Certificate for second best-Subject, "Never Give Up;" Miss Susie Spann, Nor folk. Certificate for third best—Subject, " Money ;" James M. Stuart, Lynchburg. For best diagram on grammar (Pendleton's Method)—To H. Argenbright, Staunton High School. For best diagam on grammar (Read & Kellogg's Method)-To E. H. Peple, Manchester High School. For best diagram on algebra-To Miss Bessie Jones, Petersburg High School. For best diagram on arithmetic-To E. H. Peple, Manchester High School. For best diagram on geometry-To Miss Viola Judkins, Petersburg High School. For best specimen musical drawing-To Miss Laura Bass, Manchester. For best geometrical drawings-To S. D. Rockenbock, Lynchburg. For best set of copies-Lynchburg Schools. For second best-Staunton Schools. Special mention-Manchester. Best specimen penmanship-C. W. Butterworth, Petersburg. Special mention-Patrick F. Downey, Alexandria. Special mention is made of the book of compositions, stories, &c., contributed by Lynchburg High School, and a certificate is recommended. Special mention is also made of the essay by Miss Honoria E. Jacob, of Richmond High School, and we recommend a special certificate of the first class be given her. In conclusion, we beg leave to state that the exhibits of the several cities and towns are not only very large, but of very great merit, and hence it was difficult for the Committee to award the certificates. Where there is such general merit, it is impossible for the Committee to make special mention of all deserving ones. Respectfully submitted, JNO. M. HOLLADAY, Chairman; W. G. REPASS, JNO. R. HADEN, E. F. CROCKER, B. B. WRIGHT, TH. E. BARKSDALE, H. SHEFFEY Roller, M. P. FRANTZ. The report received the approval of the Conference. Supt. Funkhouser offered the following: Resolved, That the basis of the awards should be actual work done by teachers and pupils in the public schools of the respective cities and counties. Adopted. Prof. Storum, Principal of the Colored Normal School at Petersburg, was introduced to the Conference, and spoke of the organization, &c., of the normal school. The subject "Should the Standard of Professional Certificates be Raised and Made Uniform," was opened by Supt. Branch and discussed by several Superintendents; after which Prof. Little gave some interesting instructions in drawing upon the black board, and the Conference adjourned to night session. FOURTH DAY-NIGHT SESSION. Called to order at 8:30 P. M., by President Farr. Prof. F. V. N. Painter, from Committee on Award for Maps, made the following report: MAPS. Mr President,-In submitting their report, your Committee would take occasion to express their appreciation of the merits of many of the county maps that have come under their examination. In several cases it has been difficult to decide between them. But after an examination as thorough as circumstances allowed, the Committee have made their awards as follows: First certificate to the Superintendent who furnishes the best original map of his county or city, with school districts--H. Sheffey Roller, Augusta county. Second certificate to the Superintendent who furnishes the best original map of his county or city, without regard to school districts-Col. W. Giddings, Loudoun county. Third certificate to the Superintendent who furnishes the best map of his county or city, with school districts-R. T. Bland, Middlesex county. Fourth certificate to the Superintendent who furnishes the best map, made by hand, of his county or city, without regard to school districts-R. H. Franklin, Gloucester county. Special certificate to the best full set of district maps presented by any Superintendent-R. H. Franklin, Gloucester county. Respectfully submitted, F. V. N. PAINTER, Committee. The report was, on motion, approved. The Committee on Histories of Public Schools reported as follows: HISTORIES. The Committee appointed to award a certificate to the Superintendent furnishing the best comprehensive history of the public schools of his county or city, beg respectfully to report that, in their judgment, the history furnished by Supt. C. W. Taylor, of James City county, is the best comprehensive history of the public schools that has come before them. The Committee also report that, in their judgment, honorable mention is due to the history furnished by Supt. J. C. Weaver, of Accomac county, and to an ingenious diagram furnished by Supt. J. B. Bristow, of Appomattox county, which gives in tabular form a comparative view of the statistical records of the schools of his county. Report adopted. W. GIDDINGS, Maj. E. B. Branch, chairman of Committee on Awards, Class 3, School Exhibits, reported as follows: To the Conference: The Committee on Class 3 open to counties and towns only, beg to report as follows: DIVISION K. Outline map of the United States drawn from memory, five certificates. Same drawn from copy, five certificates. On full map of same from memory, five certificates; from copy, three certificates: FROM MEMORY.-Mollie E. Coleman, age 13, Appomattox county: John W. Brown, age 14, Frederick county; David Peyton (colored), age 10, Augusta county; J. A. Garber, age 17, Augusta county. FROM COPY.-Joseph P. Jordan, age 17, Rockingham county; Blanche Dillow, age 15, Roanoke county; John W. Williams, age 15, Giles county; James R. Williams, age 16, Norfolk county; Mattie Glover, age 14, Bedford county; Anna Dawson, age 15, Halifax county; Bella Phillips, age 14, Henrico county; Marion Hood, age 12, Culpeper county. DIVISION L. Maps of State of Virginia, outline and full: On those drawn from memory, three certificates; drawn from copy, five certificates. On full map from memory, one certificate; from copy, three certificates. Maps of Virginia with school districts and school-houses located, and the information given as required in Circular 395, five certificates: FROM COPY.