Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-05
DISCUSS THEIR WORK
SECOND DAYS SESSION on PUBLIC
school. suPERINTENDENTs
SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
They Constitute the Most Important
Topic Of the Dny-Nccd of N
Graded Course for Rural Districts.
and Other Qro<t Mons Debated.

Yesterday was the second day OF the
annual conference OF the superintendent
Of Public schools in Virginia. and three
icngthy sessions were held. The attend
lnce was larger than on the evening pre-
vlous. and much interest was evinced in
he proceedings. The questions discussed
had reference to the summer normals,
Improvement of the rural districts. the
establishment Of county high schools.
graded course Of study for the rural
schools. and the multiplicity of schools.
The papers were full Of thought and sus-
gesiions ana were received with enthu-
s.asm and applause.
The conference was called TO order at
10 O'Clock in the morning by the presi-
aout. Hon. John L. Massey. Prayer was
offered by Rev. J. b. McInturff. Superln-
lendent Of Shenandoah county.
Secretary McGnvray called the roll. and
the response showed that 80 OF the III
supcrintendents throughout the State
were present.
THE SUMMER NORMAL SCHOOLS.
The first topic, Summer Normal
and Better Attendance Of Teachers Sc
curcd2" was opened by Superintendent
Barksdaie. Of Halifax. with an able and
suggestive paper. dealing with the great
advantages % these schools
At The conclusion OF Mr.. Barks6alc's
paper the president invited Dr. L. ID.
Sinner. Of New York 10 a seat in the
conference. DR.. Sinner responded TO the
compliment paid him in pleasing style.
Il -. .f..ff
cussed 10y superintendent Smith, of
Scott. Jennings, of Greene; Hulney. of
Rockingham; Honing of POWhatan and
others. This discussion indicated that all
superintendent feel a lively interest in
the work OF the summer normals, &c,
and many valuable suggestions were
made for their improvements
superintendent Massey explained his
policy in regard 10 the normal work
and thanked the sapcrintendents for their
cooperation in his plans.
THE RURAL SCHOOLS.
Improvement Of Rural Schools" was
treated by superintendent j. Il. Mcin-
turn i'm very exhaustive paper SUI
perintendents Hunard. OF Wythe. and
Blick. OF Brunswick county, discussed the
subject from different standpoints. SUI
perintendents Clements, OF Alexandria
county. and Preston, OF Washington
county. also participated in the dis
cussion.
President Boatwrlght, Of Richmond Col
lece. and Or. Nelson. of the .Woman's
College were invited 10 take seats with
the conference. They were called upon
bv the President. and responded in brief
md pleasing remarks concerning the
work Of the public schools and that in
which they are engaged
The conference then took recess for
dinner.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session convened prompt
IN at . o'clock with President Massey in
the chair. Superintendent Lee Britt. OF
Nansemond county. opened the discussion
of the afternoon. his subject being THE
Establishment Of County High schools
The main trend Of his argument was that
the high school should Toe placed within
proximity OF all the children Of the State
They form the connecting link between
the common schools and the Institutions
Of higher learning-the colleges and uni
vcrsitlos-they constitute the local acade-
mics OF our STATE I'm many sections. and
they are the chief institutions and pro-
vide the chief instruction for the better
equipment Of our common-school teach
ors. The speaker quoted from several
gifted educators. touching the importance
its blessings and benefits within the reach
of al
Superintendent Cary Breckinridge. OF
Botet0urt county who followed Superin-
tendent Britt upon this subject agreed
with much that his predecessor had said,
and said 10 was true that not / per cent.
o. the school population Of the State
was 10 be found in the great colleges
and universities. which he admitted,
were doing a magnificent work but were
beyond the reach OF roo many young
pooule The high schools required more
money. better teachers with longer terms.
These institutions had distinctive work
10 perform. but. as conditions were At
proscnt. many were deprived Of their
benefits by reason Of poverty. inaccessi-
bility Of the schools &c. He believed
that the counties would respond 10 a
cali for more help IN order TO extend this
hich-schOol system. The people OF the
Commonwealth had about become edu-
Gated 10 this point
Tho next speaker was M. George w.
Crcgsby. Superintendent Of King George
county. who said that I'm speaking Of
high schools he would give his expert
ence in bis county. which he felt would
apply 10 almost every county IN The State.
There were high schools in the cities.
why should not the counties have them?
Superintendent Grigesby argued that
while II was true that there were many
obstacles in the way Of the establish
ment OF these schools in the counties
namely lack OF funds lack OF compact
ness Of population etc-s would be a
practical plan 20 start the schools upon
n smaller scale giving higher curricu
iunn than that Of the common graded
schools and then LEI them grow and ma
fure as the counties and communities
developed He regarded the subject as
one OF deep interest and Importance
especially 20 the coming generation. Zap
rlause).
aN ABLE PAPER ON HIGH SCHOOLS
I'm the absence OF superintendent Mas
sew. OF Clarke county. a very able paper
on This subject. prepared by Dr. w. H.
Raffner. Of Lexington. Va. first Super
lntenGent OF Public instruction OF Nir-
ginia. was read by Secretary McGilvray.
Dr. Ruffner first expressed his pleasure
in that this question was 10 be discussed
AID considered at the superintendent
meeting lie said nothing could be more
timely The confusion which felgned I'm
the matter Of secondary education every
where had become iniolcrable. The
higher branches belonging 10 the secon-
dairy course should be taught, not IN
primary schools. nor In colleges, but IN
high schools After giving many stalls
tics 20 show that Of the students
Studxip0 tho bfehcr branches In con-