Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-01-28
Lexington School Board Desires
to Enlarge Scope of Town
Schools.

by the Lexington School Board-Mr
Robert e. Hutton, chairman, Prof
| ID. G. Humphreys, clerk, and Mr.
Frank II. Glasgow-giving the item
lied annual expenditures of the Lex
ington public schools, together with
the scope OF work embraced in con
Quoting them. Suggestions were also
made for future improvements in the
schools, especially in the High School
which now ranks, so far as its course
entends, with the best in the State.
For the session of 1902 the fund
received from the State for the
Lexington schools amounted to
81, PASTA; from the town $1,000
from tuition, 81 ,2O0.05, giving a total
of So, 45S.69 with which to run
the schools. The expenditures for
the same term included pay for the
white teachers, $3.50; for colored
teachers, $1,23S.25; and all other
expenses, such as fuel, insurance,
janitors' services, repairs, etc,
amounted to $9S054, which gives a
total of expenses S., 30s.79. This shows
the receipts exceeded the expenses by
5000.
In estimating the expenses for the
current year, the report provides for
about the same as last year with three
exceptions-more needed repairs, the
increase price OF coal and the increase
in the principals salary. With
reference to the last, the report states
that last year Mr. Harrington Waddell
received an offer of the position as
principal of the Wentworth Military
Academy at Lexington, Mo-, and it
was necessary for the board to meet
this offer or lose him. 1t was thought
best to meet the offer, which was
done by giving Mr.. Waddell one
fourth of the tuition fees which he
collects, in addition to his salary Of
800 per month, which makes his
total compensation about 81 200 per
year. The salaries of the other
teachers remain unchanged. The
a ,sistant in the High School receives
$50 per month, and $50 per month
is paid to each of the other teachers,
except to the teacher of grades ii
and III who receives $40.
The salary for the principal of the
colored school, William Washington,
was increased from S35 to $50 per
month This was done in considera
tion of his eminent fitness for the
position. He is a man of ability and
possesses the entire confidence of the
board. He is an A. b. of Oberlin
College, Ohio, first grade institu-
ton, and distinguished himself while
there. The pay for the other teachers
in the colored school was reduced
from $50 to S25 per month, except
the teacher of grade " who receives
$27.50.
The report states that one more
teacher is imperativeiy needed in the
white school, since grades III and III
are now taught by one teacher, having
81 pupils enrolled. The colored school
needs one more grade and teacher,
since the lowest grade now has en-
rolled IS pupils.
The school board believes that the
schools have been greatly improved
of late years without any additional
from the town and the
present efficiency should not only be
but the schools should be
bettered each year.
The special attention of the mayor
and town council is called to the
vital Importance, to this town in
particular, of having the very best
public schools. The special reasons
are that the High School has caused |
q most excellent private school to be
so that the town, and |
to some extent the county, is depen-
dent on the Lexington High School
for a good education for girls and |
boys up to the point where the latter
,an enter Washington and Lee Uni
versity or the Virginia Military
Institute.
The board presented TO the council
or consideration some very impor-
ant suggestions whereby to further
Increase the efficiency of the Lexing
on schools. They would like to
akeAnn Smith Academy, which could
be had for 800 per year.
hen move grades /, Il and III to that
give Miss Mary l.. Smith
,harge and get another teacher to
axe one of the grades she now
caches. Then a room might be
in which private kinder
.arten could be taught to be paid for
~ the patrons.
If possible drawing and music
hould be taught in the schools; also
complete business course, so that
,raduates of the High School may
'e prepared for active business life,
hus avoiding the necessity and
Expense of going elsewhere to secure
hese advantages. The establish !
nent of manual training depart !
lent should not be in the too dis ,
ant future. !
To carry out these desirable plans, Z
OF including the business and I
MANUAL training departments, the {
GARD estimates that all increased ;
ppropriatiOn of 81 AGO will be neces- ,
ary. This can be raised by slight !
1crease in taxation, less than four s
Hills, {
The board also suggests that the ,
aithful services of teacher who q
enains in the school for number
years should be recognized by s
nall inprpaea IF nav