Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/400

 380 VIRGINIA $1,065 from pupils, and $627 from shops, sales, &c. The general supervision of educa- tion is vested in a superintendent of public instruction, who is elected for four years by joint ballot of the general assembly, and re- ceives an annual salary of $2,000. The board of /education, consisting of the governor, super- intendent of public instruction, and attorney general, is empowered to appoint and to re- move district trustees, and, with the senate's approval, county superintendents ; also to pro- vide for uniformity of text books. It has the management and investment of all school funds. The school funds comprise the annual interest on the literary fund, a capitation tax of $1 on each adult male citizen, and an an- nual tax upon the property of the state of not less than one nor more than five mills on the dollar. Each county and public free school district may raise additional sums by a tax not exceeding five mills on property for the sup- port of public free schools. Substantial aid, amounting in 1876 to $23,750, is received from the Peabody educational fund. The most im- portant school statistics for the year ending July 81, 1875, were as follows: PARTICULARS. Whit*. Colored. Total. School population (5 to 21) 280,149 202,640 J-" >'( Percentage enrolled 46-2 27-1 88-2 10 14-8 17 76 78'5 75-8 Number of public schools 8.121 1 064 4,185 14 of county superintendent* VI " of school districts in cities and counties 458 Average number of months taught 5-59 Number of graded schools (included in above) 108 47 155 " of pupils enrolled 129.545 54,941 1 84 4S6 Average daily attendance T4JM 29871 108927 Number of teachers 8,728 589 4262 Average monthly wages $30 48 Value of school property $757,181 Current school expenditures $924,118 Permanent improvements $97 '278 Aggregate expenditures for school purposes $1 021 896 Received from state funds $478,750 " " local taxation $465,414 14 " -Peabody fund and private gifts $77,282 Number of pupils In private schools 19,460 8,619 j:i -'<> 1 860 1 8SO " of teachers in private schools 1,229 90 1819 Whole number of pupils In school 149,011 58760 " u of teachers 4,952 629 6,581 The constitution of 1870 requires the general assembly to establish normal schools "as soon as practicable." As yet (1876) no provision has been made by the state for the normal train- ing of white teachers, but there are two ex- cellent normal schools for colored teachers, at Hampton and Richmond. In 1875-'6 there were in the former 17 instructors and 212 stu- dents. (See HAMPTON.) The Richmond nor- mal school was opened in 1867, and in 1875-'6 had 6 instructors and 109 pupils. It is not a state institution. Teachers 1 institutes are held in most of the counties. The Virginia agri- cultural and mechanical college was opened at Blacksburg, Montgomery co., in October, 1872. It has received two thirds ($270,000) of Vir- ginia's share of the proceeds of the land grant made by congress in 1862. The general assem- bly has also appropriated $1 5,000 per annum for three years for the erection of buildings. The act of the general assembly establishing the col- lege provides that a number of students equal to the number of members of the house of delegates, to be apportioned in the same man- ner, shall have the privilege of attending the college without charge for tuition. Other stu- dents are required to pay $40 a year for tui- tion. The course of study comprises three years, upon the completion of which, and after Not Including those in colleges or those over 21 years of ge. examination, the degrees of graduate in agri- culture and graduate in mechanics are con- ferred. There is a well equipped farm of 825 acres, and a large workshop supplied with steam power. Military instruction is afforded throughout the course. In 1874-'5 there were 7 instructors and 222 students. The Virginia military institute, at Lexington, was opened in 1839, and in 1875-'6 had 20 instructors and 248 students. It receives an annual appropria- tion of $15,000 from the state, in consideration of which board and tuition are given free to 50 state students. The plan of instruction and government is founded upon that of the mili- tary academy at West Point. The course of instruction, in which scientific branches, and the Latin, French, and German languages, are prominent studies, occupies four years. Spe- cial courses are provided for post-graduate students. Emory and Henry college (Meth- odist Episcopal church, South), in Washing- ton co., was opened in 1838, and in 1875-'6 had 7 instructors and 171 students, of whom 152 were in the collegiate department. It re- ceives annually 16 students free of charge for tuition, in consideration of a grant made to it by the state. Hampden Sidney college (Pres- byterian), in Prince Edward co., was estab- lished in 1776, and in 1875-'6 had 5 instruc- tors and 77 students. Randolph Macon col- lege (Methodist), at Ashland, opened in 1832
 * In colleges ...
 * 207,771