The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-07-18

Dear Sir a petition having been laid before
the School Board of Riverheads District, at its
meeting of June oath, 1889 asking for the estab-
ishment of Graded Public School" at Mid
way, am instructed to communicate to you the
acUOn of the Board in relation to the question
as follows:
"a petition having been presented by the peo-
pie OF Midway asking for the establishment of a
Graded school at that place, it is decided, after
due consideration, that the District Board does
not deem it judicious at this time to make any
expenditure of public funds toward the erection
OF additional buildings for the accommodation
OF a Graded school. The average attendance at
this school in the past does not warrant such
pendlture. Ii the petitioners can i'll future main
tain an average attendance at the Midway
school, such as the number of pupils named on
the list with their petition would indicate, there
could could be no objection to making provision for
their accommodation.
By order of the Board.
j. X. MCCUTCHAN,
Clerk of District Board
Editor of VALLEY VIRGINIAN
Please let this brief COMMIT nicatiOn find space
plain why the petition OF the people of Midway
to the School Board. for a Graded school at this
seen by majority of the Board. The writer
asked one of the Board at Raphne in reference
to it, and he said that we could not have a
Graded school, because we did not send to the
school we now had. undertook to explain the
reason why we did not send our children to the
school, when he walked Off and said he did not
intend to talk to me OH the subject, and thus
came our defeat
The public will please note the inconsistency
of the Clerks report, as given above viz: build
ing for the accommodation of a Graded public
school: 'If the petitioners can in future main
tain an average attendance at the Midway
school, such as the number of pupils named on
the list with their petition would Indicate there
would be no objection to making provision for
their accommodation"
Eighty eight petitioners can make the average
OF SS pupils the coming session. We do not need
another school-house. This one is sufficient, so
the public can see that the reason assigned is
not tenable,
AS to one teacher teaching on an average of
IS scholars, heretofore our play school teacher
and Il O'Clock hop going teacher could not teach
an average of ~ scholars much less an average
OF So scholars. We hope the public can see at
once, as tax paying people, that are ent-
tied to Graded public School-that 80 scholars
are all that should be required to entitle us to
Graded school. l. NJ. Steele, had to pay $50 to
send my daughter to a High school, on account
OF not having Graded school, and still pay
heavy school tax of 10 per cent. Rev. A. I'll. Ham
lltOn had to employ a teacher to teach his little
children on account of inefficient school teachers
the same thing. They say to Make
erage according to your petition of IS this year.
and maybe then we will no something for you
something the law does not require for a COM
mon school.
If our school-house cannot be put in repair for
a Graded school, we will determine not to send
to any other school, so the School Board can dis
band our school until enough money can be ac
cumulaled in the treasury to reopen the school
house, and pay first class teacher to teach our
children If we not get the Graded school
asked for i'll our petition, we have resolved to
ask the Honorable County Judge to take the
matter i'll hand for Justice, and award
lawful rights. Ii a majority of the Board will
the real situation we are sure they will be salts
fled with the reaSOnableneSS of our petition and
the necessity for Graded school at Midway.
Respectfully, M. STEELE.