The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-21

Virginia, made the following report
to the Conference of state superln-
tenrents recetly held at pinchurst,
N. c.:
Virginia.
To the Association superintendent
Southern States:
In my report to the Association of
Superintendent OF Southern States at
KY. last April, / cnumern-
ted the acts which had just been passss
ed by the General Assembly OF 1906.
These acts were:
L. An act appropriating from the
State Treasury an additional 100000
primary and grammar grades. making
now 100000 a year so contributed as
q special addition to the regular State
taxes for schools.
2. a high school act appropriating
$4,000 annually to supplement- local
funds for the establishment of high
schools that maintain n standard fixed
by the State Board Of Education
3. Tho Williams building act which
enables the school trustees to borrow
from the literary fund. money with
which to erect school houses according
to plans and specifications to be APP
proved by the Superintendent OF Public
Instruction. This money Is loaned at
four per cent. and Is to be repaid in
ten annual instruments
Statistics Incomplete.
Tho appropriation OF an additional
100000 a year for the pay of teachers
In the primary and grammar grades
enables many Of the local communities
to raise the salaries OF their teachers
Our statistics are too incomplete at
this season of the year to show the full
effect of this liberal policy. Suffice it
to say that this added bounty on the
part OF the State tas been supplemented
by higher local taxes in many of the
divisions. ana the average salary for
1a06-190T in Virginia VIII show ma
terial Increase over the record OF the
previous year
High School Act.
Tho most important school law pass
ed by the General Assembly was the
high school act. II would be impossible
to overestimate the Importance OF this
act and to tell OF It's far-reaching re-
suits. Tho $4,000 per year given the
State Board to supplement local funds
for the establishment and maintenance
of high schools taken in conjunction
with the Williams building act shows
the following result in one hundred and
ten OF the ono hundred and eighteen
divisions OF the State:
Buildings whose erection or improve
ment were induced by high school act,
So: cost of same. slSs,4s2.4o.
Houses erected or improved In part
by loans from tho literary fund. SIS.
cost of same, s137,02II2.
Houses erected or improved by other
loans or bond issues. &c.
Amount of said other loans or bond
issues. s196.S3o.
Many Didn't Ask Aid.
Tho high school fund for this year
has been distributed among one hum
dred and sixty-cight schools, in
amounts ranging from $500 to Si00
each. 1t is safe to say that the coun-
ties and cities have contributed not
less than 100000 additional for the
pay Of high-school teachers. Many of
the old and established high schools
have not asked for State aid.
Viewing the situation in broader
way returns from the said one hundred
and ten divisions show:
Number OF new school-houses COM
pleted between February 1. 1906, and
February /, 1907, 236; total cost of
same, 02.S9S.60.
Number of houses enlarged and i'm
proved during same interval. TO- total
cost of additions, S9S,56S.42.
Number of new school-houses now
building, So; total cost Of same, $685.
995.
Great Improvement.
l am of opinion that the new build
ings and substantial improvements
completed during the year ending Feb
ruary /, 1907, aggregate in value
100000, and the new buildings now in
courst of erection will cost $275,0 900, or,
possibly. 100000. (Ss25,000).
These statistics one Month from now
will need correction, and two months
hence some OF them will be out of date.
We have between twenty-five and
thirty transportation wagons on trial
in various parts OF the State. A fair
test of these wagons has aroused
sentiment overwhelmingly in favor OF
continuing and steadily pushing the
idea OF transporting children IS we'll rs
that of consolidating schools. Many
consultations have been effected,
however, without the transportation OF
children.
Teachers Very Active.
More than half of the teachers of tho
state are enrolled in the various local
teachers associations, and they arc
very active in keeping alive the in
terest throughout the State. A still
more interesting situation. probably.
is the fact that the teachers at time
when their schools are about to close
are more active, II possible, than they
were at the beginning of the session.
1T seems that they realize that the
present movement In Virginia Is not
for a year or a limited period of time.
but permanent in every respect. The
Increased professional zeal of the
teachers is one of the most encour-
aging features of the present cduca-
tional revival.
Tho plain truth Is that tho Superin-s
tendcnt OF Public instructions, the sec
rotary OF tho State Board OF Education,
ana the five school examiners Of the
State cannot find time to answer all
of the calls made upon them to par
ticipate in school exercises and edu-
cationul meetings. Notwithstanding the
fact that they nre ably assisted by
many publlc-spirlted citizens.