coch-
ran, Jr., and VIM. M. Tate, trustees, the
large and commodious building known as
the Stanton Academy, which had been
bequeathed by Mrs. Shires to these gentle
men as trustees. for the benefit of the in
digent children of the city of Stanton.
SUPERINTENDENT GUY.
About the first day of September, 1871,
DIR. Barnas Sears resigned the position
of County Superintendent of Schools, and
J. E. Guy was appointed his successor.
On the first of January, 1872, three more
school trustees were appointed for Staun-
ton city,. B. Scherer, j. HI. Blackley and
M. P. Notwithstanding the total
number slx-three from the first ward and
AI,r,o froy,o ho appOnd
Superintendent J. E. Guy, on Sd Decem-
Der. 1872, presented d series OF rules and
regulations for the government of the city
schools, which were adopted by the school
board.
SEPARATING FROM THE COUNTY
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The city school board on the 9th of
September, 1878, adopted the following
resolutions:
Resolved, lst. That, in the opinion of
this board, the interests of the city schools
will be promoted by having Superinten-
dent of schools separate from the county
of Augusta, lying outside the city limits.
I'd. That this board believes that the
interests of the schools. In the county OF
Augusta, will not suffer by the separa-
ton.
Sd. That copy of these resolutions be
forwarded to the State Board of Educa'
ton, and that said board be requested TO
appoint such separate Superintendent OF
schools for the city of Staunton.
4th.s That John J. Laid, principal OF
the city schools, be recommended Tor said
appointment.
CITY SUPERINTENDENT LADD TAKES .
CHARGE.
J. J. Ladd, Esq, came to Stauntcn from
New England, aud Was elected principal,
or teacher. of the high school. On the 10Th
April, 1878; being recommended to the
school board by DR.. b. Sears. Mr. Ladd
received his commission as Superinten-
dent on the Sd day of October, 1873, and
took the oath of Office on the same day,
DIR. VIM. FL. Ruffner being the State
Superintendent of schools.
Superintendent Ladd's salary was fixed
at ST. 500 per annum, the schools yearly
receiving from the Peabody Fund, through
the hands of DIR. B. Sears, 81 700.
The salary Of the high school teacher
was 500 per month, and those of the
OCDer teachers Tangou lrom @Io W Poo POI
month.
THE SCHOOLS OUTGROWING THEIR
ACCOMMODATIONS.
On the I'd December, 1878. the increase
In the number of pupils made it necessary
for the board to provide additional &C.
commodations, which was done by renting
vacant rooms wherever they could be
found At this time, a teacher. DR.. Brown.
was employed on salary of $40 per month,
to teach music in the schools.
RATES FOR COUNTY PUPILS.
A large number of pupils living outside
the city limits made application to enter