Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-04
Record Breaking Year in the
Public Schools.
SUPERINTENDENT SoUTHALl
Speaks Enthusiastically OF Thor
Present ana Future-Two Delcgn,
aiOus From Newport News Call I'M
on tho Govcrn0r-Prisomcr Taken
TO Utnh-Mr. DeJnrnette Appoini.
cd Assistant District u. y. Attorney
Especial to vlrginian- Pnot)

Richmond, Va, Feb. 3.-Reports re-
ceived at the Office of the Superinten-
dent OF Public Instruction indicate that
this Is to be Il record breaking year in
the history of the public school system
of Virginia.
"The reports thus far received are not
of a character to show the average at
tendance accurately said DR. ]. w.
Southall, Superintendent of Public In
struction. to-day, but it is believed to
be considerably larger than in proceed
ing years. l have visited Il great many
counties of the State during the fall
and winter and have been in very many
schools l find i'll many instances the
attendance much increased over last
year.
LONGER TERMS THIS YEAR.
"In many counties the length of the
term is increased" continued DR..
length OF the term of the average
country school. but in a number of the
counties they are running six and
seven months; with fine HttendUHCv. 1T
used to be that it was difficult mat
ter to run our schools five months,
even three months. was the length of
the school term. | hope to see the time
when every public school in Virginia
Will be open nine months every year
Il am struck with the Improvement
In Virginia teachers" DIR. Southal
went on. Taken as n whole they arc
doing fine work. Recently l have Wis
tied great many Of the country
schools of the State and In many in
stances | have found highly educated
and well trained young men and
women nstructing the children of the
neighborhood in the rudiments of the
public school course.
Il was at Hampton yesterday" con-
tinued DR.. Southnll. land made an adj
dress to the pupils at the Indian and
negro school. 1t is n wonderful insti-
tuition. i do not know when | have
spent day more pleasantly. l walked
about the grounds inspecting the build
ings and went through the buildings
themselves until | was about broken
down. The Indian commissioners were
at Hampton inspecting the school yes
terday ! think they were as greatly
pleased with the schools as l was"
NORMAL At NEWPORT NEWS.
DR.. Southal is now engaged in select
Ing points at which summer normal
schools Will be located. and arranging
courses of instruction and selecting
teachers. Newport News people are
making very determined effort to
have summer normal in that city
next summer. Professor Epes princl-
pal OF the Newport News High School.
called on DR.. Southall to-day and
urged him To give that city Il normal
Professor EpcS called the doctors at.
tention to the pleasure the teachers
would derive from IL stay of a mont
at the seaside, ana dwelt upon the
healthfulncss Of Newport News during
July, during which the school will be
open. He says Newport News will have
completed by the time it is proposed to
open the normal the finest public school
building III the state and this will bc
rendered free of all charge. Cheap
rates at boarding houses have been ar
ranged for, and the City Council is ex-
pected to offer financial Inducements to
secure school. The boating and
bathing facilities, ana the proximity of
orktown, Jamestown, the Norfolk