The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-07
PROVIDE FOR SCHOOLS.

uToblem OF charging llS SCHOOL - -
tom 10 meet the needs Of a rapidly
growing city. u must DO its share
toward removing the stigma set upon
virginia by the fact that this state
ranks forty-frst in education among
lie forty-eight States Of the Union.
What do the people OF Richmond eX-
pect 10 do 10 meet the pressing de-
mands for adequate and modern school
faciliues for their children?
Analysis of the figures for main
teuance. enlargement and new build
inrs seems T. indicate that the school
Board is seeking for no Injuries or
frills What is wanted is merely pro-
vision Tor admitted and urgent needs.
The total amount is impressively large.
II may strike some people as almost
irnpossibIy vast. Yet. the cold fact re-
mains that this is a conservative state
men, OF what the community must
supply % give its coming generation
the training necessary for efficiency
and happiness. The issue should be.
not how TO cut these estimates, but
how to provide the funds for this nat
rral expansion. The situation cannot
be lodged. or put OF 10 the future. or
tri0ed with in any way. Il must be
net Any delay in taking careful and
logical steps 20 keep Up with the de-
rnand Cor school facilities viii mean
merely The inericiency resulting from
lax - proper equipment. with the
cost % ultimately supplying Il IN
creasing each month. The Times-Dis-
patch urges parents. taxpayers Coun-
oil and public men 70 read the report
% needs and get together 10 answer
g grave problem.
The 1913 school budget allows S5eS
% fo- pay roll; S42l00 Tor general
expenses: s4e.oo0 for repairs and en-
la-gements OF present schools. There
Is 10 way Of getting around these
needs They aye not excessive. II
would be folly 10 cut them. The SIG
GOO Tor free textbooks must be pro
>ided BY ordinance. The $1,000 FOR
equipping the new Bellevue and Sid
n=y schools must be guaranteed for
the completion OF these Institutions
This means s437,3Se for carrying on
The present work. Now let Us examine
the proposed extensions. No one can
deny the practical value Of a vocation
al ssh 5ol For this, $4,000 is asked
ia return. those who leave school with
out completing any course will be pro-
vided with : means OF increasing their
economic value 10 the community. As
"a dollar and cents business PROPOSE
ton. the vocational school viii pay.
The Investment will return a handsome
dividend in increased earning power
bv future citizens With The night
school work. II will answer q grow
ing demand. Modern education holds
me strong body 10 be as great an
asset - the trained mind. The sum
asked for physical education is only
$500 Is there any possible reason
10y not giving this amount fox physi-
cal training
The schools certainly cannot do good
work without properly trained teach
been some criticism OF the teaching
staH because Il was not equipped 10
teach new branches in the modern
way T. reply. the teachers showed
that their salaries did not permit Of
expensive visits TO normal schools or
elsewhere 20 get this information
Therefor. the $500 asked for the IS
tablishmeut Of a summer normal. 10
D. used for training Richmond teach
.rs as teachers. Is a perfectly legiti-
mate item. i viii improve the quail
ify Of Instruction and take burden
from the individual teacher.
For new schools. the amount OF S7Io.-
s-o is specified. Not al u the pro-
posed extensions are Immediately nee
,ssary But they are au necessary.
Au increase o. over 5000 pupils in
three years is convincing argument.
Dvercro,vding in the Fox School and
the old Springfield. and haIf-ume eye
pedieuts. make provisions in ties. als-
,rlcts imperative. The present use O.
dangerous buildings ls vital PROOF e
reed The fact that TIE facilities f-r-
aishet colored children are admittedly
inadequate is az added reason FOR
greater ezaeadit--ss. Something rl.-
l- done
We ao ro; SKATE taese facts f-au
sl.e school Boards point of view We
state them froa thc c.-iz.-.s 1o.rt 90
view. DO wants rar. aaa b.tt,-