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claimed by his friends, would have a "walk over."'; but predictions are not elections, nor do claims always yield profit, for before the week had grown old numerous other gentlemen had been brought to the front. Among them we heard named Mr. E. C. Glass, Acting Superintendent schools of Lynchburg, a man of fine ability and large experience in school work, who has been very successful in the management of the schools of his city, and who would make a careful and efficient State Superintendent. Numerous other gentlemen have been mentioned in connection with the place; but as it now seems certain, by the latest from political circles, that Hon. John E. Massey is to be the successful aspirant-in fact, that the place has already been accorded him-we deem it useless to give the others. Mr. Massey, in his legislative and official capacity, has always, so far as we know, been a friend to the public free schools, and we see no reason why he should not make an efficient State Superintendent.

We have no feeling in the matter, but earnestly hope that whoever is selected for the place may be in full accord with the system and the progress of the age.

Coupons.

The Legislature meets the second day of December, and we trust its first act will be to protect the school fund against these cut worms of the treasury." Unless it does, our school revenue is bound to suffer; for when the teacher's warrant is forced to compete with the coupon it must depreciate in value from 15 to 20 per cent, and this will destroy all the energy of the system.

It is fortunate that, whilst the danger is imminent, it is not immediate, and can have no effect upon the schools until towards the end of the present school year; and if the Legislature acts promptly it may not then.

Substitute.

No teacher can act as a substitute unless he or she holds a certificate of qualification in full force given by the Superintendent of the county or city in which the school is located; and in the counties only upon the written permission of at least one of the trustees.

Substitutes in the counties must report in the name of the princi

pal, and in the absence of regulations of the Board of District School Trustees, governing in such cases, must look to said principal for compensation, unless the substitute shall serve one or more months, then the report may be made in the name of the substitute, provided the Superintendent shall be notified of the fact of the substitute's having been employed by the district clerk.

A Problem.

Here is a very curious problem for little scholars to work out and explain Take a piece of paper, and upon it put in figures your age in years, dropping months, weeks, and days. Multiply it by two; then add to the result obtained the figures 3,768; add two, and then divide by two. Subtract from the result obtained the number of your years on earth, and see if you do not obtain figures that you will not be likely to forget. The School Journal.

Preparing Black Boards.

There are two or three ways of preparing these boards, the finishing coat being the principal. The object to be obtained is a surface on which the chalk will make a clear and distinct mark, which will afterwards wash off and leave the board quite clear. If the board is a new one, it will require to be painted with, at the least, four coats of oil color and finished with one or two coats of varnish color, in mixing which only as much varnish (copal, or best carriage) should be used as will bind the color fast, without its being absorbent or fuzzy. The black should be ground in turps (drop black), then the varnish added, and should dry dead (or nearly so). This is an absolute necessity, as the chalk will not mark freely on gloss color. Another plan, which is a very good one, is to paint the board with (if new) three coats of oil-color, then with two coats of varnishcolor; this having as much varnish added to it as will produce what is known as "egg-shell gloss." egg-shell gloss." This should be allowed to become thoroughly hard, and then be cut down with felt and ground pumice. This is done simply to deaden the surface; and if after being rubbed down, it is left again for the surface to harden, a capital surface will be produced for the work to be done.- The School Journal.

SCHOOL LAW OF VIRGINIA.

(Continued from page 474.)

VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL

COLLEGE.

Donation of public lands made by the government of the United States to this state accepted.

236. Whereas, it is provided by an act of congress, approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, that certain donations of public lands (to be appropriated to the endowment, support and maintenance of colleges for the benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts) shall be made to such states and territories as shall signify their acceptance of their proportions, respectively, of said donations, and of the conditions and provisions of said act: therefore, the donation of public lands proffered to the commonwealth of Virginia by the act of congress of July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, with the conditions and provisions therein prescribed, the same is hereby accepted; and the auditor of public accounts, under the direction of the governor, is hereby directed and empowered to apply for and receive from the government of the United States the land scrip to which the State of Virginia will be entitled under the said act of congress, and that he hold the same subject to further order of the general assembly.

BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZED TO SELL THE LAND SCRIP.

237. The Board of Education is hereby authorized to sell, in the manner that shall seem to them most advantageous, the land scrip donated to the State of Virginia, by act of congress of the United States, approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and the acts amendatory thereof and with the proceeds of such sale, which have not been heretofore invested, t .. Board shall purchase bonds of the State of Virginia, issued since July the first, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, or bonds of the United States, or any other safe bonds or stocks, not bearing less than five per centum interest, and shall set the same apart, and constitute them into an educational fund, for the endowment, support and maintenance of one or more schools, in accordance with the provisions of said act of congress.

