The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1911-03-15
MODERN SCHOOL HOUSES
IN WISE COUNTY.

~
fegion has experienced n more
marked material development
]. in the last twenty years than
lVise county, Va. From being
ene of the poorest counties in
the state it has become one OF
the richest in the south.
1t is gratifying that the
development of that county has
bot been material aud industrial
h the exclusion of the intellec.
8tual and cultural The citizens
Of this progressive county has
Experienced from the earliest
DAYS Of the county's develop
ment the Truth Of the Ruskin's
siatement that, "The true veins
bf wealth are not in rock, but in
flesh. The final outcome and
conservation Of all wealth is in
ahe producing as many as pos
fible fun breathed bright-eyed
nnd happy hearted human crea-
turcsn The coal aud other
resources of Wise county are Of
incalculable value, yet the most
Valuable natural resource Of tho
county is it's children. No
county however poor in soil
nnd natural material resources,
will long remain poor if it'll
realizes that the boys and girls
are the most valuable raw
motcrial of any country.
The following article, written
hy the progressive and efficient
superintendent Of schools of
a Wise county, James n. Hin
man, portrays some things that
have been done to make the
schools more efficient.
Wise County Notes
y 10. in the course of thus ar
ticle, there should appear to be
some "self-boosting, p our read
ers viii please be kind enough
90 believe us when we say that
there is no such spirit ON the
part of the writer.
Development.
D. Buildings H. is common
adage, not only with the people
( az Wise county themselves, but
( with other sections of the state
as we'll, that our development
= in She last twenty years in the
y way Of increased population,
+ increased wealth, and Increased
( trade, has truly been wonder
( tul 10 Will be our ann under
+ thls theme 10 show that our
development along educational
lines has kept pace with our
rapid material progress, believ
4 ing. as we do, that the richest
& being on earth is not the man
+ who rs master of millions. hit
+ NE who is master OF himself
Z through q we'll rounded deyel-
s opment of his physical, mental
/ and moral natures.
E With your pardon for a per.
Z sonal reference, we will first
f contrast some of the buildings
4 of twenty years ago with some
4 of those being erected in the
4 county today.
4 The writer is n native of Wise
county and twenty years ago
4 was a school boy and the con.
diiions as now remembered are
about as follows, with regard to
INNS particular school: A log
House on the hill, size, rs feet
by 20 feet, height of ceiling 10
ieet; number of pupils about 30;
number of square feet floor
space per pupil about 10: nun
Der cubic feet of air space per
pupil about Zoe; light arrange
ment, three SXlOinch l2-ight
windows, placed, one in the
center of each of the two sides,
ana one in the center OF the rear
val corresponding to The door
ia front; percentage of light,
based on the floor space, 6;
heating, big wood stove in The
CENTER seating, benches with
straight backs made of strips,
not solid, black boards. a nova
Ole one-planks nailed to two
upright pieces and painted
black inside decorations. the
natural hewn logs with boards
nailed over the cracks between
the logs on which there were
written many names, oftentimes
accompanied by appropriate
IA D. 80 xnas