The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-07
Resolution in Its Favor Tabled by The
School SupsrinteHdentS.
]. L. N. CURRY ON MANUAL TRAINING.
An Able Address by the Distinguished Edu
Gator at the Closing Session-Pro.
ceedings of the Days Session,
City Schools.

in the han Of the House Of Delegates.
on various topics concerning their re-
spective departments. The entire time
Of their gathering has been q very fruit
ful one and highly instructive 10 those
who were in attendance.
Each session had its special features,
ana the general interest was upheld up
TO the very last moment. BY no means
the least attraction was the address OF
Hon. j. j. NJ. Curry on MANUEL Train
ing" delivered before 4 crowded house
last night
There is perhaps no man living in Nr-
ginia who IS able 70 handle this all-im-
poriant subject in as mastery manner as
Dr. Curry, who has made it almost lie
study.
The audience endcavored to show its
deep appreciation in the undivided atten-
ton with which II followed the speaker
to the close OF his address.
Or. Curry's explanation Of manual train
Ing and it's Importance TO the people OF
d state and OF a nation brought the Of
fetal programme OF the conference 10 q
close.
Some Of the superintendent had already
LEFT for their homes during the early part
OF the evening and a good many followed
suit during the latter portion Of The
night. Those who decided 20 remain
over will to-day revisit some Of the pIo-
Die schools in this city and famiharize
themselves with their management
STUDIES IN CITY SCHOOLS.
The morning session of the last day OF
the conference Of superintcndents OF pub
snrua
the President. Hon John +. Massey
shortly after 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
Afrer the opening prayer by kew. II. ID.
Eaeland Of GOochland, the chair stated
that the beginning Of the session hau
been delayed because the committees on
arrangements and on school laws had
been I'm session. and his presence had been
requested by both.
The tonic which had not been itacnet
Yesterday afternoon on account or th3
visit 10 Richmond College was hrst tlNen
up 10 was Courses Of Study In CITY
schools" introduced by Superintendent
j.. q. Glass. of Lynchburs. who read
lengthy but very interesting paper.
ne began with the schooling as II had
been practiced first by Adam and Eve
Then nature was tie only study. OUT
as time passed BY. manual study, music,
moral training, etc, were added
FIRST STARTED IN VIRGINIA.
Virginia developed the first notion for
the free school system. The first plan
for IL was drafted by Virginia states
man Mr.. jefferson and adopted by
Virginia General Assembly i'm 1895, al
though 10 was not carried out at that
time Reading writing. grammar, arith-
metc and Eeoeraph were the studies con-
tanned iu that system for elemen airy
schools. There same studies were incor-
pofated I'm system that was adopted in
this State I'm 1870. Physiology was after
wards added 10 it.
The speaker then turned especially 10
the history Of the schools in Virginia
This State was not dead dog he said.
hut ID was iust' as alive as the other
states. only some Of its limbs We're some
what lame and the way give them the
needed vivacity were the public schools
which should be AN things TO all men.
Superintendent J. III. Bader, OF Staun-
ton. followed in the discussion Of the
subject lie said. the public schools
NEEDED good and progressive courses OF
study in country schools as well as IN
city schools. we must have free trade
in ideas he continued "and not depend
on the experience We lind in our imme-
diato vicinity ] love Virginia as much
as any one. but in some respects i be-
from other sections and profit thereby
Superintendent Thomas Temple Powell
OF Newporc News. who was booked as ihe
next speaker on the subject was excused
at his own request. His place was taken
bv Suporntendent y. Rust of Roanoke
city. who spoke especially of the condi-
tion of affairs prevailing in his city.
President Massey also briefly spoke on
the subject and advocated first TO i'm
prove the country schools which would
result i'm an Improvement OF the city
schools He thought. however. that the
city schools OF Virginia compared very
well with those Of other States.
RECCNM ENDING CHANGES.
The committee on school laws then an
nouuccd that their report had been com
plctcd and 70 was read by superintendent
j.. l.. Puniam. of Manchester the secre-
tary Of the committee. The report which
advises changes in the existing laws only
where it is extremely necessary, recon-
mended the following changes:
'That Tho Board of Education be re-
oucstod hy This conference 10 change the
present regulations.
'I So as o. make the age-license for
applicant for license TO teach twenty in
stead of eighteen years
"lI 10 give the district boards un-
mistakeahlc authority 10 accurately es-
tabHsh the boundary lines FOR sub-school
districts. or school precincts. and 10 con-
fine pupils 20 the schools within their
repcclVe districts or precincts. unless for
good and sufficient reasons said boards
see nt 90 allow them to overstcp such
boundaries.
"III That The Superintendent q Pub
Dc Instruction Doe requested 20 rcarrango
and c0Gify the school laws and rcgula-
uons. so as 10 present them in "a plain.
practical manner. and that. In doing so.
he may put The laws and regulations ap-
phcabic 90 counties and cities .eparate-
ly
Nv. We respectfully suggest and re-
commend that the Superintendent OF
Public instruction shall, II in his judge
nert 30 be- demcd cxpedicnt. issue sug-
rcstive plan FOR the grading of country
schools"
no CHANGE or AGE LIMIT.
An amendment was offered TO section I.
that its provision should not apply to
shose WHO are now teaching The amend
ment was accepted by tnc committee. and
a long discussion cnsued as % the merits
and demerits Of the section. ne section
was finally LOST
The other sections Of the report were
then agrced-tO without any objection.
Another section was added % the re-
port amending section OF the eNisting
laws. which az present reads = follows:
g The Board OF Education shall have
power at IT'S discretion. to invite and en-
couraee meetings Of teachers at conven-