of on the monthly average, which is the only fair way for the good teachers and the people. In four years experience with this question we have never heard of a good teacher complaining of any trouble in making his or her monthly average; it is always the lazy, indifferent ones who insist that they ought to be paid by the term.

As we have demonstrated time and again, the only way to increase the pay of teachers, keep up the efficiency of the schools and do equal justice to all the children, is to require a fair monthly average to be made. The average length of school session is only six months, and trustees and teachers should be required to consult the people, who are to support the schools, as to the time that will best suit their convenience for them to be opened. Under the present regulation that has generally been done.

With a term average, teachers-the indifferent ones who are to be accommodated by the law-will not care whether they have five, ten, or twenty the first month, so that toward the end of the session the attendance increases enough to entitle them to full pay. It is. possible under this law for a teacher to commence a school two months before the majority of the patrons can start their children to the schools, so that just at the time when they could send, the session has ended, and they are thus deprived of two months, at least, of schooling that they might have had, and doubtless would have had but for the pay by term.

This question has always been left to the discretion of the Board of Education, and the Legislature committed a blunder when it limited its powers.

The tendency of much of the local legislation was to set up separate and distinct school jurisdictions, which is against the policy of the general school law and in direct opposition to our constitution.

Summer Session of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute at Petersburg, Va.

We respectfully call the attention of Superintendents, other school officers and teachers, to the following circular letter from Hon. John Mercer Langston, the President of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, and urge upon them the great importance of the summer session, which, as will be seen from the circular, is intended especially to educate and improve our colored teachers

and those who desire to teach. This Institution is now thoroughly organized under its able president, and gives promise of realizing the fondest hopes of its warmest friends. The Institution is a monument to the good will of the white people of Virginia for their colored fellow-citizens, and has received the warm endorsement and material support of both political parties. The colored teacher is really afforded an opportunity that is denied the white teachers as a class, for the State has not provided anywhere a summer session to be held at the expense of the State for the benefit of the white teachers. At Farmville, as stated in the last JOURNAL, the trustees have inaugurated a summer session, to be held at the State Normal School for four weeks, but this is only to accommodate a few of the lady teachers.

We urge Superintendents to bring this matter to the immediate attention of every colored teacher within their jurisdiction, and to use their best efforts to induce them to attend the summer session. Call their attention to the fact that they can secure eight weeks' thorough drul and instruction for the small amount of $16, perhaps less; that the President is the ablest colored man in this country, of ripe experience, who has devoted many of the best years of his life to actual instruction in the school-room; that their State has furnished them with the means of improvement, and demands that they shall qualify themselves for the work they have undertaken, or quit the school

room.

Superintendents will read the circular carefully and see that every requirement of the law is strictly complied with.

R. R. FARR,

Superintendent Public Instruction.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,

VIRGINIA NORMAL AND COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE,

Petersburg, VA., March 6th, 1886.

Hon. R. R. FARR,

Superintendent of Public Instruction,

Richmond, Va.

DEAR SIR:

According to section first of the Act of Assembly, approved December 1st, 1884, it is ordered

"That the President, Secretary and Faculty of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute shall be required, during each and every

year, to conduct a summer session of eight weeks for the benefit of the colored teachers in the public schools of this State and those who expect to make teaching a profession-said summer session to commence on or about the first day of July, and not later than the tenth of the said month in each and every year. The day above named for the commencement of the said summer session to be fixed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the said session to continue for eight weeks. During the said eight weeks such branches shall be taught as the Board of Education shall prescribe."

The fourth section of the same act requires that—

"When any County or City Superintendent of Schools shall be notified of the time of commencement of said summer course, he shall notify all of the colored school teachers in his city or county, and said teachers shall be required to attend said summer course at least one session in every three years, except prevented by sickness; and should any teacher fail to attend one session, or any part of said summer course for three consecutive school years, then the County Superintendent shall revoke said teachers' license, and he shall not again be allowed to enter the profession as a teacher until after he or she shall have attended at least one session of said summer session of instruction, unless excused by the Board of Education."

