The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-13
AUGUSTA MAKES
A FINE SHOWN
Valley County Collsolidatcs Small
Schools and Builds Better Y
Houses.
HAUL CHILDREN In WAGONS
Progressive Steps Taken by sup-
erintendent L. O. Peale and
County Board.
HAUL CHILDREN In WAGONS

Augusta. the empire county Of the
great and prosperous Virginia Valley.
ir joining hands with other sections
OF the State in the wonderful awaken
Ing which Is in progress concerning
the construction Of better public-scllool
buildings and the securing OF high
grade teachers. Indeed. Augusta was
one OF the pioneers In the movement,
and the pictures printed to-day give
n fair idea Of the work she has accom-
plished.
The small wooden structure in the
centre of the group. with little space
and poor ventilation. Is typical Iof the
school building that is passing out"
In Virginia. and the two larger ones
of those that are coming In to take
Its pluce.
made by the authorities in Augusta
is the hauling of the children back
and forth IN localities where small
schools have been consolidated and
fine graded institutions established IN
their stead
one Of the pictures shows a large
number of pupils arriving in wagons
from their homes. Just before the hour
of opening In the morning. All these
pictures are from photographs taken
In Augusta just before the closing of
the sessions last year.
Superintendent r. o. Peale, who is
one of the livest school officers In the
State, Is pushing along three distinct
lines Of Improvement. and he has the
hearty cooperation of a board COM
posed OF enterprisng and well-to-do
citizens. who are deeply interested in
the work OF public education,
He is consolidating the smaller
buildings into graded schools as rap
Idly as posslbles Is hauling the chill
aren back and forth and is fighting
NIL the while for the best teachers It
IL possible for him TO secure.
History of the Work.
In writing of his work for consoli-
dalton Superintendent Pealc says.
I'VE began II six or seven years ago.
when we built a four-room house at
Craigsvillc and consolidated the
craigsv!lle and Portland schools. For
the past two years we have been haul
ing two other schools to Craigsville.
We next built three-room house a.
p ,Deerfeld. and closed three small
schools. which we are hauling to that
place.
I'VE are having n very successful
school of six teachers In Beverly
Manor. the result of consolidation, to
which we are hauling three schools.
MEYERS Cave is another very sue
cessfuI school of four teachers. the
result of consolidation.
''Waynesboro and part OF South
River district are in very commo-
dious new building with seven teach
ers.
.Stnarts Draft has heen built up In
the past two years to very success
full school OF four teachers. 1t had
formerly been school of two teach-
ers. GrecnvilIe has fine school of
three teachers Instead of two. as here
tofore. Spotswood has nice new
building with two teachers instead OF
the old one-room house.
Three small schools have been con-
solidated into nice new building of
three rooms at Valley Mills. Two
wagons transport to this school.
..Basic City has u fine school OF four
teachers
I've. have built two three-room
houses, at each of which we have con-
solldated four small schools into one
central school AT one of these schools
we run one or more wagons. AT the.
other no wagon Is necessary.
consolidation is best, but not
cheapest, unless 1t can be done without
transportation.
"The salaries of our teachers have
been very materially increased this
year. except for third-grade teachers.
The salaries range from SO to SIS per
month. The term is from six to eight
months.
Augusta has school population
OF IO,05S. The enrolment for 1905 was
6.T29, with an average attendance or
about 20 per cent.
Our schools are on the up grade
all over the county. as evidenced by
number of active local leagues"