The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1912-08-07
Summer Nor
NAL
Just Closed One OF the Most
Successful in the History
of Big Stone Gap.

81 In 1907 the Big Stone Gap
SummorNormal Institute which
SIcloscd last Friday was estab-
Hlished in order that the teach
sers of Southwest Virginia
sanight have the advantage of q
ssumI.er normal course without
the necessity of going g long
distance from home. The at
tendance the first year was 315.
ln 1908, the attendance was 800:
Sn 1908, 3O5; in 1910, 1927; in 1911
se76, and this year the attend
lance was 30S. The following
rounties of Southwest Virginia
s'were represented this year and
the total enrolment from each
county was as follows: Wise,
IEOl Scott, 81; Lee, GS: Russell +,
Igi; Dickinson, 90; Buchanan, 4;
sTazewell, 2; Letcher county
sHy., ..
The normal this year, and
for the last several years, pre-
ceding, was under the efficient
management of j. N. Hillman
division superintendent of
schools for Wise county. Mr..
slIillman is one of the most pro.
gressive educators in South
.Nest Virginia, and under him
The normal has grown in promi-
hence, in efficiency, in useful
/. ness; and nowhere in the State
Eis more being done for the
l fause of Education.
Thirty years ago, Wise coun-
71y was wholly undeveloped; ;
bthere were no railroads, no
\ Schools, and the county was
3he poorest in the State. With
ihe Development of her coal
properties, the opening up of
per timber lands; the improve
fnent Of her farms, Wise county
y Is now one of the richest coun-
Sslies in the State. No county
Ehas made greater strides in ed
S'ncalional matters. At Big
Stone Gap, Wise Court House,
loehnrn, Appalachian, Norton
$and East Stone Gap, there are
!, Splendid high school buildings,
elhe value of which including
Equipment, is $685. 600, 600, and
Ashe value of the smaller schools
$Shroughout the county is $44,-
si0O,OO0.
Although the normal is young
attempts in every way to
s.slye the students attending it
lhe same advantages TO be had
older and larger summer
sschools. Perhaps nowhere in
lhe State is the necessity for
obstruction in domestic science,
Y housekeeping economies, IN
.anllatlon and Improvement in
8 wing conditions so great as in
&sae mountains of Southwest
\ lfginia. The school is trying
p meet this need by putting
#,AtC the summer school a course
ahlA domestic science. For the
\ asI few years the instructor in
q Domestic science has been a
& gFaduate of Pratt Institute, &C
showledged by authorities to
pave one of the best schools of
u Domestic science in this county
snd great good has resulted
rom the the work done in this
epartment.
e me personnel of the student
'gouy Is very fine-the percen-
Ssase OF men and women attend
sis Is about equal, a most un-
Ssual TACT, as in the most sum
sIcf normal schools the women
Il sSc largely in the majority.
r. ne students come almost en-
sgrely from rural homes, and
suey come eager to learn and to
ss &C the most of the opportun-
! extended them. Many of
Ee'h make great sacrifices to
&S'Ae inns summer work, as in
f,ahy cases they teach in small
Eloois, with short sessions,
eau they are able to save very
49, above their expenses.
snsreiore, they come to work,
nv except when passing from
~ school to their boarding
sS SaSes' they are rarely seen
aOoat The streets. and their con
G ~ Is always above reproach.
rue people of the town 60 OPP
&.StdLe with the acknowledgements af