Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-12-19
has NO SUBSTITUTE

forget the wretched building in
which | taught public school. |
shall never forget how l was
scorched by the summer suns and
shivered by the winter winds. /
have never been able to determine
which created the more noise in
that schOOlhOuSe, the whistle Of the
wind as it came through the logs
or the whirl Of the switch as | be-
labOred the bad boys. All such
schOOlhouses should now disappear
in Virginia. Heretofore there was
great difficulty in procuring funds
to erect suitable schoolhouses.
The expenditure was too large to
be paid for in cash out of the annual
taxes. The credit of many of the
school districts was so poor that
they could not borrow money at
all, or, if so, at such exorbitant
rates of interest as 70 be almost
prohibitory. This difficulty has
now been relieved. The last legis-
lature passed law permitting the
school districts to borrow from the
literary fund sufficient money to
pay half of the cost of erecting
suitable school buildings. The
money is loaned at four per cent
and one-tenth of. the principal is
payable each year. The school
districts are authorized to issue
bonds and borrow also for this pur-
pose. Thus, at 4 cheap rate of in
terest and for a reasonable time.
funds can now be secured to build
in every section of this State COM
Portable and commodious school
buildings. ] wish to urge upon
local authorities to avail themselves
of these generous provisions and
to erect in their counties attractive
modern schoolhouses. Opportun-
ity is now given for every COM
munlty to secure these. | desire
to see Virginia from mountain to
seashore covered with handsome
school buildings. attractive, com
Portable, built on ample grounds,
beautiful with flowers and shrub
berry. Such building would be
the pride of the neighborhood. ele-
vate the peoples tastes, teach the
children neatness and refinement.
a structure of this kind. with such
environments. would contribute
largely to an increased attendance.
wish TO interest particularly in
this matter Ehe women of the State.
Success can only be obtained though
their active aid and cooperation.
What a contrast do the school
houses and churches of this State
present! The churches are built
and cared for mostly by the women.
Their neatness, elegance and beauty
bear testomOny to her handiwork.
The schoolhouses are built and re-
paired by man and their ugliness
and shabbiness furnish proof of
his deficiency of taste and his neg
lect. | appeal to the women of
every school community in this
State to unite and never cease their
work and efforts until their section
has been blessed with an attractive
and splendid schoolhouses.
In addition, every school should
have a good library to furnish a
good course of reading to the
scholars and patrons. The last
General Assembly made an appro-
priation for travelling libraries for
the various schools of the State.
which it is hoped will provide op-
portunity for reading to many who
are now deprived. If the venture
prove successful and beneficial the
next General Assembly will make
larger appropriation. But.
every school should have a perma-
nent library, increasd each year by
the addition of new and valuable
books. Persons and pupils desir-
Gus of reading should have the
books to crafty their taste and
ambition. Many weary winter
hour in the country could then be
spent with pleasure and profit.
The school should be the social lit
erary and art centre of the COM
munity. Earnestly appeal to the
pupils and patrons of every rural
school lin this State to commence at
once the collection of a school
library. However small the be-
ginning, it will furnish a nucleus
for growth and the increase that
will come to it will be amazing.
Another need is high schools in
the rural communities so thata bet