The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-15
School Conditions in Orange County
By JOS. WALTON HALL, Gordonsvlle.

the casual observer Is curious to know
the reason therefor. For the answer.
one need only ask the question. and
ii the echo does not answer Charles
p Cowherd." then the writer has mis-
taken the voice.
There are sixty-sx schools in the
county OF Orange. and when this body
acts as one In enthusiasm, then a
marked era is dawning, which In full
light will shine brightly and reflect
much credit upon the efforts of those
who are interested in educational
work and the betterment of home life
Interest in Library Work.
The interest in library work has
shown a decided Improvement. and 1t
is due to the impetus given the pupils
by the teachers. Then, 1t should be
remembered that when a school raises
SIS the county supervisors or school
board are required to give another
Sis, and the State pledges $40, and
with this in hand a good start toward
a better class of reading is given to
pupils who would perchance choose
another selection of books which is
not TO be found in the State Library.
The Lahore School Is the pioneer in
this department in Orange county.
but having begun the idea 1t Is rapid
ly being taken up and extended. The
improvement of the school grounds is
also receiving share of the attention
of school workers. The Unionville
High School leads in this respect. The
placing OF pictures on the walls shows
much of the spirit of making the
schoolroom as attractive as possible
for the children. Picture the school
room of few years ago, with its
four bare walls. and often Scared by
the carelessness of some idle pupil,
with schoolroom of to-day, bedecked
with pictures, bringing to mind the
glorious scenes Of nature, thus causing
the pupil to forget what 1t is to be
idle and ruthlessly scar the attractive
ness of the room.
During the month Of February a
Boys Corn Club was organized with
membership of forty. To get the
boys into the work In this way Is
proving very popular, not only among
the boys themselves. but their fathers
are seeing the good results in the boys
work. and the inevitable is happening
wherever tried-larger crops are yield
ed, and the boys now want to stick
to the farm rather than go off to a
city and soon be absorbed in the swirl
ing mass of humanity.
Work for Girls.
superintendent CoWherd is also mCch |
into the work as relates to making |
home life among the girls more at
tractive. and to create in them de-
sire to stay at home and uphold the
old standards instead of a rush for
the city.
Orange county is pleased to report
that more than 100 girls are interested
in the various prizes to be given and
will compete for the said prizes.
Next fall a county fair will be held,
at which time tho several prizes will
be awarded.
No more emergency certificates will
be issued to teachers in this county,
and this rule will be iron-clad as far
as conditions will permit It is not
thought that any will have to be |
issued. as so many Of the teachers are
going to attend the summer schools. |
The town of Gordonsville enjoyed for
the first time this session the privi-
leges of a high school, and the work
accomplished is very satisfactory in
deed, though the building is not a |
commodious one.
Orange Courthouse is, however,
going to take fine move. for an OPP
ton has been taken in for a lot on
which to build a new school The
price to be paid for the lot alone is |
$4,000, the building itself to cost
$4,000 An ample playground will be
afforded. as the lot will contain three
acres.
The trustees in the several districts
have shown more decided spirit in
school work this session, but none
more so than the trustees of Madison
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