WILL INSTRUCT CHILDREN IN MAURY’S ACHIEVEMENTS

One Hour to Be Set Aside in Schools February 1, for Review of His Career.

School children in Virginia will be given at least one hour of instruction in the life and achievements of Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury on February 1, the date of the death of  the great “Pathfinder of the Seas,” which will be designated by Governor Davis as Maury Monument Day. The Maury Association hopes to raise $50,000 with which to erect in Richmond a statue of the famous Virginian and the children of the State will be given an opportunity to contribute to this cause.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Harris Hart has forwarded the following letter to the division superintendents relative to the observance of Monument Day:

“The Assembly of 1920 appropriated $10,000 to the Matthew Fontaine Maury Association, to aid in the erection of a monument to Maury. The act requests the Governor to designate a Maury Monument Day. The act further provides that the State Board of Education shall call upon division superintendents to have the pupils in the public schools, on the day designated, instructed concerning the life and achievements of Maury. On this day the children in the schools will be given the opportunity to make a contribution to the monument fund.

“The Governor of Virginia will designate February 1, the date of Maury’s; death, as Monument Day.

“In accordance with the provision of the law, I want to request that you provide for at least one hour on this day to be devoted to a review of the life of Maury and Instruction concerning his achievements and contributions to civilization. After the teachers have given said instruction, please make it known that a monument is to be erected to Maury and that it will be highly appropriate for the children in the schools to make to this monument fund such contributions as they and their parents deem proper