Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-28
srEsoN cOuETE.

/ We not long ago bAo solh0NnS
saw Of Gibson county that was not pail
atable 10 its citizens. A great outrage
and flagrant wrong had been committed,
and we denounced it as we deemed 1t
deserved. For few days the people of
Gibson were bitterly hostile to the AP-
PEAL, but in the end they came out Of
their uassion and Endorsed US. Well, all
that has passed and gone, and now we
have q record TO make for Gibson
that oyershadows and blots out all men,
DRY Of the outrage. This county has
set us all noble example. Its people
have made their mark ss quite up to the
spirit Of the age and the march or
progress and improvement. AS we
learn from the Nashville Banner, four
years ago there were not more than sew
enty-five men in Gibson county willing
to vote for the establishment of r sys-
tenn of public schools. Mr.. A. S. Currey,
seeing the absolute necessity for them,
and the great advantage to be derived
from them, bent his energies
toward the advocacy of the system,
and in the following year they were
established on a firm basis, upon
which they have since been maintained.
On being elected superintendent Of the
schools, he at once perfected q system of
rules and regulations which had the
practical effect of disciplining teachers
and pupils, and won for the schools
great popularity. The people of Gibson
seeing and approaching his admirable
manner Of building up and maintaining
The schools, have retained him in office
ever since. Now they propose, at the
January term Of the county court, to in
crease the schOol-tsx to fifty cents, and
through it to have schools in operation
ten months in the year, and at the same
time gradually build all the necessary
The following statistics
viii show the progress which the schools
have attained: Total scholastic popula-
ton between the ages Of 6 and is, 500;
total number enrolled ia the public
schools during the year ending Au-
gust 81, 1874, 1858; per cent. Of popu-
Iation, so; average number in daily
1922; per cent. OF enroll
nent, 20; per cent. of population, Sc;
number Of schools in he,county-white,
81; colOred, 80; total, Il9. Number Of
teachers employed-white male, 80;
white female, SO; total white, Ill; col |
bred male, %; eOlored female, 4; total |
,olored, 80; grand total, IA. Average
number of months taught during the |
year, 81. Average per month paid |
teachers, SIS 81. Tax levied by county |
IN addition to State levy st the April |
term, 1874, 25 cents, and reduced at the |
term to Is cents on The 500; |
ETC., taxed dd Udlorenl, 81 on |
polls, 81 on marriage licenses, SO on |
each photograph gallery, and One-half
the amount OF State tax on each tip |
ping saloon. Let every citizen of |
Memphis read this record OF school pro-
gress in Gibson county, and unite with |
is in praise Of the people who |
have made it. Seeing the bene-
Its, realizing the benefieence and bless
ngs Of public schools, the people who
lemured at a tax-levy Of twenty-five
ents on the one hundred dollars, and
educed it to fifteen cents, are now will
ng and eager to raise that tsx-levy for
chOol purposes from fifteen to fifty cents
n the one hundred dollars, in addition
0 the State tax. Glorious Gibsoni
Would that we could burn the words in
D the hearts Of the opponents of the
ublie schools, who would degrade them
} the level of a common charity. We
Ind greeting TO the people of Gibson
Dunty, and assure them they have set
ne people of the State a no.
lie example. Last year we of Mem
MS paid thirty cents on the one
1ndred dollars school tax, and this
ear only twenty cents in addition 10
le State tax, and Gibson proposes to
ay fifty. After this let US cease to argue
18th the opponents OF the city schools.
et us point to Gibson county and cry
name, to the man or men who would
ave Memphis be less or do less than
nat people who, in their generous en-
engagement OF public schools have
lotted out the past and earned the title
the banner county Of the State in re-
ard to public education.