In obedience to the requirements of the first section of the act here referred to, it is respectfully suggested that the day for commencing the summer session at this Institute for this year be Thursday, July 1st, 1886, and that it be continued up to and including August 25th, 1886, making eight full weeks; and you are respectfully urged to notify County and City Superintendents of schools accordingly, that they may serve notice duly upon all colored teachers of colored public schools located within their several jurisdictions.

In bringing this subject to your attention, it is proper to state that this year the third session in regular order, since the enactment of the law providing therefor, will take place; and according to the purpose and terms of the law, as gathered from the fourth section above quoted, every colored teacher of a colored public school located anywhere in this State, who has not yet attended either of the sessions already held, must attend this session or have the penalty of the law enforced against him. It should also be stated, for the benefit of those interested, that all teachers attending the summer session of this Institute are permitted to occupy the rooms of the school with such

accommodations as may be offered them, and to have their board at a price not to exceed eight dollars per month while attending upon the course of said summer session, while each person attending shall receive a certificate for attendance and proficiency, as well as for such other marks of distinction as the Board of Education may deem proper and establish by its rules.

It is to be hoped that the attendance upon the summer session of this Institute this year will be prompt, full, and regular; all persons interested exerting themselves to be present at the opening and remaining to its close.

No effort will be spared by the President, Faculty, and officers of the Institute to make the session what it ought to be-pleasant, interesting, and profitable to all teachers attending thereupon-nor shall any effort be spared necessary to realize the hope and purpose of the State in this behalf, in the organization and establishment of this Institute.

Trusting that the suggestions here made may command your approval; that the Board of Education may determine at an early day the branches of study which shall be pursued during the eight weeks of the session of this year, and that all persons proposing to attend thereupon will, at least ten days prior to the date fixed for its commencement, notify the officers of the Institute of such purpose on their part, that due arrangement may be made for their reception and entertainment.

I have the honor to be most respectfully, &c.,

JOHN MERCER LANGSTON, President of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute.

Some Laws which the Interests of our Public Free Schools Demand, and the late Legislature ought to have Passed.

One giving free books to all the children.

One increasing the school revenue appropriated by the State, so as either to have maintained the present session or to have increased its length.

One repealing the iniquitous law which prohibits the Board of Education from holding Teachers' Institutes.

One placing under the control of the Board of Education $10,000 for the purpose of conducting Summer Institutes or Normals for the benefit of the public free school teachers and those who expect to teach.

One repealing the law which created the present County Board of School Commissioners to elect school trustees; a political monstrosity, injected into the school system without cause, and with disastrous effect, the imperfections of which have been forcibly admitted by its framers, who have four times amended it during three years. The old law, providing that the County Judge, Commonwealth's Attorney, and Superintendent of schools for the county, should constitute the School Trustee Electoral Board, was fair and sensible, and ought to have been re-enacted, or the power to appoint trustees should have been placed where it originally belonged, in the hands of the Board of Education.

County and City Superintendents.

The following is a list of County and City Superintendents who have been selected by Governor Lee, Attorney-General Ayers, Superintendent-elect, J. L. Buchanan, all of whom have been confirmed by the Senate. Their post-office addresses have not been furnished the Secretary of the Board of Education, hence we are not able to give them here.

Only six of the one hundred and eleven old Superintendents have been retained, as follows:-L. A. Michie, of Albemarle; W. S. Hale, Grayson; O. P. Chew, Highland; R. T. Bland, Middlesex; W. A. Bowles, Staunton; R. P. Carson, Washington.

Of course the selection of new men does not indicate that the present incumbents are not efficient-their faithful services and great success in the work prove that they are-but is attributable to the change in the administration and a difference in political opinions. A majority of the appointees will enter upon the discharge of the duties of their offices the first day of next July--the most of them are strangers to us-but we have no doubt they will make faithful and efficient officers, and we bid them God speed in the great work that they will soon have under their control, and for which they will be responsible.