New-York tribune., 1876-05-06
THE PEABODY EDUCATION FUsp


LETTER FROM DIR. BARNAS SEARS
THE MONEY USED TO FOSTER THE GROWTH m
SCHOOLS IN BACKwAIsD TOWNSVILLE sTAuSrov
SCHOOLS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: My attention has been called to a LET.
ter In your paper On "The Peabody Fund school.
written by Charles Wright OF Troy Tenn, in which /.
complains that the conditions which aid Is rendered
preclude tho possibility OF any good reaching those who
most need It, viz the small country schools The wbol.
income OF the fund might, indeed, have been given IA
poor rural dstricts but what would IL have amounted
to either for present relief or for permanent resuy
There in Tennessee 426,612 children Of school ase
The amount allotted to the State this year Is $4,000
(whie the public school money is S7403l6. This is less
than cents to a child. Distribute it as you will 70
the rural districts, 1t Is drop in tie bucket In
stead therefore, OF giving the charity which
would he little appreciated except relief from neces.
sary efforts, have chosen 10 use 1t as stimulus 70
induce the people TO establish and support yigorous
system OF education for ALL the rich and the alike
The great benefit OF the fund does not arise from what
We give, but from what induce the people to give, and
to do In this way aid three times many poor chill.
dren as We should in the way suggested Assistance given
in that way would neither improve nor perpetuate the
schools They would make but little prOgressa relapse
when aid should be withdrawn. poor cOuntrg sch0o,
Of short duration would be simply prolonged month
two, and that only in few cases. There are 3,9i2
public schools in the State, for which there could be
allowance OF only about - 10 school The people Of
the South have been strongly prudced against public
schools pauper establishments to which respectable
families could send their children. The only way To
overcome this prejudice Is to show the people what
good graded school s Our aim Is to have all the Pea
body schools such. They accomplish more toward en-
tightening tho people than all the arguments we can
use As soon as they established in central places
fhn Initial and
contribute their money and Their influence TO support
item Then, and TILL then, do al classes OF chilrn
attend them, and OF all taxes the school becomes
the most popular Another important point IL that the
Peabody schools are invariably kept for term often
months. BY these various means they Increase IN
strength that they soon become seisu porting, and
allow to turn our attention to other schools Many
bave already become independent OF us, and we shall
this gradually reach the fee5ler rural districts.
will give successful specimen cut Of many. saun
had about 800 children of school Not than
30 of these We're receiving primary instruction. and
about % boys Attending an academy. The sum Of
II 600 from the Peabody Fund offered to tne City
Government ii it would establish public schools for all
found that Of the 500 pupils enrolled only about rs rega
ary attended. This was OWING TO the fact that thsrs
system and that the teachers as well as ali the
accommod atoms were OF inferior character and could
not public favor Under these discouragin circum-
proposed to give ~ 800 II the School Board would
ploy him. or any one else Of equal Qualifications, s
superintendent, and auholizc him In organize Prect
system OF schools. aud To procure and tram suitable
teac1ers. The offer accepted TIE regular att nd
dlft llOin 1910 10 pTCscli 0VV w o'V
school buildings have been provided at expense II
$4,000. the current expenses are now $4,000 year.
and the money freely paid. These schools VIII soon
to need aid from the Peabody Fund This Is tho
kind Of work We are performing in towns, VII
lagos, and dist lets In twelve States IAe
minimum number of pupils required. viz 10o
the smallest that will admit Of a graded system,
or that properly serve model FOL imitation.
our minimum appropriation, 1900, II the least tina.
can produce amy satisfactory result TO efficiency and
pernaneney Every State Super ntendent OF the south
prunounces ours tie best plan for promoting public
schools Nine out of ten Of all the intelligent men who
have examined tie subject with them in opinion
Mr. Peabody himself gave his emphatic approval OF this
feature OF operations, and sad to me, You have
hereby doubled the value Of my giff' Is. SEARS,
General Ageni OF Peabody Education Fund
Staunton, Va, April u, 1876.