University of Virginia Library

Local Prize Contest—Literary.

Prize Offered by "The Richmond Times-Dispatch."

(Under direction of The Virginia High School Literary and Athletic
League, University, Va.

REGULATIONS.

1916-1917.

General.

1. This contest is open to all secondary schools of Virginia whether
public or private.

2. The contests are open to boys and girls.

3. The contestant must be a bona fide student and must have been
in regular attendance at the school he represents at least 60 days
prior to the final contest.

4. Three impartial judges are to be selected by the principal of the
school to judge in each contest. (a) The same judges are eligible to
judge in more than one contest.

5. The final contest must be held at some suitable date prior to
March 15th.

6. The principal must notify Secretary of League on or before January
15th of his intention to hold the contest.

Debates.

1. The question must be selected by the principal.

2. A preliminary contest is to be held in which any student complying
with clause 2 in schedule "General" above is eligible.

3. Contestants in preliminary contests may debate on any side of
question they choose.

4. Contestants in preliminary contests are to be limited to seven
minutes in the debate. (No rebuttal being granted.)

5. Final contestants shall be limited to 15 minutes each, no more
than five of which may be used for rebuttal.

6. The judges are to select the four best debaters in the preliminary
contest; selection being based on following standards: Argument
50%; delivery 25%; stage deportment 25%.

7. For the final contest the teams consisting of two members each
are to be pitted against each other.

8. The four final contestants are to select their side of the question
(two on each side) by lot.

9. The two members of the team winning the debate in final contest,
as declared by the judges, will each be awarded a prize offered
by The Richmond Times-Dispatch; provided the principal within five
days after final contest fill out official blanks in the triplicate one to
be kept by the school and two to be forwarded to Secretary A. R.
Boyd, University, Va.

Orations.

1. Conditions in schedule "General" above must be complied with.

2. Contest for boys must be held separate from contest for girls
and no preliminary contest is required.

3. Each oration or recitation must not be less than five or more
than twelve minutes.

4. The judges are to select the best orator among the contestants
on the following basis: composition 50%; delivery 25%; stage deportment
25%.

5. The winner in each contest, as selected by the judges, will be
awarded a prize by The Richmond Times-Dispatch; provided the principal
within five days after the contest fill out official blank in the
triplicate, one to be kept by the school and two to be forwarded to
Secretary A. R. Boyd, University, Va.

Reading.

1. Conditions in schedule "General" above must be complied with.

2. The contests 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 contestants 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.

3. The judges shall select the best girl and the best boy reader
among the contestants in a public reading of boys against boys, and
girls against girls.

4. Each winner selected by judges, will be awarded a prize by The
Richmond Times-Dispatch; provided the principal within five days
after the contest fill out official blanks in the triplicate, one to be
kept by the school and two to be forwarded to Secretary A. R. Boyd,
University, Va.

Spelling.

1. Conditions in schedule "General" above must be complied with
except clause 2 which is to be eliminated.

2. Boys and girls may participate in same contest.

3. The words must be selected and called by the principal, or some
person by him appointed.

4. Under no circumstances may the principal disclose beforehand
any of the words to be used in the contest to any person except his
appointee. Any violation of this rule will forfeit the right to hold the
contest to that school.

5. After each word is called by the principal or his appointee, it
shall be first pronounced or called back to such person by the contestant
addressed, so as to assure a correct understanding of the
word before spelling thereof is attempted.

6. Each contestant is to have but "one" trial at the spelling of the
word called to him or her. And if the word is incorrectly spelled
by the contestant, he or she is thereby eliminated and a "NEW" word
shall be called to the next contestant.

7. The girl or boy last standing through the contest shall be
awarded a prize by The Richmond Times-Dispatch, provided the principal
within five days after the contest fill out official blank in the
triplicate, one to be kept by the school and two to be forwarded to
Secretary A. R. Boyd, University, Va.