The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-29
BY j. A. c. CHANDLER, Supertntcn-
dent.

by u. 4. c. CHANDLER. SnperiuNen-
dent
Ii is the view of the school board
cf-tYre city Of Richmond that the
public schools OF the city are growing
each day in public favor. The policy
OF the school board with reference 20
the patrons Of the schools Is we'll de-
fined. The people of Richmond are
offered such cources OF instruction
and such types of schools as seem
TO be needed. The school board is
greatly pleased with the general APP
prevail expressed by the patrons, which
may be attributed 10 the fact that
the school board has met. as far
as possible, the requests OF citizens
In the establishment of schools and
courses OF instruction.
Evidences of Growth.
The following factAare noteworthy:
/. The enrolment for the session
Sust closed was 1929. The enroll
ment for the session lsl1-l2 was
1882
2. The number OF teachers and
employees was 532. while for session
lali-l2 the number was sos.
g. The enrolment of the night
schools numbered l,72o. of which
S3s were enrolled In the night high
school tsecend SESSION. held in the
John Marshall High school build
Ing The night school enrolment for
1plt-12 was 1.404.
4. The appropriation OF the city
council in It's budget for 1913 for
tuition and maintenance was $685.
ss453 while for the previous year it
was 1895. 100000.
s. The opening of two new schools
Madison and Buchanan). and the
completion OF two others for use
September l, 1913 (Belleyue and John
r. Cary). the four together costing
$353494.00.
s. The conscientious and faithful
work of teachers and principals.
marked by a real love for the chill
dren entrusted to their care.
Z. The opening OF the third ses-
SION OF the vacation schools, with an
enrolment of 644.
Z. The inauguration of a summer
school for the benefit OF the teachers
Of Richmond and such others as may
desire TO attend.
4. The graduation OF ten young
ladies' from the Richmond City Nor
NAL school, the first real normal
school established by a school board
in any city OF the old South.
TO- The inauguration OF mora
flexible course OF study and broader
elective course in the high school.
IL. The addition to school libraries
Of more than one thousand volumes.
10 JnaI Inc SEUOOi Iipt dIiVS AtO" AuhAN
Der about 5000 volumes. @ &a ss
H. The introduction OF the free
textbook system, which not only has
worked well from an educational
standpoint, making possible more
flcxibility in the course o! study. but
also has brought about a great saving
to the patrons of the schools.
49, The opening OF the first OPEN
air school, through the kindness OF
number of benevolent ladies of
Richmond, who have so generously
provided the proper comforts for a
number OF anaemic children.
Doing the Work Well.
It IL not claimed by the school
board that the Richmond system Is
rerfect. but there is general feeling
that the system Is accomplishing more
and more completely the purposes Tor
which 1t was established.
An analysis of the high school
course, for example. shows that there
are courses OF study that are prepar-
inC students for colleges. technical
schools, business administration, COM
mercial occupations or trades that
require a knowledge Of Woodworking,
or mechanical drawing. architectural
drawing or machine shop training.
The crowded conditions Of the ele-
mentary schools, which have pre-
vailed tor 80 many years, have to
some extent ben relieved by the ex-
cel1ent elementary schools that have
been recently constructed.
B1at6MfHx With tbs oexftnln of te13~
Il u ~ tho nc1nook 6oar6 caxrxtng on