The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-26
SCHOOL DEMANDS
GREATER THAN FUND:
State Board Forced to Shave All
Requests to Accommo.
date All.

For the purpose OF determining a
number of important matters, the state
Board of Education will meet in the
Capitol Building at o'clock tonight,
and there are already many prominent
citizens and public men here to appear
in the interest Of local high and agri-
cultural schools.
The board will elect division super
intendents for the county of Spotsyl-
yania and the city of Danville to I'LL
vacancies, but the main feature of the
work Will be to apportiun the Sl35,0oO
appropriated for high and normal agri-
cultural schools by the last session OF
the Legislature.
The state Board of Examiners has
been In session for several days hear
ing appeals and recommendations and
this body will submit q report TO the
general board tonight. number of
the agricultural schools have already
been located Each congressional dis
trict is entitled to one, and possibly
the locations for half of them have
been chosen Every section wants a
part of the high school fund. however
and many prominent legislators are
here working for their respective Sec
tons Williamsburg, Chesterfield, Au-
eusta. Elizabeth City and MANY other
counties and cities have strong men
on the ground.
Hon. Harry r. Houston and many
Others are representing champion. anc
Hon John ". Churchman is pulling
for Augusta The State Board viii
hardly complete its work tonight, anc
the session will probably last unit
Tomorrow afternoon.
The Board of Examiners was IL
session nearly all day. Together witt
The superintendent of Public Instruc
ton. 1t has prepared report to b.
submitted TO the State Board of Edu
cation Tonight.
High Schools First.
The first work was the apportion
nent of the 100000 appropriated b.
the last General Assembly for the
high schools in the State.
The General Assembly two years as'
appropriated $4,000. which was no
sufficient to meet the demands of Thu
high schools which at once sprung III
in almost every county in the State
Now all except seven counties hav
one or more high schools. and tn
demands made this year soon exhausted
the Increased appropriation. 1t wa
made by the various counties offering
to double and treble the amount give
by the State. Two years ago fou
counties had high schools now no
only everV county, but in many. u
every diSrriGa thefe is found centralize
or consolidated schools, with. his
school departments, and these school
are rapidly strengthening and comply
Ing with the minimum requirement
fixed by the Department. of Public In
structon for recognized high school:
When the $4,000 appropriated 70
teachers training classes in rural his
schools was taken up, it was foun
that nearly $4,000 had been apple
for. In every case these places offere
more than dollar for dollar of the Stat
apportionment Some offered to multi
ply it five or six times from locf
funds. 1t was with great difficult
that choice was made, and what prove
to be rneagre sum was made to sur
ply even the most pressing demands.
When the agricultural schools were
be selected, or such as should be recon
y nianlcd to the state board, twenty ar
thirty I,mes the sum to be given /
the State was offered from loc
sources, and again selection had to
made l.ctwee. pieces, each Of VIII.
deserved to be encouraged for Il
splendid offers made.