Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-24

John Eaton, Jr, commissioner of education,
has Just returned to Washington from the south,
having made an extensive tour of inspection
among the schools in all the southern Atlantic
and gulf states. He reports that there are about
$500 schools now in operation in Virginia. The
jeff Davis mansion at Richmond is being con-
verted into public school building, while there
are two new school-houseS being erected there,
at an expense of not less than $4,000 each.
The principal of the Petersburg high school for
| colored pupils was on Gen. Lees staff during
| the war, and is now one of the most Jealous ad-
vocates of the free-school system in the state of
| Virginia. The superintendent OF education 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
discouraging and unfavOrable to the work of
progressive free schools.
In North Carolina he found that the legiSla-
ture had reduced the salary of the state superin-
dent aud deprived him of any clerical assistance,
for no other purpose except to impair the eff
cheney and usefulness Of friend of the COM
mon school system. In many parts of North
Carolina the teachers of schools have received
threatening letters from the kukluX, warning
them to quit the state or remain at their
avocation at the peril of their lives.
At Raleigh, the capital of the state, the only
edifice used for the schools for whites was. di-
lapidated building, mere shell, and wholly IN
fit for that purpose. The Quakers have done
considerable to establish good schools in some
parts of the state. At Wilmington the schools
established just after the city was taken pos
| session ofby our army have been bought by the
city auth critics, and in Furnishing condi-
ton, One of these was the school started by
Amy Bradley, of Boston, who is now an active
supporter of the present school system, and one
of the county examiners.
In South Carolina the superintendent is a
jealous worker, and is doing the best he can un-
der the circumstances to improve the free school
| system. In some parts the schools are very
good, while in the western part, particularly,
they are of an inferior grade. The Charleston
schools are all reported in good ORDER
In Georgia the law providing for a common
school system was only passed at the last ses-
| sion of the legislature. The state superintend-
ent has been appointed, and it is proposed to
open schools in the fall. At present the author-
ties are struggling over the question of appro-
priations for the purpose, which somewhat re-
| tards the preparatory work.
In Alabama the free school system has been in
| operation two years, with fair success, and in
many of the large towns and cities there are
very efficient schools. There IS, nevertheless,
much opposition in certain parts of the state to
allowing the schools to exist.
Mississippi, perhaps, of all the southern states,
| has the most extensive free school SYSTEM there
being upwards of 1000 schools now in operation.
| Here, as elsewhere, there is much opposition and
| persecution of the teachers In many instances
| ers driven away. There is large number of ex-
| confederate soldiers engaged in teaching, and
whenever the schools are once firmly established
| the opposition ceases. The system of support
ing the schools in this state is an admirable one,
and does much TO popularize the new plan of
| educating the masses.
In Louisiana there are about 400 schools, out
| side of New Orleans. The difficulty here is that
| the state supreme court has decided against the
power to maintain schools under the legislative
| enactment, and consequently in all parts of the
| state the schools are embarrassed for want OF
| funds.
In Texas the legislature has Just passed a
school law, and the only one enacted by south
| ern state that has compulsory clause requiring
| children TO attend school. The state superin.
| tendent and a board of education have been APP
| pointed. Funds are at command, and will be
| judiciously used. The schools will be opened
| in the fall. Governor Davis is giving the sub
| ject his earnest attention. The state constable
ny have thus far been very successful in pre-
serving good order throughout the state.
The Tennessee schools are reported to be in
fair condition and constantly improving.
Commissioner Eaton did not visit Arkansas,
| but says the free school system IL more com.
| pletely successful in that state than any other
of the southern states, and comes nearer the
northern system. The school tax has been re.
duced by the Legislature, which may limit the
efficiency of the schools during the ensuing year.
The states of Delaware, Maryland and Ken
lucky, as ever, are opposed to schools.
The Lincoln university, att Oxford, Pa, has
now over 40 eoored students, divided into reg
ular collegiate classes, and a class of ten will
| graduate this year