The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-01

~ q F-gEslE sH.tH.n alhE.. NeL..E.
the composition of the new State
Board Of Education. which is made up
or the Governor, Attorney-Gensral,
Superintendent OF Public Instruction.
three educators selected from the fac
ultfes OF the State colleges, n two
of the practical workers In the field.
one city and one county superinten-
dent. The second step in the progress
!is shown BY a compilation in brief of
the acts of the General Assembly of
Nirg1nin of 1906. which put into effect
the provisions of the new Constitution.
II is believed that no Legislature In the
.unIted states In one session has done
more for public education in proportion
to the at its command than
did this session Of the Virginia Leg
ilslature. which will be marked In our
ihfstory as an educational General AS
Isembly.
Local Interest shown.
The. 100000 which was added by the
STATE to the school fund has been in
creased by more than half a million.
raised by the local communities, ana
this has resulted in increased pay of
teachers and in lengthening tho school
term. The exhibit shows that in Nir-
GINA the local communities. true TO the
democratic spirit. nave been mainly In
strumental In lettering school condi-
tons, and that the public school
funds in Virginia ore raised. as they
should be. from tho local communities
rather than exclusively from the State.
The sum of $4,000 was appropriated by
ting I.egislatuE6 for establishment 1Taf
! n,afntenanceyof-rura high schools
siifs- the EXHIBIT Shows has resulted in
the establishment ollie such central
i2ed rurnl schools wtth high schoo
departments and anIexpenditure on-tlls
part OF the people of s.ss.00o. The
attitude of this Virginia Assembly was
shown by a slight Increase in the salary
OF ,he State superintendent, of division
superintendent and schoo1 trustees:
cities and towns which a been per-
mitted TO issue bonds for sewerage and
Jatls were given permission to issu.
bonds for school buildings: school
trustee boards. after ayote of the PEG
pie, were allowed to issue bonds fol
the building of these centralized
schools in their own communities: the
state agreed to lend at 4 per cent. foi
ten years one-half the cost of any
school building. provided a building
should not cost less than $3.50, and tina
not more tina $4,000 should be loaned
or any one building: in order to protec,
the schools against improper schoo.
buildings 1t vas enacted that no schoo
house could be erected until the loca.
ton and plans had BEEN approved by
the division superintendent and the
State department.; cities. towns. ant
counties may levy fifty cents on tht
hundred dollars as a}local tax for sup,
port of the schools: the State Board Q;
Examiners and Inspectors was pro,
vided for, which licenses only thos.
teachers whose scholarship has beer
absolutely proven. This board of ex.
aminers and inspectors has doncsmuci
to contribute the magnificent advanc,
which the schools of Virginia llav,
made. They have planned the consoli
E%dations; they have organized the cen
Etralizsd schools: they have addrcsse,
gatherings of citizens; they have hell
teachers Institutes; they have metswitl
county boards and boards of super
fwsors. and done their part in securing
the increase of taxes necessary forth,
proper advancement of the schools
they have Inspected the centralized an,
tother schools and improved their or
.lgnnization and grading, and the result
llof this work by the board of examiner,