Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-04-03
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Tin BAD CONDITION
Failure Legislature to Provide
Funds Causes a Patron to Ap-
peal to Citizens For Aid.
Richlands, Va, April !, 1914.

ANiNthohuot NNst <tpih 1Ul1s
A few weeks ago there appeared
an editorial in the Clinch Valley News
entitled "The Public School Problem
that seems to give evidence that the
editor is thinking man, and keenly
alive to the greatest problem that
faces Virginia and the southwest,
namely, How to Provide Educational
Facilities for the great masses of
children who are knocking at theI
doors of our public schools. 1t mayl
not be known generally, but theret
are conditions existing in this county,I
rich and prosperous though it is, thatl
are absolutely deplorable. / speak,
especially of the inadequate housing, /
the need of proper sanitary condi-l
tions, the utter lack Of ventilation
and more than anything, the need of
FUNDS available to meet the necessi- |
ties of growing town. 1t seems, /
instead of an increase, we are con-
fronted with shrinkage. No one
seems able to explain how it happens.
Yet, the treasurcr's books show a
deficit in the local funds of over $500
more than for the school term 1912
1913. You ask the average citizen
about it and he'll tell you no cannot
understand it. His taxes arc more
this year than last, and he can give
no plausible explanation. WHY la It?
The editorial to which referred
above stated that in some instances
there were enrolled hundred pupils
in one room. Right here In our pros
porous town, in II room % by 18 foet,
the enrolment was ll8. with an av-
crngc attendance of 0S per cent. A
still more dcplorable situation in
room, originally n bedroom, seating
~ people only, fairly comfortably,
have been tho entire session 80 child
rem, averaging in age from IL to
10 years.
The situation is almost unbearsble
from the view point of the teacher.
when the fact is realized that the
room is fitted with individual desks
md two, and sometimes three, have
had to occupy one of them. Part of
he class (nnd they are all in one
grndc) had to be excused while the
other part had II writing lesson or a
math. lesson. The question that
arises, have we II right as citizens
and teachers and parents to crowd
children in this manner? The second
question is, what is the use? What
rnn they accomplish Are they (the
tcacher and pupils) not risking their
health and future happiness? Any
one with average intelligence knows
that 1t is more than one woman can
do to nurse that number of pupils.
visit day nursery and see how many
nre nssigned TO one supervisor, and
then think of having twenty times
that number to train and teach-to
implant the embryo of patriotism, to
train for life and for eternity, for
all that very large per centage get
la in the public schools. The law
snys child shall be admitted at z
years of age, but the lawmakers of
Virginia make laws and fail 20 make
the necessary appropriations to put
them into effect. Notwithstanding
the trustees, and 1 take off my hat to
them, for they represent body that
Is self-sacriicing and one that gets
little except carping criticism, though
they merit nothing but praise-asked
FOR S36O,000 increase from the legls-
lature, they got but very small
amount.
The legislators failed in their duty,
Will the citizens do the same? In tho
parlancc of the day. "it is up to us''
as citizens to remedy this deficiency,
We cannot sit by idly and lot tr1sa
conditions exist from year to year.
We know that the enrolment has in
in growing town there is not tire
remotest probability that it will bs
less. III the capacity 10 overtaxed
this year, what will it be next year?
There is, too, another phase. It is q
pedagogical fact that at certain pc
riods in child's growth that his
mind is receptive to certain truths
and facts; after that period has pass
ed, they are mastered with the great.
est difficulty. Have we right to
handicap a child by not providing adj
e.quate facilities at the proper time?
All those who have dealt with Children
ness know how hopeless is the task,
The local officials do their best,
but in face of lack of funds they
are helpless. Can we citizens not do
something? A CITIZEN.