The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-25
Education in Virginia.

Education in Virginia.
In yesterdays paper we reproduced
from the International Year Book of 1902
statistics showing what the South was
doing for popular education, as COM
pared with other sections of the country
1t will be gratifying to Virgnians to
know that this State is considerably
above the average in the matter Of pubs
lie education, and we are making con-
siderable progress
In 1871 the school population Of Vtr-
ginia-that is to say the number OF
children between five and twenty-one
years of age--was 247,o02 white, 1H,ol9
colored, total 4ll,02l. The number Of
pupils enrolled was 1854 white, 3S,55i
colored, total 13l,0sS; the number OF pupils
y in daily average attendance was $3.50
white, 2s,45o colored total 1922; the
number of teachers employed was 3,Olt;
! the average number of months taught,
466; the whole number of schools, 1891;
the value of school property, s1S9,6S0;
total expenditures for schools, s545,s26.
In 1903 the school population was: white,
426o5i: colorcd, 265,2as; total, 691,S12; the
number of school houses: white, G,692;
colored 2,272a total s695; number of
pupils enrolled white, c57,13s; colored,
sA63; total, S75.60l. 1t may be men.
toned here that the number Of colored
pupils in 1901 was l23;s39. This falling
off is probably due to the fact that the
colored school population is gradually
decreasing in Virginia. The number of
pupils in average daily attendance was
157,075 white, G795i colored, total 224769;
number Of teachers, 9,0i4; average num-
Der of months Gil; value of school
property, $39o7, 064; total expenditures for
school purposes, s2,137.361.So, of which the
State appropriated s1,0OS,7 6l.10 The re-
mainder, sl,126G03, was raised by local
taxation. The per cent. of school popu-
laton enrolled averaged for the whole
for the colored children. In many coun-
ties, however, the percentage was not
less than 70 and in some It was moro than
50. These figures do not take into ac-
count the children in attendance at pri-
yatc schools.
The number of schools opened in 1908
was seventeen more than were opened In
1901, but eighty-nine less than In 1902.
This decrease is due to the modern ten
dency to consolidate, and means better
schools.
In his report for 1908, Superintendent
Southall says that probably the weakest
point in the public school system of Viz
g,n!a is the inadequate salaries paid to
the teachers, only two States in the
Union paying smaller average salary
In 1871 the average salary paid for men
was Ss2.36; Of women. s26.33; in 1903, the
average salary of men was s34 Sc; OF wo.
men. 1920. During this period the
schools and teachers have Increased
threefold. Eve are spending four times
as much money for public schools ant
employing three times as many teachers
as at the beginning of the system" say.
the superintendent, land yet the schoo
term and the average salary of the teach
ers remain practically as they were thirt.
years ago"
That being the case, l: is surprising t.
learn that, whereas in 1871 and for tn
next ten years the male teachers In tn
public schools constituted majority 0
all the teachers, white and colored. sine
1881. with slight fluctuations, the whit
male teachers lave been gradually de
creasing in number until there were Il
the. public schools in 1888 only 1871 whit
male teachers, against l,6G In 1871, /
the same period the white female teach
ers increased from 900 to $500 or NOR
than iiyefold. There are about twIc
as many colored male teachers now /
the schools as at the beginning of til
system, but they have been gradual
declining in numbers since 1856 Whit
men and colored mon can make MOI
money at almost any other occupatio
than they can make teaching a publ
school in Virginia, There are some e,
ceptonal cases, Of course, but that IS II
rule. The children Of the State are bes
educated In the main by women.
The general exhibit is encouragn
and 1t is more encouraging 10 know tn
popular education is more popular
Virginia to-day than ever before. TT