The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-03
CITY SCHOOLS.
SUPERINTENDENT RUSH U.
DEBRIS STRONG REPORT.
ROAN0KE'S NEED.FOa BUILDINGS
A Review or the Past Years Work.
What is Wanted for the Future
School Sites Should BE sclecIed-Thc
Present Emergency.

report TO tho Common council last
night.
To the Council Of the City OF Roanoke.
Herewith transmit for your i,for-
nation brief summary and report
of the city schools OF the year 1S69-90.
The year commenced under circuIh-
stances altogether favorable to the
schools. There was quite u full at
tendance, bet not overcrowded, in
any of the several departments. The
new building in the First ward afford
ed ample accommodation for the pu-
pills from both wards, and all the
school houses were Well supplied with
furniture. No appliances have yet
been provided for the purpose of ia
cilitating instruction, although these
would be very beneficial to the
schools.
Before the session had progressed
half way the school buildings in every
quarter became overcrowded, and by
the close of the session the buildings
were found to be totally inadequate.
The regulations inaugurated last
year had wholesome effect upon
the general management and disci-
pline of the schools. and so far as they
could be enforced proved more satis
factory than lad been even antici-
pated.
The schools are not yet raised to a
thorough system, such as should be
maintained in town of the popula-
ton and Importance of Roanoke.
There are many improvements which
should be made. The system, to be
thorough, shonld have the attention
of the superintendent for at least an
hour each day of the week, and some
times more than this is necessary. Of
course, without this arrangement the
management of the schools cannot be |
reduced to a thorough organization,
nor their regulations fully enforced.
The most essential thing now de
manding attention is the need OF
schoolhouses in the northwest and
southeast sections of the city. These
sections, although quite populous,
are farther removed from either OF
the schoolhouses now in use than any
other portions OF the city, and the
pupils would have to cross the rail-
road in either case so as TO attend the
school in the district to which these
sections belong. In consequence OF
the rapid growth Of this place, aud
the enhancement of values Of real
estate, would suggest that the city
can acquire now suitable site for
the location of schoolhouses in either
one of these sections on most favor
able terms, and doubtless the land
companies owning property aboul
these sections will donate suitable
sites to the city for school purposes,
and this can be utilized by the cree
ton of temporary schoolhouse on
each place to meet the demands of
the present session, and upon these,
at later day, buildings of u better
class can be erected, and at which
time the lots so acquired will be more
valuable than now, and would cost
the city heavily if it were necessary
to purchase them.
The total enrolment last session
was $500. This session the school
census shows that we have 4,116
pupils of school age to commence the
year with.
trust it may be your pleasure to
give such attention to these matters
as will render the schools somewhat
within the expectation of new resi-
dents who come from other cities
here.
To appoint a committee with au.
thority to receive offers from land
owners concerning suitable sites, or
to authorize the superintendent of
city schools to receive such PROPOSE
ton, view the sites offered, and re-
port on the same to your committee
on schools, would, in my opinion, be
the most effectual and shortest meth
cd of dealing with this matter.
AS schools will open September S,
there is but little time to consider
these preparations and arrangements,
and 1 would suggest that, as buildings
could not be possibly constructed in
time for the demands of the session SO
soon to open, that it will be necessary
for suitable rooms to be rented in
which to open schools in each of the
sections of the city heretofore referred
to, and also suitable place near TIL
coored school for the use of colored
pupils, as they, too, have overrun the
school accommodations provided.
Suitable buildings can, think, be Sc.
cured in each case at small cost.
1t will be seen by the tabulated
statement of expenditurefor the past
year thai the expenses exceeded the
funds $45, and it is also shown thereon
that the desks purchased have en-.
tailed an Indebtedness of several
hundred dollars upon the board, and
that the demand for additional desks
will increase the amount by about
S4O0. so that it will require an addi-
tional appropriation of $1,000 with
the regular levy to carry US through
the next session. We have now an
opportunity TO purchase some desks
at reduced rate, provided the p r.
chase is made at once, which will be
done if the council see proper to
make this additional appropriation
heretofore referred TO. 1t seems to
me that these recommendation and
requests are entirely within the
bounds Of reason, and can be COM
olied with. Certainly there is moth
| ing more essential demanding your
attention than the proper MAINTAIN
ance of the public schools, and surely
there is nothing which can more
highly commend the city to public
esteem than we'll ordered system OF
public education. Respectfully.
RUSH u. DERR.
Superintendent OF City Schools.
1 Arrested for Perjury.
By Telegraph to The TIMES.
p.ruN " SAINT "a oraa+ seosa.