Free Public Education in Virginia - 1870

Before 1870, Virginia had spotty grammar school education for their children. The idea of having teachers who were taught to teach did not appear as an overall fact until 1870. Dr. William Henry Ruffner, was the man pushing Virginia to set this up.

Dr. Ruffner opened "Normal" schools, i.e., schools for teachers. Longwood College is one of those, but back then was another name.  He also was part of a group of Virginians who opened what is now known as Virginia Tech. It was a technical and agricultural college. Still is, I expect, but much more than that.  Dr. Ruffner was a geologist also. Once he finished his years as the first superindentent of public education, he returned to his research in geology.

There used to be many grammar schools, grade schools in our parlance. Dr. Ruffner and his father Dr. Henry Ruffner, who was teacher and President of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. The next President of that same school was General Robert E. Lee.

The house that both men used as a residence during their tenure, is still standing at Washington and Lee University. You can still see it on the hill.