Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-17
ARKANSAS.
Radical Outrages Gnder the Public School
system-.-A Last Straw.


7 "a ]
AUSTIN, October ia few items
from this region concerning our edu-
cationsl interests, and remark or
two as to the manner in which our
educators" do business, may not be
uninteresting TO your numerous read
ers in Arkansas.
Our people are not to be informed
that they have public school system
ia this State; they have discovered
that from their tax lists. Did you
ever see the common school law "
! OF Arkansas? II you have, you know
that IL Es a model, iR It's tGdy. 1t is un-
surpassed IS an office-hOlding system.
For benefti1g the managers, TO the
detriment Of the children Of the poor,
il l. thus fsr,unexcelled on this coDu-
nent. You know something Of q
" wheel within a wheel" That does
not near touch it. 1t is eomplexity
personified; yet, withal, most beau
tilul system, they say, to all who IN
derstand its requirements. It Is
thought by some ignorant people, |
SUPPOSE that the officials about Lit
tie Rock understand it-at least, the
money part OF the system. This is
a mere suspicion.
All school teachers will understand
ms when l inform them that we have
a {" teSchers' institute" in this good
county On Pulaski. Teachers insti-
tutes had their origin, like a great
many other good things, in some one
of the northern States, and when their
object is not perverted, they are doubt
less Of great benefit 20 teachers, They
enable them to confer with each other
As to the best methods of impartiDg
instruction, and TO consolidate, as il
were, their experience gained in the
scbool-JOOm. Now, to the one In
question:
Not long since, our district superln-
tendent issued his dicttlnl for all the
teachers Of the public schools in this
county to meet the teachers' institute
| in Little Rock, ostensibly for the pur-
pose of attending to the legitimate
business of such associations, and also
for public written examination OF all
teachers holding certificates, with q
view to renewal, and Of other appli-
cants. The penalty to former teach
ers for non-attendance was the revo'
cation of their certificates" Now,
the managers Of this business act as II
they believe that a "negrO Is just as
good as q white man, and a great dedl
better" The effect OF the aforesaid
CiietfDa wac to force some of Our native
teachers Of both sexes from the coun.
try to take seats with the " eOloreds .
1 during the exercises. / say "coun-
try" for believe that it is well
understood that there is not 9
single southern teacher employed
In the public schools Of Lit
tie Rock. Notwithstanding this fact
the place has a superhuity Of teach
ers, OF "high moral IDEAS" from the
higher latitudes, who are seeking
places in which to teach. This will
be apparent to any one who will test
il, as the writer has had occasion to
do. BY inserting In one of the I4ittle
Rock papers a notice, stating that he
wishesstO employ competent teach
er. Numerous applications viii be
made. but nine-tenths of the appli-
cants have been trained from their
Uouih ND TO regard the southern pe0-
nle az their interiors, morally and In
teIIectuaily.
A word Is to the method Of exam
ining in the Institute. They held
three several examinations, each con-
sisting OF fifteen or twenty questions
on the different branches OF education.
So you see they were OF the Ola po:
drEdd order. Half an hour was ali
that was given to prepare the answers
In writing. This may seem little
singular (may I not say ridleulousY)
to those who happen to know that
several hours are usually devoted to
an examination Of q single subject In
writing IN our best schools. On the
occasion alluded to, they did manage
to PROFOUND three questions on the
subject OF English grammar, viz: The
difference between 8 relative and a
personal pronounl" "the essential ell
ements OF sentence, and some other
simple question.
These astute men of "science'' ssput
their heads together . and alter sew
eral days, consumed in ponderinR
these weIghty matters, modestly an.
nounce to the public that a "negro
woman, from Chicago gets the high
est grade certificate, completely dis.
fancing all her competitors Of the white
persuasion. We shall be informed
IN a few days, through northern four.
mails Of education, that the educators
ia Arkansas have had "a great sue
/ cess" The sscolcred troops fought
Inoblyp q. n. Z,