Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-02-03
Sketch of a Public School System for State


Four classes OF officers are necessary,
as follows: First, Superintendent of
Public Instruction who should possess ia
lent, industry, and taste for schools, and
their object; if he be practical teacher,
all the better. Second, a Commissioner
of Common Schools for each county;
Third, three Trustees of Public Schools
for each township; and Fourth, two or
three Inspectors for each School District.
The Superintendent ought TO be APP
poiated by the Legislature for term OF
four OF FIVE years; because the officer, if
of the right stamp, will have to act very
cautiously for al least two years before he
will have acquired that knowledge of his
duties which will render him really eff
cient; and also for the further reason that
he should not be subject TO those flctua-
tons which are incident 10 changes in the
predominence of one or another political
party. He should be allowed a liberal
salary, such as would enable and induce
gentlemen of the requisite qualification
To devote all his time and attention 10 his
public duties, and moreover, insure for the
office that consideration and respect which
is never accorded TO one poorly paid He
would need an Office to be kept at the seal
of Government, and one clerk.
The State districted, each district should
choose by ballot lis Inspectors for one
year. Each township also, should choose
ts Trustees for one year, when, and as, IFS
constabes and other town officers are
chosen at county convention to be held
for the purpose; all the Trustees should
meet and elect from their own or other
wise, the "County commissioners of Com
mon School," for one or two years. AL
these officers should be paid, by some
prescribed mode, reasonable per diem al
lowance for the time actually devoted tc
| the public Observation-Disclosures call expert
ence hath shown,'' that public service:
rendered gratuitously, are seldom efficien
for their purpose-but when paid for, the
public have just claim for them; and a:
a general rule they will be both more
cheerfully and better performed in the lat
ter case, than In The former.
Under such system il will be the dut,
Va 1hO pOopiC VI tiiS 0ISltlCtS 10 S0ieCis VIII
due clrcumspection, and without refer
ence TO political opinions, the most capa
BILE and enlightened citizens for School In
spectors; and these should accept the of
nee and perform its duties promptly and un
failing, more from sense of public dutl
than any other motive. They should b,
required to visit and thoroughly inspec
the School at least once each month, ma
king themselves familiar with all the de
tails OF It's management in all respects
On those occasions they should receive
from the teacher u monthly report con
corning The School, comprising certain
tabular statements thereafter designated
made IN prescribed form as indicated b,
blank formula to be furnished by tn
State Board of Education. This repor
should embrace in condensed form-ls
. The attendance cf each morning IN ro
book TO be furnished by the board OF Edu
] cation, and so ruled off into weeks an
I days that it would indicate clearly the at
sence rather than the attendance of eac
!, pupil, on each and every day.-2d.
5 statement in an abstract and very lacon
e form, OF the general department, dill
gence and progress in learning of eac
: pupil. The register for this pupose shou
: be noted every day at the close ofthe exe