The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-10-14
Common Schools.

The following are extracts from
letter recently received ~ gentle.
man in this place, from MIR. Al.
Wyatt, for many years citizen of
this tewA aud county, now of Union
City Tennessee he Is known TO many
of our. citizens as an accomplished
and successful teacher, and an astute
observer and Tanker upon all matters
pertainiug 10 education: ......-,,,.
Lam very glad to hear that the sub
icct OF free graded schools is being
agilated IN Your midst; they are the
schools Tor all classes.
\ h0ur school Is giving better satisfac-
| ti0M than any school has eyer done
here. Our scholastic population is
f600 (Wiiic): lthink two thirds will
be IN schooil this session.
! Oarcollege building is GQs70 feet,
two stories high. ;surmoumted by Il
Fhandsomu cupol&. >and observatory ;
through the center ruas y hall Il feet
wide in which ism double stairway.
Tn each side OF tAeihall are four
rooms; 'mhieIi Will comfortably seat
80 pupils; ample ek-boards being
made in eyc,y wall, aad six large
windows TO each room !; in my room
and under my control b have II pu-
pills. girls aud boys; aud can handle
my classes with less tronAle than L
could q school Of 25under the old sys-
TEN. r" -: hs.--4i. 'H~9"-- %
/ win new hiiswcr your direct
| questions. '.'"At'',f fSuii7. 9''a 81 ~
LIST; Osys Is free school. Tuition
is paili.by State aud County tax on
lallproperty, and the entire polat tax
goes fep' school purposes; Incidental
Expenses afTsaet hy'a levy. OF 20 cents
per ihontk oh each'pupil. ~ ID i'.isai
+. -2,nl: Tile principal gets 500 per
FInorfh ;.lstf5 tssisiaat $780,. md The
If6iliet seachcfs $40.. ~ y "fif9i!ag
r Ord. Our llioaso was bull, by pri-
,vate,subscription and cost $3.50, ok.
lclisise' OF furniture and fixtures. 40 Z
= oh. Our District extends beyOnd
Oily ,iimits; do net know amount Of
Etaxabfe property In district. 'lo' -ga
b. 5th. Teachers are elected by school.
Ehpard, who. are elected by yo,ers Of
tho district: 19itloiH 20 80 Il O.
T 9th. Schools mixed throughout the
Esevcn grades ;sexes entirely sci arate
I lhe play ground with a teacher al.
Eways present on the, ground with
| them. % o'iiN' sA" 1874. .f'i y i,aa
= 7th. Our course of study is dcvidcd
into the common school branches as
bdefined In your common school law 4
the high school and collegiate depart
llncnts embracing a thorough course
Of Sciences, Ancient and, Modern
Languages, and Mathematics. We
have also Musical department., Art
department, and Commercial School
department. "fn"H' -.A 4Hi"jg ,ai
/ Our school building is in the center
Eof three acre letr hardly large
enough. bat the best that could be
done. Our house will with ease scat
4O0 pupils; one OF same size three
stories high would give you ample
room for all purposes. With the facil-
titles we have at this place for build
ing, sucha houeo could be built and
furnished with neat and substantial
furniture for $1,000. With such
house, first class Principal, aud
corps of competent teachers, all in
smooth running order, yon will have
ono Of the best, most effective and
most desirable schools IN Kentucky,
out side. Of Louisville wkerc the pub.
lie graded schools closely approx.
mate perfection. ''}r yii'' , i''I' Il
Asa general thing the tax for pub
lie schools is q nulli,y in results; IL
must be increased by direct taxation
on particular districts this is only
practicable where the district has
clildrca enough TO complete the
grades, then a complete system Gun
be secured and success is no longer o
question. '3 ''Fit h
The policy of Prussia has always
challenged my admiration :. her posi-
ton is that the children belong TO the
Kingdom, and for this reason the
Kingdom should provide for their
education, which she does as no other
power does, even enforcing compul-
lsory education. She provides her
Normal schools, in which are care
fully prepared and thoroughly dis.
Bciplined teachers, who take their
places in the schools upon graduation,
and at certain age are retired OH
half pay rs are the army officers Of
course on nReducated Prussian Is @
thing unknown. -a'"
j do hope the friends of tho move
ment In Hopkinsville will tire not In
their efforts ID build up q system OF
graded schools, and generations yet
TO come will rise up and call you
wise and philanthropic. Such a
school in Hopkinsville would induce
a greater infltix Of population of the
right kind than The best, Railroad she
could build, and would be o monu-
iment TO wisdom and enterprise that
iher citizens could pointto with pride.
4 shall rejoice to lear tEecitizcns have
voted the tax. ,"'f'.AiT u IN