Evening star., 1908-01-16

crease II attendance means also very con-
siderable increase in the cost of running
the school IT Il time when it is more than
usually difficult 20 secure contributions for
charitable ami philanthropic work.
During The summer the school was
able. through the generosity of friends. TO
add - its property value a home for the
principal ii a cost of S2.9s'
Seif-nelp has ALWAYS been ono Of the
watchWords Of Manassas. BY the Splen-
did work which The boys and girls under
the direction Of Mr.. and Mrs. J. ". White
I were able To do on the farm during the
summer months VIC raised. in spite Of
very unfavorahie weather. A very good
corn crop. AN excellent hay crop and
/ enough vegeta hlos 10 SuppN the needs Of
the boarding department until spring.
FINALLY, have been crdeaVoring to
serve the community in q larger way
than that afforded by tho class room. the
! farm and the Shopwork Of our students.
The first step in this direction was the
teachers institute. which was held at the
school Deca mbcr :n-!l. 1907 and Jan
uary l, 1908. Thirty-tWo teachers came
from seven counties in northern Virginia
/ To study the problems that confront the
workers in the rural schools. At the close
Of tho institute this enthusiastic body OF
/ workers formed = permanent organiza- :
tion. the Nor, bern Virginia Teachers
Association, with headquarters at the
school
The most important issue Of the insti-
tute was the decision to hold summer
normal at the school during the mont h
Of July. Three of the county supcrin-
tendcnts gave the teachers the encour-
agement of their presence. and of cordial
expressions of their desire To help for
ward the work OF the institute. The state
superintendent Of public instruction.
Joseph ID. Eggieston j., made 10 the
teachers Il vigorous and stirring address.
in which he promised to do all he could
TO make the July normal school sue
: cess
I'VE have been greatly chcered by let
terS that a-e coming in from teachers
who attended the institute. One teacher
writes. j have come back home deter
mined Ia start carpenter shop for the
BOYS or my school. Another teacher asks
il il is not possible to haze some Of the
senior students Of the Manassas School
como To his place and teach the girls
cooking and sewing. Thes. letters SHOW
that the teachers have caught the in
spiration of the gathering. 1t is de-
light to answer these letters and TO have
the teachers feel that the Manassas school
exists 10 serve them in every possible
way.
Next Extension Endcavor
Tine next extension cndcavnr will be
tho farmers and mothers meeting. which
will be held at the school February -.
Just as in the teachers institute the
! teachers problems were considered. 50
in this meeting the problems Of the farm
and of The home will be given special
/ study.
! ''Thc large part of the task is stll
4 before US. and 10" tho task need
I money. We need money With which 10
I pay of an Indebtedness Of S,.:,p. We
/ - ed rrnrav to meet general expenses
We need money 10 provide bathing facti-
tirs - th'- uCSs aud girls. TO Improve our
very defective furnaces. to repair the
4 leakage in tho roofs OF our Two main
/ buildings: To secure few substantial
sospstone tubs and a stove for the laun-
dry: To erect "A COW barn: to purcids. a
/ team for the farm. and money for "A
score of other urgent needs from which
\ the work is suffering. Those who believe
! in the progress of,thc American negro
+ and i'm the kind OF wo~k Manassas is at
| tempting in the interest of Intelligent
/ citizenship will not. VIC are assured be
needless OF this call for help. We need
/ money
I A. the close OF Mr.. Hills address Mrs
/ Hin. who has charge of the girls do
partmcnt at the school answered a num-
/ bcr of questions rropounded informally
| by those in attendance as to the work in
hand.