The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-11

schools. which have been we'll called
the peoples coiIeges!''
II has been but natural, however.
that under the stimulus and encour-
agemcnt Of State aid 70 these schools,
some communities that were NOT
ready for or whose sparsity Of popu!
lation did not justify high school
work. should strive to enter into the
high school class in order TO receive
the benefit OF state aid to high
schools. Such communitioS need and
deserve the encouragement OF State
aid: for NJ q rule the community
with . sparse population has the
hardest school problem to soIvH BY
reason OF long distances, fewer chill
dren and less financial resources than
IN mors popuiouy communities. There
fore. the next logical step In the de-
velopment OF country schools n the
enlargement OF tho 4radsd school
fund to an amount which will en-
-abis the smaller and poorer communi-
ties throughout the State TO receive
the benefits Of state aid. The Gen
eral Assembly Of 1919 appropriated
the sum Of twenty-five thousand dol
lars to encourage the establishment
and maintenance Of two-ro0m. three
room and four-room buildings In
the country districts. This small
amount. ~ the reports in the depart
ment OF public instruction show, has
settled communities and has greatly
encouraged tho people who have con-
trtbuted large sums for the erection
Of attractive and healthy buildings.
and are now, for the frst time.
blessed with excellent graded schools.
II the amount hsrstofore appropriat-
ed, which has proven entirely In
adequate, should be increased to sew
enty-flve Thousand dollars, the super
intendent OF public instruction 10 GER
tain that from two to three dollars
for avery one Of state funds would
be subscribed by the localities. 20
great u the need and demand for
schools Of this clasa Probably the
greatest complaint that u now made
against the public school system II
that It ID not reaching back into the
smaller communities, whore good
schools mean 10 much. ! earnestly
hope that way may DO found
whereby this next logical step In the
development OF our rural schools sys-
tenn may be taken.
Accounts Of Locaa school Boards.
The Intelligent efforts Of the de-
partment Of public instruction TO pro-
Vide school statistics of the most
thOroughgoing and accurate type have
disclosed certain facts which should
be brought to the attention OF the
Legislature. Many Of these facts
have been mentioned by the state
accountant. also by msWbers Of the
department. Of public instruction, and
/ am pleased to observe that the
state auditing committee has reach
ed the same conclusion 40 the one
to which, am about 70 give express
ston.
Our local school boards are dis
bnrsing by warrants on county and
city treasurers mot less than $780,
900 annually. More than one hun
dred and twenty treAsurers and
above six hundred clerks Of district
school boards keep the accounts. /
am informed that the entire time OF
one clerk. supplemented by asDist-
ancs within the department and by
means OF extra help. has proved In
sufficient to bring about uniformity In
keeping these accounts and to corr
rect errors and omissions which are
manifest on the face Of reports rem
dered. Besides, indications OF error
sometimes seemed 20 apparent ~ TO
convince those In charge Of the me-
ceasaty Of having the accounts thor
oughly revised and restated. More
than one treasurer has natly refused
to submit any report At all.
A special accountant In the De-
partment Of Public instruction Aeems
to be necessity. and laws should
be passed, with SUFFICIENT penalties,
to require treaSurors to settle their
accounts with school boards prompt
ly and completely. Under the pres
emit system one OF two recalcitrant
Uoa1UF6r1 or clerks can bring re-
proach upon the whole body OF As
cal officers charged with the collec-
ton and disbursement Of school
funds. The Department OF Public
Instruction through IT. special ac-
countant should have the right to
inspect the books Of local school Of
the manner In which accounts are to
be kept. to call for records and 70
examine witnesses uAdsr oath.
State On1CO But1dtnen.
The progress Of the STATE has been
% great for the last few years that,
Notwithstanding the recent enlarge
msnt Of the Capitol. and the aadi-
ton made to the Library building.
there y now great need tor more
once room.
The ofaces Of thu Superintendent
Of Public Instruction and the Ad-
JutAnt General are % crowded ~ to
be uncomfortable and tnconvenient
TOR the transaction Of business. The
examiner Of hanks etato Board OF
Charities and Corrections. Board of
Health. once Of Special Tax Commis-
sion and secretary Of Confederate
records are In rented odAces. The
law And general lihrastss ~ tAe Stats
are rapidly Alltng the space allotted
to them. and wnen the Legislature
was about to assemble yooms neo-
ssuary for the proper AisDAtch Of
public business had 10 10 vaNatsd to
AFFORD the necessary numbor Of com-
mittee rooms. Heeldea thee rented
Offices the Secretary OF tn Common
wealth and AdjutAnt 0ensral rent
stoy2gs rpouaas TherU T. therefore.
need for m once huildtng Of slxe
sudnoisnt TO meet present and OK
Dand1ng nse4a " ~ govsGnmeut.
The sQuare nogth 10 tho C9pitol has
been purehaaeA ~ the city Of RICH
monA. and axNn9 centeseDce With some
Of the city eaAc1Als ] feel sure that
that part Of tho eu0aSe sast Of Fosd's
Hoeoo can b purchased BY the 6tAta