Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-12-07
IRVINGTON, VIRGINIA. FRIDAY DECEMBER Z 1906

portant cihces. 1 want the time to
come in Virginia when to be divis-
ion superintendent or school trustee
will be esteemed high decoration of
honor and be positive proof that the
person if devoting his best energies
to the educational progress and pros
perity of the State.
My friends, whenever the super
visors, councilmen and trustees all
unite in patriotic effort to improve
our public schools, then we will have
ample funds wisely spent and the
schools of this State will be infused
with new vigor and life, and the day
will not be far distant when our
public schools will rival those of any
state in this Union. If this harmony
of action, this union of purpose can
be secured this meeting will have ac-
complished it's aims, and we will see
the educational skies of Virginia
tinted by the light of new rising
sun, which, as it ascepds to its noon
tile splendor will send sunshine and
happiness to the highest and hum
blest homes of this Commonwealth.
The last session of the General AS
semoly of Virginia did more for the
public schools and enacted more
favorable legislation than had been
accomplished during the twenty pre-.
vious years. In the future this leg.
islature will be known as the great
educational legislature and it's men,
bers will recall with pride their sup
port of the various measures which
gave new stimulus to our public
educational system and marked the
commencement of a progressive i'm
proyement which we propose shall
continue until the public schools of
Virginia shall be unsurpassed. This
legislature appropriated more money
for public education than any which
ever assembled in the annals of this
State. In every direction it willingly
and generously extended its aid to
the public schools. Increased sppro-
prlations and new beneficial legisla-
tion were substituted for pleasing
platitude and eloquent declaration.
Specific measures of benefit were
given instead of charming lip service.
The last General Assembly proceeded
IN accordance with the proverb that
an ounce of performance is worth
more than a pound Of preachment.
The glitteriDg glamour of vague
sentiment was superseded by brave,
specific acts of genuine benefit. Our
entire educational system extending
from the simple schoolhouse that
dotsthe mountain side to our splendid
university has had infused into it
new hope, new vigor. If the local
authorities will now patriotically and
courageously supplement the work
done by the General Assembly a
great improvement of our schools is
assured. One of our most urgent
needs is better schoolhouses. MANY
of our present schoolhouses are dis
grace to the State, ungainly, uncom-
Portable, poorly ventilated and light
ed, built contrary to all hygienic
rules, they are menace to the health
of teacher and scholar. can never
forget the wretched building in which
| taught public school. / shall never
forget how | 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 / belabored the bad boys.
ALL such schoolhouses should now
disappear in Virginia. Heretofore
there was great difficulty in procur-
ing funds to erect suitable school
houses. 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 to be almost pro-
hibitory. This difficulty has now
been relieved. The last legislature
passed a 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 aud borrow also for this
purpose. Thus, at q cheap rate of
interest and for a reasonable time.
funds can now be secured to build in
every section of this State comforta-
BILE and commodious school build
ings. / wish to urge upon the local
authorities to avail themselves of
these generous provisions and to
erect in their counties attractive
modern schoolhouses. Opportunity
is now given to every community to
secure these. | desire to see Vir-
ginia from mountain to seasbore
covered with handsome school build
ings, attractive, comfortable, built
on ample grounds, beautiful with
flowers and shrubbery. Such build
ing would be the pride of the neigh
borhood, elevate the peoples taste,
teach the children neatness and re.
finement. A structure of this kind,
with such environments, would con-
tribute largely to an increased atten-
dance. wish to interest particularly
In this matter the women of the State.
Success can only be obtained through
their active aid and cooperation.
What contrast do the schooIhouses