Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-14
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
February Session of the Board Of
Trustees Yesterday.
Exhaustive Report From superin-
tcndent DobIo-sort,cnl writing
Completion of Daiiding.-salarle
otJanttors- Bin. Ordorod PAID.

The monthly session of the School
Board was held yesterday afternoon
with the president, AIr. John B. White
hurst, in the chair and the following
members present: Messrs. Taylor,
Ruffin. Minter. Greenwood Morris,
Pinl1erton, Davis, Montague, Randolph
and McCurdy. Superintendent Dobie
was also in attendance.
The Standard Oil Company sent in a
communication Offering to put It's spe-
clal polish, for laying dust, on the floor
of one of the rooms of the schools to
snow it's effectiveness. 1t was referred
to the Committee on Buildings, with
authority to act.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.
superintendent Dobie submitted his
report for January as follows:
White s-Enrollment, 1905; av-
erage attendance. 2,616; ds,pped, 62; va
cant seats, 273
Colored ols7-Enrollment, 7i5; av.
erage attendance, 512; dropped, 35; va
cant seats, is.
Total enrolment, white and colored,
3,1SS; dropped. 81; vacant seats. a9l.
"A report was presented 10 the board
Dy Superintendent Dobie of the opera
tons of the schools during the first ses-
sion OF the present term, in which he
says:
From the report of Il former Superin-
tendent of Schools, which came across
few days ago, L found that at the
close of the session IN 1892 you had in
the white schools of the city "a teachers
and SCI scholars, an average to each
teacher of 36-s scholars. AT the close of
last year QS99) you had in the white
schools &c teachers and 3.021 scholars,
being an Increase i'll scholars of 2,162,
or 200 per cent. Not only has there
been this very large Increase in enroll
ment, but also IL wonderful improve
ment in the character of accommodate
tons and the equipment of your school
rooms.
The unusually large increase during
this session is attributed in u large
measure to the additional accommodate
tons afforded by the three new schools
erected during the year out OF the fund
appropriated by the City Councils.
The three old school houses formerly
located on Boush, Charlotte and Holt
streets, and taken down, had $50 seats
total. The three erected III their stead
have 1900 seats, being an increase OF
40 seats. The completion of the annex
to the High School has enabled us to
make a decided step forward in the
progress of THU; work. We now have
there two large study hnlls--one for the
girls. the other for the boys-where
their lessons are prepared i'm absolute
quiet, the recitations being made in the
class rooms. In the study halls schol-
arS are on their honor, one of their
number acting alternately rs monitor.
am pleased TO report the plan so far
has been very satisfactory, the con-
duct Of the scholars being remarkably
good.
While this large increase in enroll
mcnt lis unprecedented in the history of
our schools. and must be most crafty
ing to the Board, still we must not for
get that there has been Il very large in
crease also in our school population
during this period. which requires at
your hands still further increase in
your facilities in order that YOU may
Local Board of Brambleton Ward in ar
ranging for the erection Of another
school building. which is so urgently
needed there. Is worthy OF commenda-
ton: also the purchase of large. we'll
located lots for the same purpose by the
Board in Atlantic City Ward. This ac-
ton on their part is evidence that they
propose TO keep pace with the recent
development in the four old wards
We have n corps of very competent
colored teachers in charge of the large
school buildings on Cumberland street.
WITH -ftftt TFvfffy
organized and proceeding in satisfac-
tory manner.
Discipline in the schools is becoming
daily more satisfactory. Truancy is
less frequent. absence without n suffi-
Client cause does not occur so often, and
pupils are more prompt in their places
a the beginning OF the morning and
evening sessions. Orderly conduct and
industry prevail to greater extent
than has heretofore been the case AS
consequence better progress in the
studies and more efficiency in the sys-
tenn generally are being secured. Eff
forts have been made to impress upon
the teachers the responsibility of their
work and the necessity for thorough
preparation to faithfully and efficiently