The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02

aside in order to undertake the organi-
cation OF the school. and DR.. John A
Cunningham was elected to succeed nm.
D1. Cunningham was at the time en-
Eased In work in the public schools OF
Richmond, which fitted him peculiarly
for the duties upon which he now en-
tered
The course OF study in pursuance of the
plan already outlined by DR.. Ruffner
was extended to cover three years. two
CT the academic work, and one year en-
tirely professional. The model school
vas converted into a school Of practice,
III which every member of the senior
class was required to teach daily, her
work being carefully supervised by the
scS eral teachers Of methods, and by an
experienced teacher placed in charge of
the piaCtice school, TO carry out
this plan the faculty was increased in
number, the academic work extended
to embrace trigonometry in mathematics;
Latin and German were soon added; an
Gent history was included; good courses
in physics, chemistry, astronomy, and
botany outlined. and the English course
extended to cover the ground usually
covered by English courses in the best
secondary schools.
The Legislature OF 1885 appropriated
$4,000 for additional buildings; that OF
1890 increased the annual appropriation
to $1,000; that of 1894 still further in
creased the annual appropriation to
$1,000, besides giving 5000 for additional
buildings. The school has also received
aid from the Peabody fund of SUNS vary
irg from $1,000 to s1,5G0 per annum.
With these sums the course has been
extended from time to time. shorthand
and typewriting, as a department OF IN
dustrial work, and French have been
added in the last few years, laboratories
for instruction in physics, chemistry,
and physiology erected, adequate appa~
ratus for the needs of the school pur-
chased and the foundation Of GOOD
working library begun, the capacity OIL
the building enlarged so as to accomo-
date more than one hundred and 1lty
hcarders. and many comforts added.
At the close of the session Of 1878 the1
were. including the practice school, So
pupils and S51 graduates.
HEAD OF THE TRUSTEES.
In the eighteen years of the existence
of the school there has been four prcs-
cents of the board of trustees. viz: DIR.
j. l.. NJ Curry, to whom the school owes
much; General W. b. Taliaferro, Colonel
J. J.. Fitzgerald, and Hon. Robert Turn
bull. DR.. Curry. having done what he
could for the establishment of tie school.
resigned the presidency of the board
after one year of service, though he re-
NAMED "A member some years longer.
General Talaferro gave his hearts true
affection to the institution from the time
of his election in 1885 until a. few weeks
before his death in 1895. It was his boa st
mat he never missed a meeting of the
board of trustees. and it was his great
est pleasure to feel that he was assist
ing in the growth of an institution he SO
much loved and in whose future he had
So much faith
Colonel ]. P. Fitzgerald. elected in
January, 1898. was called away by death
III June of the same year. The value of
Colonel Fitzgerald to the school cannot
at all be measured by the length of time
he held the highest office in connection
with the institution. He had been a
member of the board since 1856. and no
one more truly considered the interests
Ct the school than he, none could be more
sNrnpathizing and helpful in times of
!crpieXityi and distress. Being a resident
CT far1nNille and a skilful lawyer. natu-
rally all knotty questions were carried tc
him. and during the months the school
was without a president his presence
was invaluable
Hon Robert Turnbull, elected October
1898. is at this time president, and it is
hoped he may long be spared to give the
school the benefit of his wisdom, wide
experience and unflinching integrity.
There is now on the Board only one
of the original trustees, Dr. James Mel.
son, of Richmond.
THE PRESIDENTS.
There have been four presidents of the
school DR.. Ruffner. the first. truly the
father of the institution. sowed the seed
but did not wait to see the ripening grain
DR. Cunningham. coming soon after its
organization. endowed with remarka biz
intellectual powers, much special knowl
edge OF the needs OF the public schools
and an energy and ability TO lose llimscl1
i'll his work rarely seen. accomplished If
ten years what, with most people. would
have required twenty. To him the schoo
owes pretty much all that it is to-day
1t was he who bore its burdens. fought
almost alone its battles. planned its work
with his far-seeing mental vision, build
ing it up on lines he felt would accom-
plish great results in the future. 1t has
been said Of him lately by one who has
spent twenty years and more in the in.
tcrest of education that DR.. Cunningham
was the most advanced educator anC
,a5 lF+l,