The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-28
General and Manual Training
Arrestlog Attention of All.
WoMEN's SPLENDID WORK
Through Richmond E luaation A5socia-
ton ". nm of he City Are Spread.
ing e .husiasm for Better men>
tal Tra,iiag in the Stale.
by Professor S. c. Mitchell.

virginia ut large. 1t has, however. been
marked by widespread discussion of ed
ucation in general. and manual training
81 pa ticular. rather than by any STRIVING
ads ances :, numbers or methods. 1t has
been seed-tme, rather than harvest
But good seed have been sown broadcast
and ,bey have fallen on ground that
promises to bring forth hundred fold
The sewers have been many, but
rpeciai mention must be mace oil
The splendid services of Governor A }.
Montague. The Richmond Times, and the
Richmond Educational ASSOCIATION The
laoors OF all these h&|e been character
Ged b. disinterestedncss and 10y regard
for the good OF the who.e peop.e. especial
L. the we4ith-producins classes Few
movements have shown n0bier spirit OF
service, more sagacty, more eEregy. and
truer patriotism than the one ileaded by
these forces.
The Times has displayed remarkable
power in It's advocacy Of education, slim
ulating every interest, and aligning all
forces for reform. Its influence in this
cause upon the State and the nation has
been potent.
Richmond may well rejoice when her
5oblest women busy themselves with or
yanizing mass meetings on education. at
which the Chief Executive Of Virginia
preside and which a addressed by
j. Gavin. Jr. of New York: ard Cap
tain C. Z. Vawter. of the Miller School.
II public sririt is &c finest fruitaSc of
municipal life, Richmond is peculiarly
fortunate. Yet rarely has its civic
eririt. always sane and strong. laid hold
of worthier enterprise than The es-
ent effort for the advancement OF edu-
cation. Space does not permit me to
snumerae all the forces which the Rich
nond Education Association has either
projected or aided. MRS. 3. e. Valen-
tine. president of the Richmond Educa-
ton Association. is the tactful sagacious
and tireess leader in these forward
movements. assisted by group of ladies
who fxemplify Toe finest spri; Of civic
scrvice. They are beautryfng the Mar
silali School as n type for others; they
ere urging upon the Legislature the need
Of more normal schools: they are bring
tng to our city meetings such as that of
the superintendent s. who convene on
January 18th. ana w5ao W Il be addressed
by Drs. Buttrick Russell Wilso9 and
Gilman; they arc preparing for the
Southern Conference on Education 10 as
sembie here next May; they are inter-
esting our Council in kindergaI tens ard
manual training, they have established
travelling art galleries for the public
schools; and. above all. they are quick
e!Iing the whole city with enthusiasm
for education.
In all these matters inestimable as
distance has been rendered TO the Rich
-nond Education Association by the Hon.
II. st. George Tucker and Dr Robert
Frazer, the able representatives OF the
Southern Education Board.
TIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The spirit of progress is astir in our
Public schools. Witness the interest Of
the Richmond teachers in their own i'm
prorernent. Si&ty-flve of them were in
attendance upon the School of Methods at
Charlottesville the past summer. while
others went 10 Cornell University and
similar institutions. Nir II. Lee McBain..
who as assistant principal. is doing an
tnspirational work in our high school,
spent his vacation In Europe, acquaintins
himself with educational movements there
Is II not noteworthy that teachers as d
rule spend their scant surplus earnings to
rake themselves more proficient in their
work? How great aspiration and seif-sac
rIflce are implied by this fact.
The High School is so crowded that the
Question Of enlargement Is now a burning
one. 1t has been suggested that Church
jIHl have a separate high school while |
ZONE have thought that the present one
might edVantageously be moved to a site |
in the West End, where larger play |
e. oUnds and more modern buildings could |
be provided For the gratifying success
of the High School praise is due to Prin- |
ciral Julian p Thomas and his faithful |
corps of teachers.
Superintendent ". z Fox. who he's
done so nrch to bring Richmond.s
schools to their present state of eff e.cncy, |
has an encouraging report to make OF |
the work Of the past year. From tire sta |
sistics he has shown some suggestive |
IN IS. The school population OF Rich |
mond Is about 25.0C0. or this number |!
there were enrolled In the public schools |
the pas; year 12,l59-not quite half of |
those of school eye. The public schools !
FRO meeting finely tbs needs as regards |
the children between and Il years, While (
the masS OF those below aid above Il |
years either attend private schools or are |
not in school at all. CT the school popu- |
fe1ion between the ages of I and Il there |
pre enrolled Il per cent or those below |
Z years. only Is per csnt; Of those above
II years, only Il FER cent Hence the |
problem IL 10 enlist IN the public schools |
the So per cent, OF those below { years
and the IS per cent OF those above Il |
years. who at the present are unsc-
copnted for How can this be done? BY /
having the kindergarten for the CHI Id and |
manual training for the youth. The
School Bosrd. therefore, asks for an ap.
preparation of IS 90 In order that It NAV
Introduce these necessary textures II t
would he difficult TO overes.i rrato th. |.
good that would accrue 20 our city frors,
snch an expenditure. rs Richmond is
fast becoming manufacturing centsr.
number and skill Of its workers. Both
kindergarten and manual treining hear
directly upon Industrial conditions They
breathe val"es into raw products
THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE.
BY rrason OF the Increase male hv tie
City COUNCIL this year the Mechanics In
stitute has added to It's course ten new
cfa sses and six Instructors: S63 students
have uf-tr'cuisted TIE larrest nt-oher
ever enrolled at a corresponding date.
The iibrsrv hiss hnd many valuable .s.-
f.rion- These facts bear out the STATE
n,nat that TO school Erios the Auctions
of our pcooe move than the Mechs n,cs.
fr~tftute. TIE school OF hresd vi -r,~-,. |
syfore record is equally i-sr!r'rs.
whether Won consider the work of the
noble bard OF teachers. or tie pluck and
afi,'ty of the ihronsinS students. or tbs
eminent SERVICES OF tfc ratrio+ic M, wNo
rurke up the Board of Directors. Colonel
.ho,pa. Eliett. tf~ secretary. NAV we'll
rcsotce IN tho crowni"g success OF this
rrfendid enterprise, which throws TIE
10 no