, 1876-06-21
EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH.

4 Wfltof IN LHe ALhHHttc lMVHEttH NnH 1lauC
m extremely interesting compilation from the
educational reports of last year, showing The
condition Of each of the Southern States as
to its schools md general educational facil-
ties a brief glanco Mt this summary will DO
at once interesting aud significant. Virginia
shows d gnin in almost evory particular, and
seems to be prosecuting tho education Of her
children with considerable vigor. The NUM-
ber Of teachers has increased eco within
year, aud tho attendance Oh tho public
schools has largely increased. There are 200
academies in the State, fitting young men
for college, and there are two excellent col
orel normal schools In West Virginin tho
resuItB aro also very satisfying, md tho Stato
has established a normal school with live
branches. Maryland las been very active in
ali her educational departments. The pub
lic-schoolsystem was not inauguratodin in Balti-
more until 1928, and now the city has 122
schools and 3o,5Co pupils. Secondary educa-
ton throughout the State, however, is report
cd to DO in o declining condition. Washington
l,as colorcd high school, q normal school,
aud geventy-eight private schools, three of
which aro Kinlergartens. Thepublic schools
nro generally oyeEcrowdod aud poorly vonti-
lated, aud tho proportion Of colored pupils is
larger than in my other city IN tho country.
1n Kentucky, Ill now school-houses hayo
been built in the past year, and the State
and county tcachors associations are thor
oughly organized. III Tennessee, in 1872,
not one-fifth Of the population Of the State
had any means Of education; now over ono
| hait Of the children are enrolled aud over
onc-quartor aro in daily attendance. There
are thirty-threo "collcges, academies, md
acminarics in tlo State. In Arkansas, tho
whole froc-school system is paralyzed. Ac-
cortlng to The last report, the suporintend-
! cnt could not even provide shelving for the
preservation Of tho reports Of other States,
mud tho school-teachers were paid in State
Hcrip which had deprecated to 35 centa on
tho dollar. In Mississippi the aame style Of
payment oxists, the teachers being paid in
| warrants TINT are worth from nothing up to
10 cent? on the dollar. Many OF tho
schools aro closed, and those that are open re-
n,ain open but a few months In the yonr.
Nothing IL done for the education of woman,
aud onc-half of the children OF the Stato do
not go to school Ut all. In Iouisiaua, only
ono-ifth of the children wero even enrolled
in 1879 There arc no school-bui1dings
worthy Of tho name in the State, with tho
exception of few i'll tho City of New Or
leans, and it In stated that "the bcst Of the
Now Orleans scAool-houses would not be
toloratod in my largo town at the North
longer than to give time to erect others. II
In Tcxas, education il struggling with a!l
kintlsof difficulties: School.houses arc rent
ed instead Of being qwnod by the State, thus
adding ono-fourtA to the school expenses
the per cent tax peculated and 1nisappliod
free schools mid private schools bleldod to.
get!cr; multiplicity Of school districts; nc
provision for the school organization of
citicH md towns ns such, these be.
ing under the control OF county officers.
In Alabama, the diversion OF tho schoo
moneys to defray the general expenses oi
tho State has caused an almost entire paral
ysis Of primary education. In the report fol
1871, tbs retiring Superintendent says TIM
"luring tue past school year tho difficulties
aboyo referred to have neithor been removed
nor lessenel." The University Of Alabama
has boon kept in operation by tbs State, bu
the common schools have been suffered to ~
dawn. Florida looks very hopeful. Half
decade ago there were no schools, outside
few OF tho larger towns and cities. Nov
there are oYor GOO scattered through tn
6tate, and, out Of total population o
200, 600, there arc 60 900 children attending
school. Georgla's educational facilities II
varv satiHfactory and rromiaipG of impol