V. School Relations
The Virginia High School Literary and Athletic League has been conducting
interscholastic literary and athletic contests in Virginia schools since 1913.
The operation and control of the League is now shared by the Extension Division
with representatives elected by the schools in all sections of the state, and
with two supervisors of the State Board of Education. All public high schools
of the state are eligible for membership in the League, while the private preparatory
schools are invited to participate as a distinct class in some of the
athletic and literary contests.
In 1926-1927 by action of the Legislative Council of the League, membership
dues were inaugurated. During the school year 1928-1929, 175 public high
schools of the state became members—9 in the Class A, or large city group;
39 in Class B, or intermediate city group; and 125 of the Class C, or county
school group.
In athletics, the program of contests includes football, basketball, baseball,
tennis, and track; in literary work, debate, public speaking, public reading, essay,
verse, short story, publications and spelling. The League program in as many
fields as is practicable submits criticisms of the year's work to all schools. The
various departments of the University aid in reviewing the materials entered in
the contests and their criticisms are sent each individual school for the purpose
of fostering higher scholastic standards. In this manner each department of
the University has the opportunity of relating itself to the secondary school
and expanding its educational influence into every corner of the state. For determination
of championships, schools are classified according to size and divided
into districts according to location. In 1928-1929 fifty-five bronze and silver
trophies were awarded to schools whose representatives were successful in state
and class literary and athletic championships. These trophies are awarded to
the school and not to the individual representative. Ninety state monograms
were awarded at the state interscholastic track meet and final literary contests.
A basketball tournament in the fall for county schools and a state track
meet and tennis tournament and the final state literary contests in May bring
together a large and select group of high school students.
Local or interschool competition is also sponsored. Through the co-operation
of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 244 gold, 235 silver and 371 bronze medals
were awarded in the past year to pupils who achieved certain athletic standards or
were winners in local literary activities.
