University of Virginia Library

State Contest in Public Reading.

(Under the direction of the Jefferson and Washington Literary Societies.)

REGULATIONS.

1914-1915.

I. This contest is open to all secondary schools in Virginia whether
public or private.

II. Each school shall select from among its pupils one boy or one
girl to represent the school in the contest.

III. The contest shall consist in the reading by each contestant of
two selections of not more than five minutes duration each. The
first selection shall be chosen by the contestant and prepared beforehand.
The second selection shall be chosen by the judges and
not put in the hands of the contestant until five minutes before the
time to read it, during which interval the contestant may study the
selection if he so desires. In the selection which is chosen by the
judges it is suggested that both contestants be allowed to read the
same piece but not in each other's presence.

IV. If a school desires to take part in this contest the principal
shall give the secretary notice of the same prior to the first of December.
Upon receipt of such notice the secretary will pair this
school with another school that they may hold a preliminary contest
in public reading. The status and standards of the schools,
their proximity, accessibility, and convenience of location will be
considered in making the pairs. The secretary will be very glad if
each principal will send a list of other schools with which he thinks
such a contest desirable, and as far as possible the secretary will try
to arrange a contest for him with one of the schools on this list.

V. All preliminary contests in public reading must be held prior
to the fifteenth of February. Otherwise the details of the preliminary
contests are to be decided by the principals of the two contesting
schools.

VI. The school that wins in the preliminary contest is entitled to
send its representative to the University to compete in the final contests
in Public Reading.

VII. The final contests will be held at the University on April the
first and second.

VIII. All competitors will be met at Union Station, Charlottesville,
between 7 a. m. and 1 p. m. on Thursday, April, the first, and
will be entertained as the guests of the Literary Societies while at
the University.

IX. The winner of the final contest will be presented with a gold
medal by the Linden Kent Memorial School of English Literature.

X. It is suggested that those schools, which expect to participate
in the debating contest as well as the public reading contest, should
hold the contest in public reading with the same school with which
their debate is held, and that both contests take place on the same
occasion. However this is merely suggested.

XI. No pupil who represents his school in the public reading contest
will be allowed also to represent his school in the debating contest.

XII. All correspondence should be addressed to the Secretary of
the Virginia High School Literary and Athletic League, University,
Virginia.