Interest on proceeds of land scrip; how appropriated.

238. The annual interest accruing from the proceeds of the land scrip donated to the state of Virginia, by act of congress of July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and the acts amendatory thereof, shall be appropriated as follows, and on the condi

tions hereinafter named; that is to say, one-third thereof to the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, in the county of Elizabeth City, and two-thirds thereof to the *Preston and Olin Institute in the county of Montgomery.†

Conditions upon the grant of the annuity to the Preston aud Olin Institute; name changed to the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College.

239. The said annuity to the Preston and Olin Institute shall be on these express conditions:

240. The name of the said institute shall be changed to the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College,

241. The trustees of the said institute shall transfer, by deed or other proper conveyance, the land, buildings, and other property of said institute, to the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College.

242. The county of Montgomery shall appropriate twenty thousand dollars, to be expended in the erection of additional buildings, or in the purchase of a farm for the use of the said college.

243. A number of students equal to twice the number of members of the House of Delegates, to be apportioned in the same manner, shall have the privilege of attending said college without charge for tuition, use of laboratories, or public buildings, to be selected by the school trustees of the respective counties, cities, and election districts for said delegates, with reference to the highest proficiency and good character, from the white male students to the free schools of their respective counties, cities, and election districts, or, in their discretion, from others than those attending said free schools.

244. If at any time the said annuity should be withdrawn from the said Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, located at Blacksburg, in the county of Montgomery, the property, real and personal, conveyed and appropriated to its use and benefit by the trustees of the Preston and Olin Institute, and by the county of Montgomery, shall revert to the said trustees and to the said county, respectively, from which it was conveyed and appropriated.

What to be taught at college.

245. The curriculum of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College shall embrace such branches of learning as relate to agriculture and the mechanic arts, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics.

Students, how to be selected; and their term at college.

246. The said students, privileged to attend said college without charge for tuition, use of laboratories, or public buildings, shall be selected as soon as may be after the establishment of the said school, and each second year thereafter: provided, that on the recommendation of the faculty of the said college for more than ordinary diligence and proficiency, any student may be returned by the said trustees for a longer period.

* Name changed in section 240.

By joint resolution it is provided that the interest on state bonds held by the Board of Education, purchased with the proceeds of the congressional land scrip, shall be paid as the same is paid to other colleges-see Acts 1872-3, c. 50, p. 31-not exceeding one year's interest.

Visitors, how and when appointed; their term of office.

247. All the officers of all the members of the present board of visitors of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College at Blacksburg, shall be vacated on the fourth day of June, eighteen hundred and eighty, and their successors shall be appointed in the manner hereinafter provided. It shall be the duty of the governor, as soon as practicable after the passage of this act and prior to the close of the present session of the general assembly, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to appoint a new board of visitors, whose terms of office shall commence on the fourth day of June, eighteen hundred and eighty, and to consist of eight persons, four of whom to be designated as the first class, shall continue in office until the first day of January, eighteen hundred and eighty-two; four to be designated as the second class, shall continue in office until the first day of January, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, and on the first day of January, eighteen hundred and eighty-two, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and biennially thereafter to appoint four persons to fill the vacancies in said board, who shall continue in office four years, or until the appointment and acceptance of their successors. If a vacancy shall at any time occur in the office of visitor, the governor shall fill the same for the unexpired term thereof subject to the ratification of the Senate at the next session thereof. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be ex-officio member of the board of visitors of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, and of the board of curators of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute; and the persons so appointed shall be distributed as nearly equally as practicable between the four grand divisions of the State.

Office of visitor, how vacated and refilled.

248. If any visitor fail to perform the duties of his office for one year, without good cause shown to the board, the said board shall, at the next meeting after the end of such year, cause the fact of such failure to be recorded in the minutes of their proceedings, and certify the same to the governor, and the office of such visitor shall thereupon be vacant. If so many of such visitors fail to perform their duties that a quorum thereof do not attend for a year, upon a certificate thereof being made to the governor by the rector or any member of the board, or by the chairman of the faculty, the offices of all the visitors failing to attend shall be vacant.

Rector, president pro tempore, and clerk of board.

249. The board of visitors shall appoint from their own body a rector, who (or, in his absence, a president pro tempore) shall preside at their meetings. They shall also appoint a clerk to the board.

Meetings of board.

250. The said board shall meet at Blacksburg, in the county of Montgomery, at least once a year, and at such other times or place as they shall determine, the days of meeting to be fixed by them. Special meetings of the board may be called by the governor, the rector, or any three members. In either of said cases, notice of the time and place of meeting shall be given to every other member.

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