Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-04
SCHOOLS ARE FINE.
THE STATE sUPERINTENDENT IL
PLEASED At REPORTS.
LENGTH OF TERMS INCREASED.
They VIII Last Seven Mon'hs >"
several of the Countfcs-lncre""e"
Attendance and Good Tenchers-
Notes from the Capitol.

Renorts received at the office Of the su-
perintendent Of Public Instruction inu'
cate that this is 10 be a record-breaKihs
year in the history OF the puohc-scioo'
system Of Virginia.
.'The reports thus far received are not
of a character to show the average az
tendance accurately" said Dr. j. w.
southan. Superintendent Of Pubic IN
structon. yesterday, "but 1t Is peheVeu
TO be considerably larger than IN pre-
ceding wears. | have visited great many
counties Of the state during the fan and
winter. and have been in very many
schools. / find in many instances the at
tendance much increased over last year.
LONGER TERMS THIS YEAR.
ON many counties the length Of the
term f. increased" continued DR.. South
all Five months is the usual length or
the term Of the average county school'
but I'm a number OF the counties they are
running six and seven months, win me
attendance. 1t used TO be that IL was
difficult matter to run our SCHOOLS hVe
months, and in many cases four inohths,
or even three months was the length OF
the school term. hope TO see the time
when every public school in virginia VIII
be open nine months every year.
II am struck with the Improvement III
Virginia teachers" DR.. Southall went on.
Taken as a whole they are doing me
work. Recently 1 have visited a great
many Of the country schools of the state
and I'm many instances ! have found hlsh-
ly-educated and well-trained young men
and women instructing the children Oh
the neighborhood in the rudments OF the
public-school course.
81 was at Hampton yesterday con-
tinued Dr. Southall, land made an auureS'
10 the nupils at the Indian and negro
school 1t is a wonderful institution.
do not know when l have spent DAY
more pleasantly. l walked apout tl9
grounds, inspecting the bullulhss' "Hu
went through the buildings themselves
until | was about broken down. The IN
dian commissioners were at Hampton III
specting the school yesterday. thlnK
thew were as greatly pleased with the
school as / was"
THE SUMMER NORMALS.
DR.. Southall is now engaged in selecting
points at which summer normal schools
will be located. and arranging courses Oh
instruction and selecting teachers.
Newport News people are making very
determined
NAL in that city next summer. Professor
Epes. principal of the Newport News High
School called on DR.. Southall yesterday
and urged him to give that city normal
Professor Epes called the Doctors atten-
ton 10 the pleasure the teachers would
derive from a stay of a month at the
seaside. and dwelt upon the healthfulness
of Newport News during July, during
which the school will be open lie says
NeWport News will have completed py the
time il is proposed 20 open the norman
the finest public school building IN lhe
State. and this will be rendered free OF an
charge. Cheap rates at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
have beer arranged for. and the City
Councn Is expected TO offer financial in
ducements TO secure a school. The boat
ING and bathing facilities and the prox-
unity of Yorktown, Jamestown. the Nor
folk navy-yard, Fort Monroe. and other
points of interest. historical and other
wise. is pointed out.
Hon. T. r. Powell, member Of the House
Of Delegates from Newport News also
called to see DIR. Southall and presented
the advantages Of his city as the loca-
ton Of a summer normal.
FIGHT FOR HEALTH OFFICER.
Two delegations of Newport News peo-
pie called on Governor Tyler yesterday
TO advocate the claims of certain candi-
dates for the position Of Health Of1cer
of that port The first was composed OF
friends of DR.. Hobson. and the Spokesman
were Hon. T. r. Powell. Mr.. r. G. Bick-
ford and Judge Barham Later DR.:
friends presented the claims OF
their candidate
The appointment will be made to-day
or Monday. Congressman-elect w. A.
Young and Mr.. D. G.. Smith are here
working for DR.. Warmer
TO TAKE CARY BACK.
Sheriff John F. Howells, of Salt Lake
Citv. Utah. was at the Governors once
Yesterday with requisition papers Tor A.
NJ. Cary, who is wanted In that city LOT
forgery. Indeed, he is wanted for many
having operated very extern
sivelv in the West. Cary has Just peeh
hardened from the Richmond Jan by
Governor Tyler, where he was serving a
term for passing a bad check lie VIII
have to undergo a surgical operation and
the Governor pardoned him in order that
this might be performed before he IS
put on trial in Utah.