The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-12-31
Publio School. Of Miasissippi.

Z
/ The following extract from the annual re-
port of DIR. Sears, the general agent of the
Peabody Education Fund, will be interest
ing to many OF our readers:
The number of children of school age in
/ Mississippi Is 33S, 1913, and the total atteu-
+ dance only 2O2,3l6; alittle under tW0-thirds
OF the whole number The expenditure.
including salaries of officers. amount To
f $685., S07, Is. These and other facts. 50 far
as we are able to report them, are derived
/ from various letters, for the reason that the
Reports of the Superintendent are made
only once in two years, aud the year 1878
Is the first of the biennial period. In a
pamphlet published by the Superintendent,
April, 1878, explaining the school laws, We
lind the following general statement; 1T
cannot be questioned that much of the OPP
position which the public free school sys.
tenn has hitherto encountered in our State is
gradually but surely giving way 70 more
advanced ideas But the system is vet
in its infancy, and its growth i'm the
early years of its existence was
slow. In fact, there was time when
the friends of popular education entertained
serious doubts rs To its fate. But a more
economical and judicious administration of
its affairs, ana q clearer insight into its
advantages, and the consequent removal Of
prejudice, have in a great measure dissi-
pated these fears. It's destiny is now fixed
and guided by wisdom and sound policy, a
bright future awaits il. Ii is essentially an
institution of the people, and the people
will sustain it In letter of June q,
1879, he says:
The public school system has never been
in 50 healthy a condition as at present
a little more than year ago the Super
IntpnHpnt h.a Ia
for his State, as the amount was not large,
should be applied mostly TO scholarships at
Nashville; but it was already 80 late i'm the
season that only seven of the applicants
could make the necessary preparations. He
has recently renewed the request
: Early in the year, efforts were made To
establish a Normal Institute for the sum
mer, on the plan adopted with 80 much
success in North Carolina. At the re-
quest of the Superintendent, l selected
and employed two men from other
States, eminently qualified by attain
ments and experience to conduct the
teaching exercises. The Superintendent
made all the other arrangements, and pro
cured additional teachers and lecturers.
For the sake of attracting greater numbers
to attend on these instructions, il was
thought eXpedient, for the first year, TO hold
the sessions in five cities Consecutively. At
the end of the first week, the Superinten-
dent, under date of July (, 1879, wrote
IAN are pleased with the excellent gentle
men you sent Us. So far the results of our
effort have exceed my expectations"
All the Teachers Institutes which had
been appointed were held, except the last
Of the series and this one was prevented by
the appearance of the yellow fever at Mem
phis. The effect of the several meetings
was very great. The city governments
formally expressed their gratitude; the
daily papers spoke of them in terms of I'M
qualified praise; opposers of the school sys-
tenn attended them, and gave up their oppo-
sition; in short, nothing has been done dur
ing the last ten years which has produced
such an impression upon the public mind
All this has resulted from putting the con-
duct of these institutes into the hands Of
men of the highest qualifications