Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-05-26
From our correspondent in Mississippi.
Schools in Mississippi.

NSAOU1S III MlSS1SS1pp1,
In Mississippi and all the States where the
land was laid off under the laws Of Congress,
township is six miles square, and section is
mile square, so that a township contains
thirty-six sections. In most Of the land dis
tricts, section number sixteen or one thirty
sixth part of the township is reserved for the
benefit of schools. Tn the Chicasaw purchase
in Mississippi. this provision was omitted in
the treaty with the Indians, but the townships,
in that district, were permitted to select SEQ
tons in the Choctaw purchase, in lieu of their
own sixteenth. OF course they selected what
were considered valuable river lands, such as,
when once brought into cultivation, would be
worth five times the average value of lands in
their own township. rf nn
In some townships, the sixteenth has been
leased at a rate that gives the townships twelve
or fifteen hundred dollars per annum for the
support of schools, while in others it is not
worth leasing. 1t frequently happens that the
townships where the best lands are have many
large plantations, plenty of negroes, but very
few white children to be educated, while the
poorer townships are settled principally by
white people, who arc quite lucky in raising
children, own few negroes, and derive COM
paratively no benefit from their sixteenth
One of the sixteenths is the site Of one of the
largest villages in the State and of course
yields alarge revenue to the township. {. From
this statement, it will be easy to perceive that
the legislature finds it extremely difficult to
harmonic these township interests, SO as to
adopt uniform law, throughout the State, in
regard to common schools. Several of the
large towns have fourishing public schools,
ties have special laws enabling them to raise a
small sum by taxation to be distributed by the
township trustees, who have charge Of the six
teenth section fund.
Colleges, Institutes and Academies have been
started in various parts of the State, but their
popularity has generally depended upon that
of some one of the teachers, and when he or
she left the institution would 60 down.
The Presbyterians have an institution called
Oakland College, which is perhaps, the Oldest
and most regularly supported school in the
State.
The Methodis,s started their Centenary Col
lege, near Brandon, in this State, but finally
moved it to Jackson, Louisiana, where they
keep up very respectable school.
The State has a college in one of the north
ern counties much more convenient to the peo-
pie of Tennessee than to those Of Mississippi
The Baptists have started school prepare
tory to the establishment of college at Clin-
ton, and the Episcopalians have similar in
stitution in Jackson.
Country schools are generally arranged for a
year on account of our cropping season. Boys
useful on the farm generally needed all the
year. For instance. two boys that are large
enough to hold one horse plough in the
spring (our spring begins in january can raise
as much corn and cotton as they can gather by
Christmas.
Wages range from two hundred and fifty
dollars to five hundred dollars for female, ard
from three hundred to eight hundred dollars
for male teachers. The year is generally con-
sidcred ten months, leaving August and Sep
TENDER for vacation.
The free soil excitement and the natural i'm
provement of the country have caused in
attention to education and to the es-
Enlistment Of schools within our own bor-
ders. ...........
One female school is well patronized in
Jackson, where every scholar pays ten dollars
per month for tuition from one teacher, and
extra for other teachers. The Superintendent
of the public schools in the towns and cities
get about one thousand dollars per annum.-
These schools are managed something after the
northern fashi on, ard have caused many plan
tiers to procure town residence for the purpose
of educating their children. This is very well
for the cities, but it increases the difficulty Of
keeping up respectable schools in tho country,
where these planters have their plantations
and negro quarters. =