Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-05

through this end other means to develop
q larger appreciation OF the benefits OF
popular education, constitute the best
means to the end sought"
"coUNTY suPEmSrExDRvrs."
"a superintendent TO be thoroughly
equipped for his work onght to have
scholarship, professional skill, energy,
tact, executive ability, business capacity,
and an enthusiastic love OF his work.
How can man properly prepare examl-
nations for teachers and grade their pa
pers when he is not familiar with the
subjects involved ? How can he in in
specting schools offer valuable sugges-
tons as TO tho course OF study, methods
OF teaching. school management, &c.
when he has mad no experience in
school-room work How can he render
most valuable service in teachers meet
ings or Institutes without at least re-
spectacle knowledge of such subjects as
can he discussed most proftably to
teachers But important to the super
ments both academic and professional,
yet they are not moro so than the other
qualities above mentioned. Good
judgment, executive ability. ear
nest devotion 60 the work, will
make up in some measure for par
tial deficiencies in other respects, but
without these qualities but meagre sue
cess need be expected. 1t is needless to
add that q superintendent Of schools
should be blamelcss in character, for 1t
is worse than absurd that an officer So
prominently connected with the educa-
ton of youth should himself De an eX-
ample Of bad morals. In discussing the
Office and qualifications Of school super
intendents, no reflection whatever ls
meant 10 be cast on those now filling that
Office. / can and do bear cheerful testi-
mOny to the faithful and efficient dis
charge of duty on the part Of great
majority Of them. But the idea is to be
strongly emphasized that educational
work ought to he committed to the
hands Of competent educators.
COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
Country Schools and "The Grading
of Country Schools are next discussed,
a valuable treatise on the latter subject
10y Miss Celestia Parrish, Of the State
Female Normal School, being published
in full in the report.
Several pointed paragraphs on "Ex-
animation and Certifcatlon Of Teachers
/. emphasize the necessity for thorough
nyestigatiOn of the qualifications OF ap-
plicanis for license to teach, etc.
'"PEABoDY FUNDS FOR 18S7'SS. "
From the report of the Superlnten-
tendent of Public Instruction to the
General Agent Of the Peabody Board, it
appears that Virginia received during
the wear s., eco for institutes 81, 600 for
the State Female Normal Schools, and
$500 for the Hampton Normal and AgIi-
cultural Institute. In addition TO these
appropriations, fourteen Peabody
scholarships, valued at 5000 each,
in the Nashville Normal College
were allotted to Virginia. The al
tendance at the institute for white
teachers reached ,0lO, that at the insti-
tute for col0red teachers 430, making a
total OF ,I4O teachers IN attendance at
institutes held in different sections of the
State. The detailed reports of the insti-
tute work, prepared 10y the conductors
of the respective institutes and published
in full in the reports, indicate that the
funds at command for the prosecution
of this important branch of educational
work were wisely expended.
REPORTS.
The written reports Of county and city
superintendeuts (digestedj furnish IN
tereshng details concerning the condi-
ton of school affairs in the respective
counties and cities, while the tabular
statistics given In ten elaborate tables
furnish ample statistical information.
Part ii. Of the report Is devoted to
reports Of the University Of Virginia,
Virginia Military Institute, Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
state Fomale Normal School. lnstitu
ton for the Education of the Deaf and
Dumb and the Blind, Medical College
OF Virginia, Hampton Normal and Agri.
cultural Institute. and the Virginia
Normal and Collegiate Institute, with
sketch Of the work of the Miller Manual
Labor School of Albemarle.
These reports represent the several
institutions as in a healthy condition,
with encouraging prospects for the next
current session.
The friends of public education will
find the Virginia School Report for 1883
a valuable public document, exhibiting
gratifying evidences OF substantial
growth and prosperity on the part OF
Virginia educational enterprses-the
sure outcome Of that enlightened public
sentiment which created the system and
which is ever ready to yield vigorous
and cheerful support 10 all measures
calculated to develop the resources or
increase the efficiency of this most i'm
portant department OF the public ser