The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-26
BEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
An Institution In Bedford County over
Which There Has Been n Long Fight.

In the educational system OF virginia
there is a wide gap existing between the
| country schools and the colleges and uni
| versiues OF the State. The high schools
supply this missing link in the cities and
| large towns. but the great body OF the
| youth living elsewhere possess no such
| opportunities.
| Unless an ambitious young man or wo-
| man can bridge the chasm by attending
| a private school. he or she is denied the
| benefits OF a higher education.
The need Of county or district high
| schools has been often discussed by pro-
| gressive educators, but the agitation
nearly always ended in talk.
| This. in substance, was the argument
presented before the General Assembly in
February, 1894. for the passage OF an act
Incorporating Bedford High School.
The bill provides that the school should
be located at or near Bedford City, which
is I'm the centre of the county, the build
ing TO be owned by the county. The
charter Of the school provided that the
tuition should be paid for by the several
districts al a given amount for each pupil
attending from that district. The Board
OF Managers, as constituted by the char
ter. was composed Of the clerks Of the
eight districts Of the county and the SUI
ofiicio chairman.
The Jeter Female Institute. a Baptist
school, had been established at Bedford
CITY, but not meeting with sufficient
patronage, It was suspended. The valu-
able building and lot situated on the out
skirts of the town We're offered TO the
Board of Managers OF the High School
at a figure far below the original cost,
and with the understanding that the ply
ments should extend over a number Of
years. The offer was accepted and the
high school and the first session began in
the autumn OF 1894
Murmurings OF discomfort were soon
heard on account of charges that the
high school was established in order to
sell the Jeter Female Institute to the
county Nothing improper was ever
shown but much acrimonious talk was
INDUCED In, and meetings were held in
the county expressing disapproval
After long legal battle over the title
and the constitutionality Of the act es-
tablishing the High School. the Supreme
Court decided that the act was consti-
tutional, but decided that there was
cloud on the title, and suggested the man
ner in which 10 could DE removed The
title was cleared up as suggested by the
court and the judge of the County Court
was again called ON to pass on the title.
Meantime a bill was introduced In the
House OF Delegates to repeal the act.
It passed the House under suspension
Of the rules but in the Senate It was
held up until committees representing the
friends and opponents Of the school could
appear before the Committee on Schools
and Colleges. Last Monday an agreement
was reached whereby the Radford-Tur-
pin House bin should be passed. and with
DO companion bill authorizing Munich
pal and Liberty school districts to have
a high school, provided the voters OF the
district ratified the action OF the Legisla-
ture at the polls
Some opposition was manifested to this
bill because of the fact that about 500
of taxes paid by Bedford city has for
some years gone into the general school
fund, and the bin for a Liberty district
hgh school provided that this should be
diverted TO the new school. Residents OF
other districts claimed that this 800 was
a vested right" of the county, and were
10th 10 give &c up.
The bill has passed both houses. and
now awaits the action Of the voters Of
the Central district Of Bedford.