The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-01


Ing It, with its historic memories and
noble suggestion Of great learning high
public service and simple living, the pos
session Of every Richmond child. Are
not these reasons enough for reconsid-
Grafton of the matter BY our Finance
Committee and the determination OF our
citizenship that, as we dedicate s"OO,OO0
Of the public money to this school We
shall not halt ut an added $4,000, but
gladly Yield 1t in the service Of our chill
drcn?
Improper Location.
The School Board has made a second
request Of the Council In regard to school
buildings. The original building Of the
so-callcd Valley School for colored chill
drcn dates from tho yenr 1916. 1t was
a part Of the old L4ancnsterian system OF
schools; It's control was assumed by the
City Council in 1884, and finally by an
ordinance, Put into the hands of the
School Board in 1879. An effort was
madc to mako 1t a school for white chill
dren, but they refused to attend It, 1t Is
situated Immediately opposite the city jail
and practically abutting on Jail Alley
Every item of life In the Jail is not only
to be seen by the children, but is so in
slstcnt In It's noise and nearness as to
make 1t beyond a child's power not to
see and hear. Tho building is very old,
almost beyond repairing, and utterly ln-
fitted for school purposes. Here are
housed an enrolment Of sos colorcd chill
dren-twenty per cent, In fact, OF the
total enrolled colored elementary school
population of this city. What can We en-
pect as future citizens from children
whose morals and IDEALS are shaped UNI
der such conditions? The board desires
that this old rookery should be torn down
and n decent building, in a suitable local
ity, substituted In its place.
we need to extend our manual train
ing and kindergarten facilities. This APP
proprlation Has not been increased for
three years. 1t still stands at $4,000.
We have six public kIndergartens, with an
enrolment of 81 and an average daily
attendance of 23G. The Mothers Clubs,
400 strong, connected with these kinder-
gartens, are urging the Council to- hecd'
tho wish OF the board and Increase this
number next year, at least by one
The Marvellous Results.
Our manual training, considering the
money expended, has shown marvellous
results, but 1t Is almost impossible to
hold even the point 1t has reached With
out larger appropriations Mr.. Julian L.
Burruss. our supervisor or nahuh1 IRAN
ing, who has spent this year in study
at tho Teachers College, New York. Is,
according to the verdict Of the pedasogic
department OF Columbia University, UNI
usual both in talent and spirit. lle should
be encouraged to remain In Richmond by
tho support given this department, anu
under his wise leadership all things axe
possible along this line Of our educa-
tional development.
Last but not least. we must pay 'o'1
teachers an adequate wage for faithful
and efficient service. The temper ana
quality of our corps must be maintained,
and this can only be done aR We EU7or
the profession and are willing to pay for
what we know we need and expect to gel
Man Is differentiated from the brute
notably by his long period of infancy,
with It's necessary child nurture; civilized
nations mark their rise from barbarlsn'
and sayagery by their care for and pro-
lection of childhood, and when the Mas
ter would lead His disciples into higher
truth lie "set a child IN their midst
Richmond must provide pure water
clean streets, own her docks and increase
her trade, but above all and beyond ill,
she must train her children. The mate
rial things are good only In proportion MS
they minister to them, and the crusade
I'm which this association is engaged may
not halt until every child In this city
has fun opportunity to train himself for
self expression and service In tho way
Indicated by his mental and moral gifts
(Signcd)
MARY COOKE BRANCH MuNFORD