Average Daily Attendance. Inquiries are frequently made in regard to matters connected with the average daily attendance required to constitute a public free school. Some of the inquiries are as follows: 1. Is it lawful for a county school board to pass an order fixing the minimum average at fifteen? 2. Can a district board fix the daily average at less than twenty? 3 Can a teacher be paid a full salary for an average of less than twenty? 4. What is to be done in cases where an average of twenty cannot be maintained, and the teacher will not teach for less than a full salary? 5. Is a contract valid in which it is agreed to pay a teacher $25 per month for an average of twenty, or $2 per month per capita for an average of less than twenty, provided the amount paid shall not exceed the maximum salary agreed upon ($25 per month)? THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL for November, 1883, page 343, contains an article on this subject. Attention is invited to the views therein presented. The law (section 107, page 53, School Law,) makes it the duty of the Board of Education to prescribe the minimum number of pupils required to form a public free school. Therefore neither a county nor a district school board has authority to legislate on this subject. The Board of Education, in pursuance of its legally prescribed duty, passed certain regulations touching this matter-382-5, p. 131, School Law. These regulations are sufficiently clear and explicit to render comment unnecessary. They are to be recognized by school officers as in full force, and all action taken in the premises should be in harmony therewith. Therefore such a contract as that stated above (5) is not valid, because it violates regulation 382. Furthermore, regulation 383 practically forbids a superintendent conforming his official action to such a contract. There is no ground for believing that school officers generally have any purpose to do otherwise than to carry out in good faith the laws and regulations governing the public school system. If any purpose be exhibited, here and there, to violate or evade them, it ought to be at once discouraged. It is not claimed that these laws and regulations are perfect. It is not denied that difficulties may attend their execution at some points. But what both duty and expediency command to be done is to so manage the public school system, to so apply the funds available for public school purposes, as to do the 'greatest good to the greatest number." Annual Reports. We appreciate the peculiar difficulties experienced by many of our superintendents in making annual reports this year, especially in view of the fact that their predecessors' work covered eleven months of the year. It is earnestly hoped that superintendents will this year keep accurate and complete records of their own official acts; see that district clerks keep their accounts neatly and accurately, and in such manner as will enable them, at the end of the school year, to furnish information under the respective headings of the annual report. Also, look into the manner in which your treasurer enters school funds on his books. It is important that the duplicates of annual reports of the superintendent, district clerks, and treasurer, filed in the office of county and city superintendents, be exact copies of reports furnished this office. The balances on hand August 1, 1886, of the respective funds, will be the basis of the financial tables of reports for scholastic year of 1886-'7. See that these balances are properly entered. The new register, if carefully kept, as required by law, will enable teachers at the end of the term to make term reports promptly and accurately. This will prevent a repetition of the many troubles superintendents have met with in filling the tables of enrolment, attendance, &c., of pupils. A little instruction to district clerks and treasurers will prevent confusion as to financial matters. Then, with your official record-book complete, the work of preparing the annual report would not be quite such a task as it will be, should all these matters be deferred until the end of the scholastic year. By the timely exercise of proper care, all parties concerned will be spared much annoyance as to these annuals. Schools Opened. We are unable this month to give the number of schools opened in the respective counties and cities. As some commenced operation in September, more in October, and a still larger number during this month, superintendents cannot give us such reports as to justify a comparison with previous years. The monthly reports, which will be in hand by the next issue of the JOURNAL, will furnish fuller information as to the school work of the current term. The general indications are that the year will be a prosperous one. The Virginia Teachers' Reading Association. The following extract from the Norfolk Landmark is commended to the attention of those who are and ought to be interested in the success of the Virginia Teachers' Reading Association. It is from the scholarly pen of Mr. James Barron Hope, City Superintendent of Schools of Norfolk: EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY IN THE STATE. During the last school year the colored teachers of Norfolk were organized by the Superintendent into a society for mutual aid in the prosecution of their work and studies, and the scheme operated so well that the teachers of the white schools have been recently united in a similar organization. The objects in view are to instruct, by