The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-07-08
TO laE PATRONS OF TIE lUBLIC
SCHOOLS Of The CCUNIY OF
MATHEWS.

/
As shall have the honor to SER
We You as superintendent of your
public schools for the. next four
years, want to ask the hearty
cooperation of the patrons, as
well as the school trustees of your
county, in making your schools
even better than they. have ever
been.
Since our efficient State supt.
Hon. I'D. Eggleston took charge
OF our public schools. a tidal wave
OF eEthusiam toI better schools
has spread over the whole state,
and we must be up and dong to
keep abreast with this wave.
Your county is noted as having
the best roads in this section of
Virginia, Is there any reason we
cannot build your schools up SO
that they will be further distingu-
lShed as having the hest schools
also? Splendid schools and roads
will enhance the value of the
real estate OF any section, and it
will cause good class of citizens
to invest their money in homes.
l am entirely ignorant now as
to the needs of your schools, hut
| shall very shortly study the sit
uati On and | hope and believe we
will look together and make a
splendid success.
In a limited way, | have had
some experience in public school
work, and l have learned some
things, among them is that the
old time single room. one teacher
school has passed its day of use
fitness. To get the best results
we must consolidate. and central
lie our schools. bringing as many
children together under one man
agement and roof as possible. 1t
is then possible TO grade them.
and the teachers to do better
work. This bringing together a
large number of children has a
tendency to largely excite their
ambition to do good work. Take
a bow or girl in a well equipped
high and graded school, start him
Id the primary grades. and he
will strive manfully to get in a
higher grade. His ambition will
take him on and up through the
grammar grades into the high
school grades. and Though that
to graduation and diploma pro-
vlded the parent doesn't destroy
that enthusiasm by keeping him
from attending school regularly
would like to have at least
one large school i'll your county.
Not only graded and high school
but also modern industrial
school TO teach your boys and
girls, not only to be better farm
ers and housewives, but all of
the branches of industrial per-
suits. To do this it would be
necessary to close perhaps a good
many one room schools, and to
transport the children to a school
in the central location when a
system of wagons can reach out
TO radius of six or seven miles.
over your good roads this is not
impossible, 1t would cost more
money of course, but Just think
of the results. Are not these
your children we want to plan
fcr' And is there aryth too
good for them? l. your superin-
tendant. feel that there is not.
Letusaim high. and then determine
to carry out our plans. we cannot
do this all at once. but by persist
ant efforts there is no telling what
we can accomplish if we all work
together
You will have to go down into
your pockets and help tc do these
things, the money derived from
taxation isn't enough, but the first
cost will be all. and | know from
experience that you wont regret
the money when You begin to see
+ the results in the advancement
of your children.
l would be very glad if you
would think over these sugpes-