The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-27

born somewhere in Virginia outside
of Richmond, and more Richmond
fathers among the white people were
born In Virginia. outside Richmond
than In Riohm ofd itself. In the minds
of many Firginians land our visitors
will pardon me for saying this. I am
sure)-in the minds of many Vir-
ginians there Is nothing remarkable
about all of this:, for what individual,
they ask. would be willing to be born
anywhere else If he could be born
In Virginia? But at any rate, the cir
cumstances indicate something of the
tremendous interest Richmond must
feel in the education of the people OF
the rest of Virginia. which interest
has been shown in such practical
way by Richmond. as we'll as by her
nineteen sister cities. that the Gen.
eral Survey Committee itself seems to
me to have been led into the very
natural but mistaken belief that Vir-
ginia has been disposed to discrimi-
nate against her cities.
Increase In Expenditures.
II we deduct from this years total
State revenue from all sources, the
million dollars which Virginia annu-
ally must pay in sinking fund and In
terest on an ante-bellum debt. for ben
efits or Improvements long since lost
or destroyed. we shall find that nearly
one-h half of the residue goes to the
schools. In 1905 Virginia was spend
ing less than two and one-half mill
hons of dollars annually on her pub
lie schools; now she Is spending about
six and one-half millions OF dollars,
but the per capita sum is less tnan
ten dollars on the basis Of school pop
ulation and less than fourteen dollars
on school enrolment. The Legislature
has provided four special funds. as
follows: $4,000 for agriculture, man
ual training and domestic economy In
eleven rural high schools, 100000
for high schools, $4,000 for graded
schools Of two three and four rooms
and 100000 for one and two-room
rural schools Every dollar Of State
money so expended produces an in
! crease of from one to five dollars In
local revenues. but with all OF tne
increase in school revenue which
have mentioned. and all Of the I'M
pulse of these special funds our state
/, system. as a whole. Is still sadly IN
need Of money, and seriously doubt
whether the increase In funds Is keep
ing pace with the increased enrolment
for 1t Is fact that we are likely tc
! find at the close Of this session thai
we have increased our enrolment
lthroughout the State as much In three
years as in the previous twenty years
Under such circumstances as these
(, the Virginia cities with one voice In
variably speak to the rural situation
as the wounded SIR Philip Sidney
spoke to his wounded ally. the Dutch
soldier. when he surrendered his OPP
and said, Friend, thy necessity II
EVAN -wvroo ~ - M Inc :"
hope Virginia can and will aid
Richmond in her industrial hopes
and aspirations. but ! submit that the
virginia spirit which have been try
+! ing to describe Is q greater asset tnan
mere money. A few weeks ago re-
ceived letter from country member
| OF tho Legislature, cauttoninx oul
board not to distribut the one and two
room fund according to school popu-
lation. but to carry out the wish q
the Legislature to care for remote
ana needy communities first. last and
ali the time. Think Of language like
this from q legislator In references
to his own county: II know" says
this legislator. that under a per
capita distribution we would get
! $4,000 perhaps, but we are In better
condition than some other counties
and really do not know how you
can help more than one school IN thia
county X you follow what understand
| to be the general spirit Of the statute
In question:" This meant that when
offered $4,000. the legislator said
, mo, we can get along with less than
! $4,000. Give the money where 1t IL
most needed"
Approaching Legislature.
j Accordingly, am reminded to make
| NV third observation on the present
legal status OF Industrial and voca-
tional education In Virginia touch
upon the importance Qf keeping thu
llase.nnnk1nn h0Au ffnnli In thu rf9hj