The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1911-02-15
Normal Depar ttInent,

q,
people and to their children, OF
having training school for
teachers in this county. Wise
county justly boasts Of being
one of the most progressive
counties in Virginia. Her recent
stand on the good road question
settling it at once and for all
tune. thus displaying her com
mon sense in regard to so vital
a matter, has placed her in the
vaguard of progress. AS u
wide awake progressive county
then can we afford To let this
matter of a Normal Depart
ment, which has been partially
established in your best and
most suitable High School, that
of Big Stone Gap, be abolished
altogether? We must answer,
MOI
The five or six students who
attended this department here
last year, understand, were
nearly,if not all, from the coun-
~. The money that this number
alone would leave in the county
rather than spend it in attend
ing other Normal Schools, to-
gether with the services two of
these same students have rem
dered in the Wise county
schools during the current year
would more than justify the
appropriation of the $500 we
ask from you And we know
that the profits for eacN sue
ceeding year will be much
greater. Further, allow me to
say, the people of Big Stone
Gap who should rise up as one
in support of their schools best
interest, should either pay
Literally for the tuition of their
children in this department, or
else the town make a special
appropriation of 800 to 5000
annually for this purpose. |
prefer the latter. The town is
able to do it, and under the
existing financial conditions,
should gladly respond to such a
just demand made upon her,
aud in the end she will be repaid
many fold
will say that Big Stone Gap
should go Il step further than
the above suggestion. Aside
from the fact that this town
would III all probability be the
greatest direct beneficiary of
this Normal Department. such
things as we are advocating are
great aids in placing any town
or city upon higher and better
plane; they stand for progress,
and for a higher mental and
moral uplift TO any people.
Therefore, Big Stone Gap, from
a selfish view point, it seems.
should come forward and help
MS solve the other difficulty
namely small attendance in the
past
High Rate Of Living in the Gap.
We will agree with our efiici-
ent County superintendent and
District Examiner when they
say that the present high rate
OF living in the Gap keeps away
students, although our attrac-
tive little town in many other
ways is a decided inducement.
IL is a well known fact that
students can go TO any Normal
School town in the State, such
as Mt Williamsburg, Farmviile,
Harrisonburg, and other places
| could mention, and easily get
as good board for $l4 and SIG
per month, and in nice families,
as they can get here for SIS aud
500 per month, and then almost
beg to get in. This difference
per month, we we'll know, is a
big item to the man or woman
who has to struggle to earn an
education. OF course, we real
iZe that those schools have their
dormitories and boarding de
partments attached, and they
can thus in numbers give the
flat rate. But in the towns
mentioned, some of our best
people make it business of
taking a dozen or more boarders
and some do not have to do it
for a living either. They are
people with a big spirit, and
rejoice in the opportunity to
welcome homesick boys and