The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-21
ersitiag State So,,rmat.
SCHOOLS In THE SOUTH.
GEN. JOHN EATON, U. S. COMMISSIONERS
OF EDUCATION.

NATIONAL Board of Education was mo
: fortunate one for the country and the speci
interests committed to his charge. Larp
oramed, earnest, devoted to popular educ
ton from his youth, with that knowledge
the people North, South, East and West e
K sentlal to successful administration. Ge,
Eaton is eminently the right man in the riel
. place.
Inspired by confidence in his inteer
W and capacity, Congress increased th
appropriations to the Bureau at its last ses
sion, giving larger means of usefulness
Inc work is being pushed vigorously in al
directions, and will rapidly develop orde
and method in the scattered educationa
forces of the country.
Gen. Eaton is fortunate in securing
chief clerk SO accomplished and affable AZ
LIT. Warren, who adds to his many gifts O
mind and heart an intelligent zeal in tn,
cause. y. r,ss.t.g ~
] The Commissionerhas just returned from
the South, having made an extensive tour
OF inspection among the schools in all the
southern Atlantic and Gulf States. He re-
ports that there are about $500 schools
now IN operation in Virginia. The Jeff.
DAVIS mansion at Richmond is being con-
vertcd INTO public school building. while
tnere are two new school-houses being
erected here, at an expense of not less
than $4,000 each. The principal of the
Petersburg high school for colored pupils
was on General Lees staff during the war.
and is now one of the most jealous advo-
Gates OF the free-school system in the State
OF Virginia. The superintendent of educa-
ton at Richmond was also an officer IN the
Confederate army. There was much in
Virginia, as well as in the other Southern
states, that was gratifying, while there
were very many things that were discour-
aging and unfayorablc to the work of pro-
gressive free schools.
In North Caroline, he found that the Ieo-
lslature had reduced the salary of the State
superintendent and deprived him of any
clerical assistance. for no other purpose ex-
cept to impair the efficiency and usefulness
Of a friend of the common school system
La many parts of North Carolina the teach
'rs OF schools had received threatening let
'ers from the Ku-Klux, warning them to
llut the State or remain at their ayocation
It the peril of their lives. AT Raleigh. the
'apltal OF the State, the only edifice used
or the schools for whites was a dilapidated
building, mere shell, and wholly unfit for
hat purpose. The Quakers have done con-
iderable to establish good schools in some
arts of the State. At Wilmington, the Il
chools established just after the city were
AIKEN possession of by our army have been
ought by the city authorities, and are in a
ourlshmg condition. One of these was
le school started by Amy Bradley, of
'oston, who is now an active supporter of
lie present school system and one of the
'unty examiners. G
ia South Carolina, the superintendent is a =
'alous worker, and is doing the best he a
IN under the circumstances to improve 2
e free school system. In some parts the 2
hools are very good, while in the western U
lrt, particularly, they are of an inferior n
ade. The Charleston schools are all re- q
'i'eo III good order. yf u il
In Georgia, the law providing for COM !, -
on school system was only passed at the =,
It session of the Legislature. The State =
perintendent has been appointed, and it i, -
proposed to open the schools in the fall. -
present the authorities are struggling r.
er the question Of appropriations for the {, {,
ipose, which somewhat retardss the pre- =. =.
ratory work. , y
In Alabama, the free school system has
en- in operation two years, with fair sue le
IS, and in many Of the large towns and at
les there are very efficient schools. There 10 10
nevertheless, much opposition in certain f.,
rts of the State to allowing the schools to co
st. s ssu NJ alb
Mississippi, perhaps, of all the Southern ~.
ties, has the most extensive free school lv
ITEM, there being upwards of 5000 ag
ools now in operation. Here, as else fol
ere, there is much opposition and perse- Il
ion of the teachers. In many instances ~; NJ
schools have been broken up and the ii
rhers driven away. There are large Pa
nbers of Confederate soldiers engaged for
eaching, and wherever the schools are -.
c firmly established the opposition too m
ses. The system of supporting the roa
ools in this State is an admirable one.
does much to popularize the new plan
ducating the masses. n4 Dal
a Louisiana, there are about 400 schools, tbe G
side Of New Orleans. The difficulty SO
} is, that the State Supreme Court has wit
ded against the power to maintain feis
'ols under the legislative enactment,
consequently in all parts of the State 1
schools are embarrassed for want of rca' a'
-. So a the
! Texas, the Legislature has just passed will
hool law, and the only one enacted by MAJ
Duthern State that has compulsory
Sc requiring children to attend school. e
State superintendent and board Of Iii ell
alton have been appointed. Funds are legSi.
and will be judiciously used. disa