Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-01-17
The Legislature.
Front Royal May Get Normal School.

the Speclai IoiuO S"hhihiSSiOit APP
nointed under an act of january,
1904. to investigate conditions,
w;tb reference to the establishment
Of, new female normal school in
VIRGINIA. makes "A number OF start
ling revelations, which it presents
ss evidence of the urgent necessity
Of improved facilities for the better
training of the public teachers Of
the State
The deliverance Of the commits
sion is exhaustive, going extensive
IL into details and finally recon-
mending system of State normal
schools. the essential features of
which have already been published.
Arguing for this system. the COM
mission sets forth that the children
of Virginia are often turned over
TO poorly equipped female teach
ers. and that in its Investigations
il met with a widespread demand
from every section of the State for
more thoroughly trained instruc-
tors in the primary and graded
schools. Attention is called to the
fact that there are few male teach
ers in the public schools, the men
being attracted away by the greater
remuneration offered by other
pursuits. 1t is furthermore the
opinion of the commission that not
50 per cent. of the white children
receive any education beyond the
grammar grades, even if a high
school be in easy reach, and il is
for the proper training of this great
immature class" that il asks eff
cient teachers.
Under the terms Of the act. the
commission in May and June,
1904, made a tour of inspection of
the State, visiting Newport-News.
Norfolk, Suffolk, Lynchburg, Bed
ford City, Roanoke, Salem, Rad
ford, Dublin, Pulaski. Wytheville,
Martinsville, Basic City, Coving-
ton, Clifton Forge, Harrisonburg,
Woodstock, Front Royal, Falls
Church, Herndon, Leesburg. Alex
andria, Manassas, Warrenton, Cul-
peper, Gordonsville, Charlottes-
vile and fredericksburg. At all
Of these places the commission
heard arguments and statements
from representative citizens.
In contemplation of the estab-
llshment of three normal schools,
the commission reports the last
recorded vote as expressive of its
recommendation on the matter of
location, towit:
Radford, 10 votes.
Harrisonburg, votes.
Front Royal, 3 votes.
Manassas, vote.
fredericksburg, 3 votes.
Newport News, 3 votes.
The vote for Radford expresses
the unanimous opinion of the COM
mission thau the St. Albans School
property in Pulaski is the best
location for school in Southwest
virginia; the vote for Fredericks-
burg and Newport News expressed
an equality divided opinion of the
commission that these two cities
are the best locations for Eastern
and Ildewater, and expresses its
opinion on the location for the
Northern and Valley section in
The following votes, viz: Six (6)
Tor Harrison; three (3) for Front
Royal, and one % for Manassas.
1t is the sense of this commits
sion that in the event the General
Assembly should be of opinion that
out one school should be established
'hen that school should be located
el'her at Radford, Harrisonburg,
front Royal, Newport News,
fredericksburg or Manassas, but
.he commission, in view of the
IactS ascertained by its investiga-
uon, Is of the unanimous opinion
'nat 1T would be unwise. inexpedi-
ent and improper to establish but
one school, and that the best inter-
eStS of the State would be served
oy establishing system of schools
as hereinbeforc recommended, and
'nat any action on the subject
should look to this end"
The report is signed by the en-
ure commission as follows: Frank
l. West, chairman; George b.
neezell, j. Boyd Sears, p. f. St.
Car, William p. Barksdale, Geo.
r. Ford, r. +. Lee, Jr., L. p.
otearns, j. X. Stafford and r. S. b.