The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-04
Modern Methods Started in
Henrico Have Revolution
ICED System in State
DEEPENS INTEREST
IN HIGHER THINGS
Henrico Plan Endorsed by
High Authorities and is
Adopted by Many of Our
d Counties and Even in Other
State-lhe Beneficial Re-
suits

Supervisor of Coiored schools
The report of the superintendent Of
public instruction to the general as
sembiy of 1912 reveals the fact that
the value OF public school property in
Virginia has doubled in the last six
years.
With the wonderful growth OF
rural high schools developing out of
the consolidation of smaller schools,
and the splendid progress that has
come to pass In many OF the school
buildings In the State, there has
quietly grown up movement which
is working revolution in the col
ored rural schools OF the State. This
movement had Its origin in Henrico
county IN 1907. when Virginia T.
Randolph. q devoted teacher and
leader of her race, took up work
under the county school board as
supervising industrial teacher for the
negro schools OF the county. This
was made possible by the assistance
OF Or. James H. billiard, president OF
the Jeanes fund,
The trouble with the colored
schools was that in shabby buildings
with little equipment. teachers were
giving work that was poorly adapted
20 the needs of the children, ana d
great many people had the feeling
that the State was getting poor
return ON Its money invested. Hence,
there was an attitude OF indifference
on the part Of the white people while
the negroes felt that the schools were
run bv the school boards aud their
cnrf was not TO interfere. but 70 take
what was given them.
Interested the Teachers.
An immediate change was Drought
about In Henrico when Virginia Ran"
dolph undertook her work ste met
the colored citizens in the seAools
aud churches and organized scaFot-
improvement leagues. the boys anu
girls were encouraged TO make fhef
schools clean and attractive mere
was an abundant use OF SOAP ana
water, and the windows. floors. stoFFs.
etc. took on a new appearance "aihs
were made. flowers and shrubs set out
= in the yards: buildings were white
washed. The girls were taught sew
ing. and some of the seheeis Htt1a
up Kitchens and had Kitchen open
,rrs'' when their friends came and
presented the utensils necessary Inc
BOYS were taught simple carpentry
shuck mat making and chair-cahlhg
rcvu,ar periods were assigned Tor
this work and ii was made part "a
-e4,srSa Of study The Improve
ment in the schools along All lihes
was very evident; the attendance IN
one district has in three years IN
creased TWENTY-FIVE per cent. the peo-
Die have given the schools hearty s"A
MORT and the teaching has Seen
stronger. ,
nr billiard was SO much impressed
with the practical results that ne
chose this method OF administering
tne Jeanes fund for negro Fu'ai
srhoois and called II the Henr'co
nian There arc now III the Southern
States one hundred and twenty-sS
;uaustrta, teachers working in Az
,,.ry counties through the aid Of This
fund.
Vow in Many Counties.
----- tsirriuIa ri1r work tras extended
into eighteen counties. This has peen
made possible by the cooperation oil
the Jeanes fund, Hampton institute
and the county school boards Next
year will open with twenty-five couh-
ties Not only has the work, extended
4, territory. but 1t has developed
steadily along the most usetui hies.
',he tabuIated report shows wha'
these Industrial teachers have accom-
Dlished through the improvement
leagues In securing longer terms lof
the rural schools. getting new bhilu'
inps. and such improvements as paint
ing whitewashing. sanitary out
houses. blackboards. desks. and othei
school appliances.
II will be seen that in the eighteen
counties, there are 469 negro schools
and that 299 Of these were visited
regularly by the seventeen Industrial
suneryisors. The length OF term
ranged from Ave to nine and three
quarter months, but an average OF slS
months was maintained by reason OF
the fact that 12l schools with short
term extended the term for one
month. Nine new buildings were
erected and twelve enlarged at com
htned cost of $6,26S.15. which does
not include labor and materials given
Twelve schools were painted, Sixty
nine whitewashed. thirty-seyen SAM,
tarv outhouses were built, and ioa
achools used individual drinking
Guns Three hundred and forty-eish'
Improvement leagues were organized
and they raised for school improve
ment $13.744.16.
The entire cost Of supervision II
.bs.sa counties was less than $4,000
so that these teachers have brought
into the school funds twice the cos
of1heir salaries and expenses. Neari,
every school that was built or en-
,arged was the result of the enorts
Of the Improvement Leagues cooper
ating with the local school boards
:. which have dealt more literally WIFE
the negro schools since the negroes
have themselves shown such a dis
Dosition to help themselves.
Gives Then Higher ideals.
~ ~ u.c Aruree ax illuminate q