The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-01
New Departure in Hen.
ricoCounty- Highland
Springs School.
THE M &c HANGS:
PRACTICAL WORK
Locomotive Works Sets Good
Pace in Practically "Endow-
ing" School-The "Henrico
Plan"-scheme That Will
Grow-should Be Called
THE Virginia Idea.S.
BIT FRANK S. wooDsoN,
Industrial Editor.

indusfriRl Editor.
The opening of the machine shon IN
connection with the Highland spring.
HIsh school, In Henrico county. which
vas oElefly referred to in last Sun
80 inoustrial Section. is a bigger
ming than the average reader who
glanced over the BRIEF statement mada
idst sunday would Imagine. This new
ihuustrial- education institution, which
IS 20 De known In history as the "Hen- "A
r,co County High School Machine
ehop, Is probably the beginning of
On INDUSTRIAL educational system that
VIII spread all over Virginia and the
south, and may become immortal I'M. y
der tho name OF the New Henrice
IDEA" or something like that.
me history of the endowment" OF
this industrial school. which Is to be 2
part OF the public school system Of tho
county or Henrico, being under the
supervision of the school authorities.
is interesting. and to relate that his
Tory is but to show how the idea may
grow. II properly supported and '.en-
ooWed by industarial enterprisen
not only in Richmond and HENRI
CO. nut throughout the State and thu
south The history may be briefly
Gift Worth While.
About year ago, J. Randolph Mar.
SNAIL superintendent of the Richmond
orahoh OF the American Locomotives y
WORKS. donated to the HenrIco county
schools several machines and a lot Of
mechanical apprenticeship donation he.
ins made on certain conditions, tho
sum and substance of which, conditional
were that the same should he usad IL
the mechanical education of such how
IN tho schools as were looking for q l
mechanical education 1t Is true thai
Inc machines that were donated had
seen previous service in the operations
OF the Locomotive Works. but they
we're s good all the same. and their sail
aoie value was something like $4,000
me gift was made by ]. 3. Dow
oen. one OF the foremen at the Locomo :
i've Works who is also clerk of thu
Fairfield District School Board. Mr.,
Hiarshall thought that the installation
OF such work In the schools OF the
county would result In increased ef.s
hctency among the boys coming into
the works from the county schools. D.
This gift was reported to the county
board by Mr. Dowden, and the board
appointed committee of six to orr
sanlze the good work The committee
/ IS Messrs. W. +. Gaines and j. B. Dow
den, of the Fairfield District, 8. G,
freeman. of the Varina board G. w
Bahlke. of the Highland Park board
!ohn Stewart Bryan, of the Brookland
board, and T.. j. Willis of the Tucka
hoe board. - g
This committee was to get the work
started and secure the funds necessarJ
TO fully equip tho plant. Highland
springs Thigh School. was chosen aa
the school with which to place thu
new plant.
Getting DOWN to Business,
among those making gifts of MONEY!
| go heip In eaulppIng the new plant wers
,,srs. James Dooley John Stewart
brEan, u. j. Willis. c. W. Throckmor-
| Ton w. NJ. Milan. the IIenrico County
school Board and Others
An engine, boiler and betting war.
purchased and Installed. ana the Mani
was ready for operation or Thursday.
december -. n. T. Norvell an ey.&
perlenced machinist. Is janitor OF tha
highland Springs School! and his ser,
Wees have been secured to instruct in
! ms work He did most of the work
u hti'hg up ana installing the ma
chncry.
Aims and Objects.
Tie object OF this work is to me-
those boNs who expect to go into ma
/ chine shops for their life work. LetterE
than they would he fitted with only an
academic education. Only high school
boys VIII be eligible TO th, classes and
! tic curriculum will be so adjusted "a
10 allow boys credit towards their di-
nlomas for their shop work In Dlacr
OF some academic study that would
propaplN be less useful to them in theif
| chosen lines. At the same time this
work VIII be open to any boy who pre-
IerS u, whether lie expects to become
a mechanic or not Si
Boys from any high school in M.
county may so TO the Highland SPRING.
iilSn school on certain days for thl9 (
work. as IL Is county institution
ana does not belong to any one district
Whnf the Superintendent Saw.
While on visit 10 English SCHOOL,
In the fan nj 1908, under the ausplccs
Of the National CIVIC Federation.s
teachers excursion TO England Suna,s
intendent Arthur -. Wright, of Henricd
county visited a number OF schooli
doing this kind OF work. and was part
tlcular'y impressed with the co-opera.
tioh between tho Industrial plants and
tic schools. Many boys and girls il
shops were allowed time oft from wor9
for instruction In certain branches rhat n
would prove helpful to them in theft
work they being paid for this time
and the industrial plants insistinj
that they apply themselves to that z
school work closely. The result OF suci
system is greater efficiency anons
operatives in industrial plants and
greater interest In their work. At TIL i
same time the earning capacity OF Til gs
boys VIII be materially increased @
Trying Ont Here. III,
This industrial school department 8
Will be under the especial direction d J
tho superintendent OF the HenrIct
schools, Arthur u. Wright J.+B Dayli I;
den, of the board OF trustees. Miss Lott Il
tie NJ. Evans, principal of Highland n
Springs Hish School. and n. Is, NoH 3
CONTINUED on Third PaGc1