means of lectures, essays, actual work in professional matters and by some systematic course of study. It would seem that such a plan ought to result in good to all parties, and we find by the last EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL that the Teachers' Reading Association of Virginia, with the Hon. John L. Buchanan at its head, has been given a new impulse. The object of this Society is to "pursue a course of educational reading," and the scheme includes examinations. Speaking of this, the JOURNAL, in its Official Department, justly says: "The Association will stimulate effort and wisely direct it. Its members will be inspired with a new interest in their calling; they will be made more efficient in their work by the adoption of improved methods, and they will be elevated to a higher rank as teachers by a clearer apprehension of the underlying principles of their vocation." Details of this plan will soon be furnished by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This scheme has everything to recommend it, and our local one can be made to work in harmony with it to the advantage of pupils, teachers, and the system. We should all realize that neither individuals nor schools can stand still all the time with health or safety. The law of the Age is motion. The school, or the teacher, must conform to it either one way or the other, that it must fall astern or go ahead, and we believe the excellent corps of instructors we have in our public schools, both white and colored, will prove quite equal to anything that may reasonably be required of them in the line of their duty. Items from Superintendents' October Reports. Alexandria County.-One additional colored school established at Koslin, near Georgetown, with fair prospects. Bland County.-Much interest manifested in school work. Charlotte County.-Prevalence of chills and fever has reduced average attendance of pupils. Teachers interested in their work. Chesterfield County.-Schools progressing as well as ever known to do for the first month of the term. Gloucester County.-Unprecedented sickness has greatly interfered with schools, and as yet there is but little abatement. Teachers pleased with the Virginia School Register; it supplies a much-needed want. King George County.—Schools opened very encouragingly. Manchester City.—Schools in fine condition; pupils under perfect discipline. Northumberland County.-Graded school at Heathsville working well under management of experienced teachers. Hope to erect suitable building for this school early in the coming year. Nottoway County.-The schools generally have opened well. Trustees attentive to their duties. Prince Edward County.-Schools working smoothly. Roanoke County.-Just completed four new school-houses-two of which are brick. Held two institutes of two days each, one for white and one for colored teachers. Both were well attended. Wythe County.-Teachers alive to their work. Attendance of pupils unusually good. Several new school-houses about ready for occupancy. WANTED.-A male teacher to act as principal of a graded school near New Canton, Buckingham county. For particulars, address Edward R. Evans, New Canton; or Superintendent William P. Ellis, Moseley, Buckingham county. Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. The fall term of this Institution opened in September. We learn that nearly a hundred students are in attendance. The general character of the students and the order, discipline, and educational work of the school, are favorably spoken of. The newly appointed pro fessors and officers are said to be giving satisfaction. The address of the president is, General L. L. Lomax, Blacksburg, Virginia. The Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. Opened with a full corps of teachers. The number of matriculates is now over one hundred and fifty. The new building, under the able supervision of the building committee, is approaching completion; one half of it is now about ready for use. These enlarged accommodations are absolutely necessary to meet the increasing demands of the school. The president's address is, John Mercer Langston, LL.D., Petersburg, Virginia. The Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. [General S. C. Armstrong, in November Number of the Southern Workman.] The Hampton school opened October 1st. There is marked improvement in the quality of the student material. The total attend ance is 618, of whom 507 are negroes and 111 are Indians. I feel justified in stating that the entire corps of teachers, somewhat changed since last year, is, as a result of great care, the best ever in the school service. Never was the outlook more hopeful; never was the material condition of the school so perfect as now. It is proposed to create a general endowment fund of five hundred thousand dollars to back up and assure for the future the industrial feature of the school, and to put labor, its distinctive feature, on a permanent foundation. The sum now to be annually supplied by charity for the support of the Institute is the interest of over a million of dollars at five per cent. This has been secured by great effort, and the school (opened in 1868) has now a property, in excellent condition, valued at over $400,000, and is free from debt. I earnestly submit to the friends of education the importance, in the present condition of our country, of establishing the idea of labor as fundamental in the entire field of education, and especially in the development of the negro and Indian races. |