The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-06
q Mr.. Slemp and Public Schools.

Representative Campbell Slemp is not
noted, we believe. for the care which ne
exercises in matters OF speech. Indeed,
those who know the Ninth District con-
Eressman best affirm that he is prone TO
regard thought as a matter OF secondary
Z Importance, as compared to speech HIS
statement, made at Harrisonburg Satur-
B day, that the public schools OF Virginia
were not SO good as they were twenty
years ago, is proof Of his carelessness IN
such matters
Twenty years ago. That would carry
,ns back to 1855. The Democrats had just
succeeded in overthrowing readJuster-re-
publcanism in Virginia and putting white
men In undisputed control OF the State.
There were enrolled in the public schools
that year SOs,54s pupils, between the ages
of five and twenty-one years. Last year,
the figures for this year are not yet
age has been changed to seven years,
the enrolment was S66.65.
In 1885 there were 6.575 public schools
In Virginia. In 1904 there were s,s7s-
over two Thousand more than twenty
years ago.
The average length Of tho school tern,
In 1885 was fraction over five months,
The average length of the public school
Term in Virginia this year was nearly
seven months.
School funds raised By State and dis
trct taxation in 1855 amounted to $685.
lao.62 The sum of State and district
taxation for school purposes III 1895 was
81 ,o6s,1 1921.
The total expenditure for public schools
in 1885, under Republican administration,
was s1,4a45al.69. The total expenditure
last year was 1851 ,C93.2o
In other words, Virginia is expanding
TOR school purposes now nearly twice as
much as she was expanding twenty years
ago.
A Democratic Legislature founded tho
yBtate Female. Normal School at Farmville,
for the education of public school teach
FRS at nominal expense. and rehsblitatcd
tMllllam and Mary College. where young
men are trained to teach in the public
schools at small cost.
Twenty years ago there was scarcely a
public high school In the country districts
OF Virginia. There are to-day nearly a
hundred schools OF this grade In the
counties that meet the requirements Of
tho standard set by the State Board Of
Education, and tho farmers boy or girl
who completes the course at one OF
them Is fitted to enter college.
h Although The University of Virginia, the
Virginia. Military Institute arc parts OF
the public school system of Virginia, we
have not referred TO them and the won.
derful improvements accomplished II
each, under the beneflcent care of &
democratic administration. When Mr.
Slcmp used the term. public schools
he referred, We have no doubt, to The
common or primary schools
We have shown that many hundreds
more OF these schools are in existenc:
now than in 1855: that many thousands
more pupils are enrolled now than III
1885, that the average school term is near
~ TWO months longer now than 1t was III
1855; that Virginia is expending over q mil,
lion dollars more on her schools ever.
year than she expended in 1885.
Mr., Slemp could not have known ht
vas making a statement which woulc
appear so ridiculous when confronted b,
the facts. He probably had no informa
t!on on the subject,