The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-18

during the recent convention OF the
Co-operative Education Association OF
Virginia in Lynchburg, u report from q
committee on the high school situation
was rendered. a careful survey of sec
ondary education in our State was made
the basis of this report. Two hundred
missionaries were sent to the superin-
tendents and principals after careful col
lection of all their addresses from the
files of the State Board of Education and
of the colleges In order to ascertain eX-
actly what secondary branches were being
taught, to how many pupils, and by how
many teachers. Tho situation may be
briefly summed up as follows: Ninety
three public schools provided instruction
in high school subjects to about 3,Ooo
pupils In most of these schools not
more than one teacher devoted his whole
time to instruction in secondary branches.
II few with us many as two, and only
twenty with four or more. OF course
there is n multitude OF public schools In
which one or two classes in Latin, physi-
cnl geography or algebra arc taught,
many of which are one and two-teacher
country schools. tho total enrolment of
which classes was estimated Mt about
1000 Even including these, only 10000
out of the 224,135 pupils Exclusive OF 1000
students In private high schools of high
school age are enrolled In ono or more
branches above the prescribed public
school course. Not five per cent. arc
enrolled and 1t is safe to say that over
ninety per cent. have not the opportunity!
The committee therefore recommended
chat tho State Legislature enact a high
school bill granting aid to each (schooD
district, or to two or more jointly. to tho
amount of $500 provided that said district
or districts raise an equal amount. tho
whole to be devoted to the maintenance
OF one high school in said district or dis
tricts, to which pupils graduating from
all the elementary schools of the district or
districts may attend without the payment
OF tuition" A bill of such nature,
providing from $3.50 to $500. has been In
troduced during the present session.
What is the Importance of such blll?
First if passed, it will make possible
one or more good high schools IN every
county OF the State whero the people
will patroniae high schools. For example,
in Accomac county there is ono school
(Onancocl) where one teacher deyotes
all or his time and two or three part OF
their time to secondary instruction. Tho
district by special taxation provides over
$1,000 towards the maintenance OF the
high school department. alone. and such
Is the nature or the instruction gwen
that the graduates of tho three years.
course enter our highest mems and wo-
mems colleges upon certificate. Yet gem
erously as the people of Onancocls have
acted, the school is sadly deficient III
equipment, and needs another teacher in
the high school grades. which would
strengthen the Whole school. The $io0
as provided above would mako this pos
sble, and the pupils would got the Very
best that they could hope for,
Another instance may hn found in tWo
or three places q hope that that indie
fatigabla superintendent of Aecomac. Mr..
q. G, JONES, will at an sarN date cite
the Instances moro fully cnd better than
{ am doingla in tho Same county where
ono teacher gives his entire time 10 teach
ms "A three years course, end tho 'exr
peuae Ia partially bornO by worry. low