The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-22

| census for this year has been COM
pieted, and shows the following totals
between the ages of and 81:
White males. 49,. ..............1,3 800
| White females. .........1. 4f7
Total whites. .................. 2,s07
Colored males. .................. 625
Colored females. ............. 6Sl
Total colored ................. 1909
Total school population. 4,116
A TINES reporter saw superintend-
ent Rush U. Derr yesterday.
"The school facilities said he,
"are inadequate for the school popu-
lation. They are not as good as they
should be. and the City Council
should take more interest in furnish
ing school facilities. The schools
were crowded last year, and but little
over 80 per cent. OF the population at
tended, according to the old census
taken four years ago, which shows
not half as many pupils as the census
for this year.
| The school buildings have capac-
ity of 1000 pupils, distributed as fol-
lows:
First ward school, white............ 500
Third - ............ -2UU
$Colored school
Total. ..................... ..........".1, 900
The school board recognizes the ne
cessity for better facilities, and have
plans on foot for supplying the need.
They will probably recommend at an
good buildings, one in the northwest
and one in the southeast section. The
board and the superintendent were
around Wednesday afternoon looking
at the most eligible sites for such
buildings, and it probable that they
will be erected, though no definite ac-
ton has been taken.
The school buildings have been ex-
amined and found in good condition.
Some improvements have been Or
dered made in the way Of furniture.
The board expects by the erection OF
the proposed new buildings to secure
the attendance Of a larger per cent
age of the school population.
Superintendent Derr says that, in
his opinion, the city will never be
brought up to high standard OF ex-
cellence until Il high school is estab-
lished. The present curriculum of
the schools includes only the common
school English course with elemen-
tary Latin and algebra. Mr.. Derr
! favors the esta blishmeut Of schools of
fthisscfass in different parts Of thescity
where they are needed, but hesalgo
isnle 2s "a high
Iseae9ts for sy,iJ large ia
course of study extensive enough to-
prepare students for college or active
business life. He thinks the estab-
| lishment of such school would
stimulate interest in the city schools,
and enable the whole system to do
more effective work.
| There will be some changes in the
| teachers fer the schools this year.
Prof j. p. Nancy will succeed Prof.
w. II. GraybiIi as principal of the
First ward schcol, and Prof. Z. Royal
Bickham will succeed Prof. h b.
Kohn as pridcipa! Of the Third ward
school.
lUeTe Will NC liO tHHD-SS al lLC
teachers of the colored school.
The following are the teachers in
the white schools, whose positions
will be arranged by the superintend-
ent: Misses A. r. Trent, IDA G.
Hockaday, Rattle Nj. Thomas, II. I.
Stone, Mary W. Knox. Mary V.Brown,
Lille A. Eckloff. Maggie Mitchell,
Cora NJ. Board Substitutes: Misses
Mary Berlin. Mary l.. Walden, Nina
Graves, Electra Smith.
Superintendent Derr has the appoint
ment Of pupils to several State i,isti-
buttons. John Taypum has been apps
pointed State pupil at the Peters
burg College and Normal Institute
from the colored school. Miss Julia
Harrison has been appointed n state
student at the Female Normal Insti-
tute at Farmville. from the Third
ward school, and Finfree Reid,
son of D. w. Reid, has been
appointed State pupil at the Viz.
GINA Agricultural and Mechanical
College at Blacksburg, from Third
ward school, Mr. Derr has n num-
Der of appointments to make yet as
follows:
Three at William and Mary College,
two at the State Agricultural and Me-
chanical College, one at the Normal
Female Institute at Farmville, and
one to the Petersburg College and
Normal Institute, colored. The places
are usually filled by the pupils who
have made the most creditable rec
ords in the public schools, but there
are no applicants for some OF these
positions. Superintendent Derr says
that city schools will be given the
preference if they apply, but if no ap-
plications are received from them
others will be appointed.