The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-06-20
superintendent of Public Educa
lion

EDS. CLARIoN--I am glad to see that thi:
important office is at last receiving a mart al
least of that attention which it so Justly de.
serves. To my comprehension it is more
important to the people at large, and the
future welfare Of the State. than anx office
IN the gift OF the people, not excepting even
the office OF Governor.
1t Is needless, l hope, to aduce arguments
10 snow how vastly interested the people
must be in well-ordered and well-requ-
lated system of common schools Ii would
be equally polite to undertake to demon
strate the self-evident proposition, that in a
State like ours where every adult male cit j.
zen votes, and all are eligible to office, the
present safety and future security of the
commonwealth depends mainly on the diff
fusion of knowledge among the people.
Every system and every organized body
must have a head, AMI on the efficiency of
that head the main body will depend for its
harmonious and healthy working. Our
system of public schools, and their proper
organic ItiOn, form no exception to this gen
era4l rule.
l will not take it on myself to say what
are the prerequisites to perfect head or
superintendent of public schools. One or
Two, will mention, which l think all men
will recognize. FirSt-He should be we'll
educated. Second--He should have praetic-
al knowledge of teaching. Third-His
moral character should be above reproach.
F0urth--He should be SO identified in some
way with the people whose servant he is to
be, as to command their respect and ms pire
their con fdence.
Without meaning the slightest dispar-
agement to any other aspirant, L will, with
your permission, name Il gentleman who, if
chosen, will meet all the requirements. He
is THos. 5. DABNEY
Professor Dabney was educated at the
University of Virginia, and holds diplomas
fro at lest five OF the sch o)I5 Of that
nowned Institution. As to education, sure
ly this is enough. He is yet com paratively
a young man. But his whole life, sine.
teaching others. He is native of Kinds
county, and is well known to most of her
older citizens, all of whom will bear willing
testimony to his unblemished character as u
gentleman and his high standing as
scholar. These are evidences enough as to
his identity with the people, and afford very
reasonable assurance that, as head of our
school system or any other position to which
he might be called, he would command the
respect and inspire the confidence of the
people.
1t may be objected to Professor Dtbney
that he has removed his residence to Louis
lana. He has gone to New Orleans just as
other Mississippians hlve.g gone there, or to
Washington, or Memphis, or Mobile, or to
other places, to accept employment, and with
no intention to sever perm llentiy his con-
nectIon with his native State. IJ was cred
liable TO him that Col. Lusher, the enIight-
ened head of the school system in Louisiana
invited him to a most responsible position
in the educational department of that State.
He accepted it because it was in the lin. of
his chosen profession, and was better than
anything to be obtained at home at that
that time.
Ika0,o thai he will gladly return to his
own loved and native Mississippi ii she will
offer him a chance to be useful to her, and
of lust a little benefit to himself.
A. G. 3.
TERRY, June 9TH.