University of Virginia Library

History and Introduction

This is a practical age. All forces in the educational world are
converging to the point of utilization. In the midst of this development
there has been, until recent years, a decided lack of interest in
self-expression, yet it would be hard to find a course of training
that would be more practical and beneficial in the whole curriculum
of the high school. The school boys and girls of today are the
leaders of tomorrow, and there is no efficient leadership without the
ability of self-expression. Every problem of moment is settled today
by discussion, and the person who can submit his views in a well-rounded
and pleasing manner can at least command the attention
of any audience, if not convince it. Yet the phase of school work
of oral expression, the natural ally of written English, has failed to
grip the secondary schools of our country. Its importance has been
minimized. In fact, there are a number of schools today which fail
to value this phase of training of sufficient importance as to justify
the organization of literary society work. Hence a great number
of pupils are graduated from high schools who never had any of
this training, the need of which is to be seen on every hand. So the
Jefferson and Washington Literary Societies of the University of
Virginia, being in a position to see the dire need of development
of this phase of work as exhibited by the new men fresh from
the secondary schools, and also realizing the importance of establishing
such work for the maintenance of their own high standard
of literary work, determined to work out a plan that would foster
and encourage self-expression in all secondary schools.

Consequently, the Virginia High School Literary League was organized
by the societies in 1913. A bulletin was published which
contained a question of current importance for debate and sufficient
material so arranged as to enable a high-school pupil to write
an intelligent argument on both sides of the question. Each year
a similar bulletin is published with the same purpose in view. By
the last of December in 1914, there were enrolled eighty schools as
against forty in the preceding year of the same date—a remarkable
increase in such a young movement.

Each of these teams was pitted against another team in its own
neighborhood, and the winner of this preliminary contest was booked
for the final contest to be held at the University of Virginia in early
spring. The question for said debate was: "Resolved. That women
should be given the right to vote on the same basis as men."

On the morning of April first forty high schools, each of which
had already defeated some other school in its community, reported
at the University of Virginia ready to debate. Each school was
paired by lot with another school for the first preliminary debate,
which began promptly at 2:30 o'clock. By the continuous processes
of pairing off by lot and surviving by merit, the number of contesting
schools on Friday morning was five. They were Roanoke, Lynchburg,

Pulaski, Louisa and Portsmouth. And by a similar process the
readers were reduced to four, which were New London Academy,
Keysville, Chase City and Pleasant View.

It was at the final contest on Friday night that excitement ran
highest, when Portsmouth High School was pitted against Lynchburg
High School in debate and New London Academy against
Keysville High School in reading. The speeches and readings were
rendered, the audience divided on probable results, until the chair
announced the judges' decision, which pronounced Portsmouth High
School winner in debate and Keysville High School winner in reading.

The faculty and students of the University of Virginia put forth
every effort to entertain the visitors while here. The visiting teachers
were the guests of the Colonnade Club and Gleason Hotel, while
the visiting teams were entertained by the girls and boys of Charlottesville
and the students of the University of Virginia. Meals were
served both at the Commons and at the Tea Room to visitors without
cost. Free tickets were given the visitors to moving picture theatres;
no charges for street car services and on Friday afternoon the Chamber
of Commerce gave the visiting teams an axcursion to Monticello.
After the final contest Friday night, a reception was given to the
visitors at the Tea Room, which was artistically decorated for the
occasion. During the course of the banquet members of the University
faculty, representatives from the Washington and Jefferson
Literary Societies, and visitors from various schools were called
upon to speak. And thus the evening passed away most pleasantly.

"By their fruits ye shall know them" bears quite a significant interpretation
to the Virginia High School Literary League. The
league's progress has been unrivalled. Besides increasing its membership
very greatly and thus showing its direct accomplishments,
there emanates from the movement a salutary spirit of encouragement
of society work, not only in high schools, but in all public
schools of Virginia. The league met with such public approval
and grew so rapidly that after one year athletics were incorporated
in it, thus becoming known as the Virginia High School Literary
and Athletic League.

The work of the league for this year will include Debating, Reading,
Baseball, Basketball and Track.

Instead of there being just one medal given for the best girl or boy
reader, as was the case last year, there will be given two medals, one
to the best girl reader and one to the best boy reader. This eliminates
the difficulty of boys contesting with girls. These two medals are
given by the two Professors of English at the University of Virginia,
in order to promote better reading in the high schools throughout Virginia.
There has long been felt the need of stimulating interest in the
practice in reading aloud. Dr. C. Alphonso Smith, Edgar Allan Poe
Professor of the School of English in the University, offers the
twenty-five-dollar gold medal to the girl winner in the public reading
contest. It will be presented in the name of the Edgar Allan Poe
School of English. Dr. Chas. W. Kent, Linden Kent Memorial Professor
of English Literature in the University of Virginia offers the
twenty-five-dollar gold medal to the boy winner in the public reading
contest. It will be presented in the name of the Linden Kent
Memorial School of English Literature.

All athletic contests will be held under the supervision of the General
Athletic Association of the University. The purpose of such
contests is not only to encourage training in athletics, but also to

standardize athletic requirements of all secondary schools throughout
Virginia.

It is earnestly hoped that every secondary school in Virginia,
whether public or private, will affiliate with the league and extend
its hearty support in this new field of work. We require no dues.
We simply ask your undivided coöperation. We furnish the material
in pamphlet form, but if you would like to have more material on
the subject, the University faculty has kindly provided package libraries
on the question for debate, which will be sent to any principal
of a high school for two weeks without cost, save postage, by
writing to Mr. John S. Patton, Librarian at the University of Virginia.

Address all inquiries to Harry L. Carter, Secretary of Virginia High
School Literary and Athletic League, University, Virginia.