The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-03-23
What the Legislature Did for the Public
Schools


Schools
/. The Primary School Bill.-Cnder
the provisions Of this bill the annual
appropriation to the primary and gram
mar schools was increased from son, 900
TO 100000 This means an increase of
34.5 cents per year for each child Of
school age, OF for this county a total
increase Of 81, 663.64.
This will enable US, with some con-
solidation Of the schools, either TO i'm
crease the school session by one
month or to increase the pay of teach
ers s. per month.
And either Of these is "a consum-
nation devoutly to be wished
=. The High School Bill.-This bill
carries an appropriation Of $4,000 a |
year to supplement local funds for the
establishment and maintaining Of
"District High Schools"
Under the provisions Of this bill any |
county or district spending from $3.50
to 800 to maintain High School De-
partment in a public school will re-
ceive an equal amount from the state |
This will enable nearly every county |
in the State to provide one or more
schools where the boys and girls may |
receive adequate preparation to enter
College, or University, or Normal
School, or to go forth to LIES duties
well equipped for success. 1t will,
meet in some measure the greatest |
need in our public school system in
bringing the change between the ordi-
nary public school, and the college or
professional school. May we not hope |
eventually to see District High |
School in every district in this county. |
3. The Loan Fund Bill.-Under this !
measure a district may borrow from
the State Literary Fund not less than
Sl25 and not exceeding 5000 on any |
one school, which amount is TO be not
less than one-half the cost Of the school !
building. Four percent. interest is
charged and ten years time is given to
repay the loan. The plans and speci- |
fications and location Of the building !
must be approved by the state Super
intendent before the State Board will
make the loan.
This aid from the State will enable |
poor districts which are renting poor
houses for poor schools to build good
houses and pay for them with the
money they are now spending in the
rent Of miserable log cabins. No more
pressing need is felt in this county
than this need for better school-houses.
We hope with this aid to build one or
more new school-houses i'm each dis
trict each year until the need is sup
piled.
4. The Miscellaneous School Bill
Besides the three distinct measures
above referred to a general bill was
passed amending a number Of the
school laws. /. Provision Is made UNI
der this bill for purchasing school
equipment desks, blackboards, &C.
through the State Board Of Education
at greatly reduced prices. >. Hereaf-
ter County Superintendent will re-
ceive their pay monthly instead OF
quarterly; and school trustees will re-
ceive $40 instead Of s. year for their
services. 3. The county supernten-
dent is made clerk Of the School Trus-
tee Electoral Board, and the time Of
the appointment Of school trustees is
changed, and hereafter they will go
into office on September LIST instead OF
May LIST. 4. erJuly lsteyery teach
er whose certificate has expired must
have certificate issued by the State
Board Of Examiners and approved by
the county superintendent Of schools
for the division in which such teach
ers is to be employed.
Such are the chief school measures
enacted by the last General Assembly.
As State Superintendent, J. ID. Eggles-
ton, well says, "these measures alone
should make the General Assembly
OF 1906 memorable one" And let me
add, whatever criticisms may bemade
Of the recent Legislature, the people OF
this state owe them a large debt Of
gratitude and a large measure Of loyal
support for this liberal and wise pro-
vision for the betterment Of the public
schools OF the State.
Let me, in conclusion, illustrate by
concrete example the beneficsnt
working OF the above laws. The peo-
pie Of Rice Depot desire to have bet
ter school for their children. They
need first Of all, a suitable building to
cost not less than $1,000. Enough
could not be saved from the district
tax in five years to build such a house
at this place. But the people talk the
matter over and decide that they need
and must have a better school and a
new school house. They join together
heartily in the movement and raise by
private subscription from patrons and
friends the sum Of $500 for this pur-
pose. The Board Of Trustees duplicat-
ed this amount by approPriating 800
from the district funds and borrowing
$500 from the state loan fund. Plans
for an up-to-date three-room school
L