The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-26
MORE EFFICIENT
SCHOOLS REQUIRE
BIG EXPENDITURE
Night and Vocational Courses
Necessitate Employing
More Teachers
TO EXTEND WORK
IN ALL BRANCHES
Increased Attendance on Part
of Those in Need Of En-
enlargement Means
More Appropriation
BY y. A. C. CHANDLER,
Superintendent of Public Schools for
the City of Richmond.

BY y. A. C. CHANDLER,
Superintendent of Public Schools for
the City of Richmond
The request of the school board for
o. pay rool from the city council for the
year 1918 is $328,2823s. For the
year 1912, the city appropriated for
pay roll a total of s2s7,453,47. The
school board Ia. therefore. asking for
s20.S2sei more than 1t received last
year
1t IL interesting to note the pur-
poses for which this increase in the
pay roll is asked.
The present enrolment in the night
schools Of the city of Richmond Is
1.225 three years ago il was only
467 The annual expenditure for
night schools now Is about $4,000
year The school board is asking for
$4,000 additional for extension of
night school work. In this extension
of night school work 1t is planned
that about $500 will be used for lee
lures on important subjects relating
to the life OF the people and for their
Improvement. While this 1t not social
center work, strictly speaking, it
would be a move in that direction.
and will at least enable the school
board to find out whether the peo-
PIE of Richmond are in earnest in
their request that the schools shall
be used as social centers.
The John Marshall night school has
been running only one year and has
at this Time, an enrolment Of 7l2
pupils. The principal of the school
says that he could have f.ooo. If he
could have the teachers to put in the
courses demanded It IN clearly up 20
the city 10 do all that II can for the
boys and girls of the city who are Of
school age. but being compelled to
work. have no way OF completing
their education unless night school
courses are offered. Moreover, If
there is any class OF people who
should have Instruction, 1t is that en-
ersstio class OF young people who.
while they work In the daytime, are
willing 10 work at night for further
Improvement,
Vacation Schools.
For some years IL has been real
ICED by school authorities and patrons
that children seven years of age in
IA and / r grades do not have time
enough in school. for 2 a~2 hours per
day i'm school for these children is not
sufficient Moreover. the teachers
having charge of the first year grades
have from so to 100 pupils day e.
teach This arrangement lis unjust TO
both pupils and teachers. 1t can be
remedied by separating the grades
and having a teacher for each grade,
To accomplish this very purpose,
thirty-one teachers are being asked
FOR, at cost Of sT,3Ts. This propo-
sitIon appeals greatly 90 patrons,
teachers and school officials, and 1t is
confidently expected that the council
will allow this arrangement, begin
ming with September. 1913.
Vacation schools were inaugurated
In Richmond July. 1911. with sixteen
teachers and 255 pupils. In the sum
msr OF 1919 the number of teachers
Was Increased 70 Twenty-Five and tire
number OF pupils enrolled was 4s4.
The school board has asked for So
900 for extension of work in these
schools II Is not the purpose OF the
school board to waste money upon
these schools. but TO use II only where
needed Patrons all over the city
have urged these schools for chill
dren who are backward and over age,
and also for children who are bright
and able to complete the essentials
of the grade to which they have been
promoted, so that by work in the
summer they may be able to save a
half year in school The school
board feels the force of this argu-
ment and wishes to conduct the sum :
mer schools not only for unpromoted
children. but for all who wish to
profit by summer school work, So. If
the plan of the school board is car
ried out, backward pupils unpro-
moted pupils and pupils desiring 10
.adyancs Themselves viii be admit
ted -, 1t il hat. the. purpose to Keep
open all the SCHOOL buiiuings- OUT
limited numbe TO meet the demands
of those apply ng,
Extend VI eeiicaI Inspection.
To extend tbs usefulness OF the de-
partment OF medical inspection. ST.
100 is requested.
The school board is asking for fif-
teen new teachers on account OF IN
creased attendance in the schoois.
This will cost $4,000,
One of the great complaints that
have been made against the Rich
mond schools is that proper attention
has not been given to the delicate
child or to the retarded pupil Ilti-
zens in many parts of the city nave
appealed to the school board TO estao-
fish open air schools and schools Tor
retarded pupils. The school board
desires to have two open AR schools,
with one teacher each, and I'VE rooms
for retarded pupils in different parts
of the city. II this Item is allowed
by the council ii means great step
forward fer number OF children,
who do not profit much by the pres
ent courses The cost Is comparative
" srnall-about $4,000 year.
The pay roll account for 1918 Is in
creased over that of 1912 for still an
other reason, namely, the scale of In
ercases of teachers salaries adopted
hast year by the council. To carry
eut this scale. the council appro-
nriatad in 1912, for increase in
teachers salaries. $4,000. Some Of
these increases were made for the
entire year, and some for only por-
ton of the year. To carrying out the
increases provided by the council,
1918, $4,000 VIII be needed, while
In 1912 only $4,000 was required.
In other words to continue the schools
without any improvements or new
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.rontinu.d nm Third Pagel