The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-07-31
The Peahodv Fund.
Report OF the General Agent.

Report OF the General Agent
The annual report of the general
agent Of the Peabody fund, DIR. Barnes
Sears, gives an encouraging review of
the general condition Of public schools
in the southern states, and says the en-
couraging circumstances vastly FREEDOM
mate over discouraging. There is one
class. of men, says the report, whose in
terest is to be dreaded, who do not pro-
fess to be unfriendly to common schools
but reluctantly consent to let the expert
ment be tried, provided it be done
cheaply not considering, probably not
caring, that such condition is fatal
The effect would be In more than one
state to create widespread dissatisfac-
ton among people who, having paid
their school tax, find that private schools
have been broken up or reduced to
weakness or Indifference, by the removal
of so many pupils, and that for want of
sufficient funds no respectable public
schools have taken their place. So far
as the education of the children of
state is concerned, the two systems Co
existing are chiefly efficient in weaken
ing each other. Either to be prosper
Gus requires all the money that is paid
for both. Men will not be satisfied to
be reduced to the necessity of setting
up schools of their own, or of sending
their children from home after having
contributed their share to the public
school fund. Such are the results of
what people are pleased to call economy
in expenditures for public schools.
The report goes on to refer to schem-
ing Legislators, and shows how the voice
of the people has frequently been
raised against them, and insists that
superintendents should not be frequent
" changed, and says he must wait
time for the results of a change from
private to public system. Past pre-
JUDGES are coming to be regarded as
amiable weaknesses, and there are men
enough in the southern states who pro-
nounce for abandoning the antiquated
system of private schools.
The following statistics are taken
from the report: Yirginia-Public
schools in the state for the year ending
August l, 1872, is 1896, and school
population 411,O2 persons, of whom
247, O02 are white. The amount .appro-
priated was $50, 800.
North Carolina-The condition of
public schools and education generally
is far from satisfactory. Alarming in
difference on the subject among the
common people, and a want of union
and hearty cooperation among public
men amount appropriated $12, 40.
South Carolina-Few schools reported
throughout the year. An application
was made for Charleston as follows
The legislature at its last session appro-
priated over. $3Oe, eco for educational
purposes. Not one dollar of this amount
has been received from the treasury,
and the result has been that nearly ali
public schools in the state have been
| closed. Amount paid S15, 900.
.Georgia-Efforts thus far to establish
a public school system resulted in COM
parative failure fund contributed $10,-
100 to u schools.
Florida Three-fourths of the youth
of the state are yet unreached by the
educational system, but the ratio is
rapidly changing; the fund contributed
! 50, 600 In aid of IA schools.
Alabama-Of a population of one
million, 384, 900 can neither read MOI
write of the voting population there
are 81, 600 blacks, and ITO, 900 white:
who cannot read and write the state
funds paid $50, GIT during the year and
the Peabody fund 81, 600 to schools.
Mississippi There are 4, 500 public
schools; average attendance 125, 900
and 400 private schools with 148, 78(
pupils enrolled expense of common
schools 81, 1S6, 1888, and the Peabody
fund contributed 81, $50 to aid 6 schools
Louisiana-ss $50 was contributed t.
aid schools.
Texas-In the unsettled stateof school
matters, the trustees did not feel justi
fed in making donations.
Arkansas Number of children O
school age 1914, 344; number of persons
attending school 80, 1858; teachers 2, O35
amount paid teachers 1856, 625, and
amount contributed from Peabody FUND
So, 800.
Tennessee Number of children o
school age about 400, 600; school FUND
| 81, 512, 500; amount available for schools
| $3.50, coo; and the Peabody fund con
tributed in aid of So schools $25, 900.
West Virginia - There are 1900
schools in operation, run at an expens,
of three-fourths of a million annually
and $50, 600 in the graded and .higl
I schools Peabody fund contribute
! S15, $50.
Total contributed to all the state
S135, $40.