-J. P. Hower, age 20, Rockingham county; Eva B. Dudley, age 15, Norfolk county; Stella Barr, age 13, Liberty; Lucy R. Bowling, age 11, Augusta county; Mittie Clem, age 16, Harrisonburg; Martha Dunn, age county. Nottoway FROM MEMORY.-Eva V. Wright, age 13, Caroline county; Effie Keister, age 16, Shenandoah county; J. R. Hicks, age 15, Spotsylvania county. The Committee would make special mention of Lillie L. Oswald, of the last-named county, who deserves credit for the variety of general maps drawn by her within the limit of four days. We recommend a certificate be awarded to her. DIVISION M. On county maps, with or without the school districts given, five certificates for first and three for second. District maps, with or without the school-houses located, three certificates for the first and one for the second: FOR COUNTY MAPS, WITH DISTRICTS AND SUB-DISTRICTS.-First certificate, Augusta county; second certificate, Gloucester county; third certificate, Albemarle county; fourth certificate, Spotsylvania county; fifth certificate, Loudoun county. WITH OR WITHOUT SCHOOL-HOUSES LOCATED.-First certificate, Rockbridge county; second certificate, Middlesex county; third certificate, Amherst county. DIVISION N. On examination papers, three certificates. On essays, five certificates. On orations, three certificates. On diagrams, three certificates. On copies, five certificates. All certificates to be awarded in the order of merit in each case: Best set examination papers, Rockingham county; second best, Accomac county; third best, Loudoun county. Penmanship.—First certificate to Ettie Wise, Henry county; second certificate to Lizzie Hartman, Rockingham county; third certificate to Nannie Sherman, Dinwiddie county.. ESSAYS.-First certificate to Edwin Bowman, Charlotte county; second certificate to Sallie Reamy, Henry county; third certificate to Mary Brickhouse, Norfolk county; fourth certificate to Mary Buck, Warren county. COMPOSITIONS.-For best set, certificate awarded to Rockingham county. Report approved by Conference. E. B. BRANCH, E. M. GARNETT, E. MORRISEtte, J. B. BRISTOW, E. C. GLASS, W. F. Fox, J. C. PORTER, W. A. BOWLES, Committee. The Conference then proceeded to fix a time for the next meeting; and upon vote being taken, the first Tuesday in February, 1886, 12 was decided upon. M., On motion, the President was authorized to secure a hall for the session. Superintendent Barksdale, of Halifax, read a letter addressed to the Conference, from a colored teacher in his county, in reference to the colored schools in said county. The subject of locating the Summer Normals was brought to the attention of the Conference by the President, and several places were suggested by the Superintendents. The President stated that, as the expenses of same were paid by the Agent of the Peabody Fund, it would be proper to consult him in regard to the selection of the places for holding them. The matter was therefore left open. Superintendent Slaughter, of Danville, read a petition from the colored people of that city, asking that one of the Normals for the colored teachers be located there. The Conference was then addressed by Prof. Painter upon the subject, "Some Educational Tendencies of the Present." The address was comprehensive and full of suggestions of practical worth to the Superintendents and teachers. The Conference then proceeded to elect ten Vice-Presidents, and the following were elected : First District, J. M. Holladay; Second, Maj. R. G. Banks; Third, E. M. Garnett; Fourth, Maj. E. B. Branch; Fifth, H. C. Slaughter; Sixth, Capt. J. G. Board; Seventh, Rev. A. P. Funkhouser; Eighth, Col. Wm. Giddings; Ninth, Maj. W. G. Repass; Tenth, A. A. McDonald. Hon. R. U. Derr, chairman of Committee on Awards of Peabody Medals, submitted the following report, viz: Your Committee appointed to award the Peabody Medals, respectfully submit the following report. After a full examination of the exhibits of the Superintendents of counties, cities and towns, we unanimously recommend the following awards under the provisions of the plan given by the Superintendent of Public Instruction: 1. For city, town, or county making the best general exhibit-one medal: Lynchburg. 2. To the city of the First Class making the best general exhibit-two medals: Lynchburg. 3. To all other cities of the First Class-one medal, in the order of their priority: First, Richmond; second, Petersburg. 4. To the county, city of the Second Class, or town making the best general exhibit-two medals: Rockingham. 5. To all other cities of the Second Class-one medal, in the order of their priority: First, Manchester; second, Staunton. 6. To the county or town other than cities of Second Class: Rockingham. 7. To the fifteen counties making the best general exhibit—one each, in the order of their priority: First, Rockingham; second, Fairfax; third, Norfolk; fourth, Bedford; fifth, Page; sixth, Albemarle; seventh, Wythe; eighth, King William; ninth, Gloucester; tenth, Nottoway; eleventh, Roanoke; twelfth, Fauquier; thirteenth, Accomac; fourteenth, Caroline; fifteenth, Augusta. Signed, RUSH U. DErr, W. F. Fox, S. T. PENDLETON, D. E. GARDNER, Committee. Prof. Geo. E. Little, Chairman of Committee on Awards for Draw ings, Photographs, &c., made a report of awards as follows: |