The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31

passed all previous fairs. The num-
Der OF prizes had grown from twenty.
four in 1903 to sol in 1911. and their
value from $40 to sSa7. In competition
for these prizes, 1929 pieces OF work
were exhibited.
In addition TO these exhibits. there
We're loo entriss for the speling
matches and Ill for the athletic events.
Four thousand people attended this
fair.
And yet the people of Campbell coun-
~ are not content to rest upon their
laurels. They are planning 10 make
the 1912 school fair tho birres, and
sest over held. They have raised ST.
232 with which TO finance this fair, and
nave enlared Into the work with even
greater enthusiasm than ever shown
before.
State Comes Up 10 Help.
In the meantime. the school fair
Work has been spread to many other
counties In virginia In the early part
of 1910 tho State Department OF public
Instruction. realizing the good the
Campbell county school fai- was doing
IN that county. and in full sympathy
with the plan Of promoting Industrial
work in the Virginia public schools
! through such fairs, went actively 10
work to inaugurate this movement IN
other counties. The result was that
many very successful fairs were held
in the fall of 1910. In 1911 the num-
Der had grown TO twenty odd, including
4; Accomac. Albermarle. Amelia, Amherst
Augusta, Bedford. Campbell, Cumber-
land. Charles City. Clarke. Dinwiddie,
Goochland, Halifax. Londoun. Mathews,
Mecklenburg. Middlesex. Nansemond,
New Kent. Orange. Prince George,
Rockingham and Sussex, and tho de-
n a T. m N la nln nj
at least fifty counties will hold these
fairs LIN 1912. The department stands
ready to assist in this work, and to
aid any county in organizing such
fairs, through Its representative. the
author of this article. who has spe-
cial charge Of this work.
Eggleston's Ideas.
but what ara some of the pur-
poses Of holding these fairs?" What
! benefit are derived from them?" "Of
what educational value are they?"
We will let J. d. Bggleston, State
superintendent of Pubic Instruction,
answer these questions, and answer
them in his own words. He says OF
these fairs:
THE county school fair does its
work in two directions. First, II sums
UP the work of the boys corn clubs
and the girls garden and poultry
clubs. the saving clubs. cooking
cluDs, and similar organizations; and,
second. II promotes these organizations
and other valuable features of school
work In counties where they have made
little Roadway and encourages their
continuance and cnlars anent in coun-
ties where they arc doing we'll 1t
gathers up results and then gives forth
enthusiasm. encouragement, and denn-
mite direction for an enlargement OF
this educational economic and social
work.
"The school fair is composite plc.
turc OF the work of the children 1t
presents in concentrated form the re-
suits of various lines OF educational
effort Here one can sec in few
hours tho fruition OF plans and Ideals
attempted by tho boys and girls dur
Ing this year.
1.-THE school fair offets prizes. This
feature stimulates the zeal of the chill
dren. It interests their parents in the
work attempted. and thus encourages
cooperation between the children. the
parents. and the teachers.
Hrhe sohool fair brings together larss