The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-02
NEW SCHOOL IN
HENR|CO OPENED
Teachers, Pupils and Patrons At
tend Interesting Exercises at
Highland Springs.
THE VALUE OF CONSOLIDATION
Building Replaces Three One
Room schools-Higher Grade
OF Work.

The new High School at Highland
Springs, Fairfield District in Henrico
county. was opened yesterday afternoon
with appropriate ceremony by superin-
tendent jackson Davis and the teachers
and pupils, The whole afternoon was
given up TO the exercises.
The pupils had made artistic invita-
tions in their manual training and
drawing, and had taken them into every
home. Nearly all the school patrons re-
sponded and observed the usual work of
the school, in which they manifested
great interest.
Speeches Made.
After making a short talk, superin
tendent Davis introduced Mr.. +. II.
Russell. who delivered an able address.
He showed the advantages OF bringing
together the small schools into one we'll
organized graded and high school, and
pointed ont why no patriotic Virginian
could oppose the public school system,
declaring that everybody was benefited
by II.
Mr.. r. c. Stearnes, secretary of the
Board OF Education. was the next speak
er He was In his happiest vein, aud re
minded the pupils of their opportunities
with much humor and effectiveness, and
congratulated the people and school ofii-
Gals and teachers on the spirit of pa
triotism and enterprise shown in the cree
ton of such + building.
Miss Iottia NJ. Evans, principal of the
school. planned and carried out the re-
ception of the patrons and the work of
the pupils with great success, The school
rooms are simply but attraCtively decor
ated with pictures, drtavng and manual
training work of the pupils The latter
are now preparing to beautiful She school
grounds and to have a garden Tor horti-
cultural training.
The New School,
The new school is a splendid. we'll
equipped building of four rooms The
rooms are hish-pitched and large, heated
with jacketed stoves, which Keep them
at the proper temperature End provide
ample ventilation through shafts made for
that purpose, making 1t unnecessary 10
luwer windows.
This building replaces three small one
room schools, ana accommodates the pu-
pills In the higher grades from two other
schools. 1t is situated on the Seven
Pines car line. which enables pupils 10 at
tend from a distance, Some come as
far as eight miles to get the benefit OF
the higher work. Thus five schools are
consolidated, and high school is main
tanned for the I%rrheld District.
The old high school of this dictrict was
taken into the city by the recent an
nexation. but ii las been speedily re,
placed in the building at Highland
Springs.
In the two small schools at Highland
Springs last year there We're enrolled al
average of sixty odd pupils Now IL
children are attending as result of tn
consolidation and establishment Of
High School.
Notable Improvement.
Superintendent Davis is working yner
getica!ly 10 bring all the schools up L
as high a standard rs possible, and Their
has been notable Improvement in al
the districts since the beginning of hi
regime II IL his desire TO see as man
high schools as possible established II
the rural districts, and he is bendin
all his efforts TO this end
The members OF the School Board 10
Fairfield DistricI are. Messrs. H. c
Dickinson, W. S. Gaines ana Carl Cath
right, all Of S-~om gre much devoted /
the interests of the schools in theI
charge and who are cooperating we
with the efforts of Superintendent Dayi!