The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-04-26
Circular Of ITle approximations Of
Education.
JACKSON. Miss, April 10Th,

| 10 the county SupeFDHGtu"ttS
Your attention is respectfully called to
the School Law enacted by the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, and to the mod
| ifcations of the act of 1873.
The great reduction of the salary of
| County Superinlendents is a marked fea-
ture Of the Law, to which your attention
is called, with the suggestion that the du-
ties Of the office are not so Onerous as
| heretofore, and that you can hold any
other State or county office or teach Ill
tbespublic schools. Should you be indis-
posed to discharge the duties of your po-
fition hereafter, zeaIously, for the COM
pensation allowed by law, your resigna-
ton will be acted upon here at once, and
YOU will be released from your official
obligation.
The maximum salary of teachers in the
public schools Of the State is forty dollars
per month, except lie provided in the law,
and you will observe strictly the provi-
sions of the statute.
The Legislature was not animated by
any ubkind feeling toward teachers in
reducing their salaries, but by two con-
siderati0ns, to-wit: J.. The necessities
of the people, calling for economy IN
every department Of the public service.
,. The lax manner in which the quai is
cations Of teachers have been inquired in
to by County Superintendents. 1t is
quite in bad taste to complain Of the Leg
islature and low salaries, when the qualifi-
cations of teachers do not rise to the
plane of responsibility. a sorry teacher
is worse than no teacher, and you would
do the world more service and yourself
more credit by having no school at all,
rather than to supervise a fraud upon
parents and taxpayers. Let me insist
that you subject all applicants for certifi-
Gates to rigid examination, and to the
end that our school system may be eff
cient and commend itself to public con-
fidence, it will be well to annul all certif-
Gates, when you are sure the holder is
not equal to the duties the certificate i'm
poses. Should you ascertain that you
are not qualified, by the proper educa-
tional training for your place, you owe it
to the public to resign. 1t is not prop
er 10 hope for progress when the means
of moving are worthless.
When the Public Schools shall become
public blessing, they will be fostered by
the Legislature and cheerfully supported
BY the people. 1t is useless to hope that
the people will love and support that
which is not only not advantageous,
but positively damaging, as all inefficient
schools are.
Your attention is respectfully called to
the time spent each day in the public
schools. Not less than six hours in ac-
tual school room duties, must be spent by
teachers, and it is recommended that ex-
ercises begin at s o'clock a. NJ, continue
until 10:45, then have a recess for fif-
teen or twenty minutes, to be followed
by 1.-THE closing duties of the forenoon and
stop for dinner. After dinner and a play
time of two hours, spend as nearly the
same time as practicable, in the after
noon, divided in the same manner.
Some modification of this schedule may
be necessary in cities, but experience
proves that frequently the old way of
doing things is the best way. Teachers
must have time as well as patience and
industry, and, it isbelieved, that in some
places more anxiety Is felt to close the
school day than to discharge faithfully
the duties of the day.
Your attention is called specially
to the education of the colored children.
The State Sups rintendent is impressed
with the conviction that our highest du-
ty to the State, TO humanity, and to pos
teritv lies in this field Be careful about
the teachers you certify to these people.
They should have good teachers and good
teaching. 1t would be very gratifying to
see our young men and young women,
who have been we'll raised and carefully
educated, and who are seeking employ
ment, give themselves to a work the re-
wards of which will be the same in money
as In white schools, with the additional
compensation of contributing to the calls
of pure philanthropy. The future of
this country depends largely upon the fu-
ture of the eolored population, and the
common schools are and must be the
means of their elevation rs they are the
hope Of this people. Impress your
teachers with the duty of instructing the
colored children iii the obligations they
owe to society, and the responsibility I'M
posed upon each individual OF the COM
munity to maintain good morals and good
order.
The new school bill will be forwarded
to YOU so soon rs it is received from the
hands Of the State Printers. Let us go
to work now ana learn to deserve we'll of
the Legislature and of the people, and we
will be deal: with as We deserve.
The State Superintendent holds him. |
self ready TO serve in his office to the |
measure of his ability, and invites your
hearty cooperation and the cooperation |
IF all good citizens.
l have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,
THos. S. GATHRIGHT,
C4a+o Gunarintendent Public Edueation.