The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-12-27
YALOBUSITA
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MISSISSIPPI.

The following extract from the
Annual Report of DR.. Seals, the gen.
eral agent of the Peabody Educational
Fund, to the Trustees, so far as it
relates to Mississippi, will, we believe,
be interesting to our readers
1.-THE number of children Of school
age in the State is 1888, 1853, and the
total attedence only 202, 316; little
under two-thirds of the whole num-
Der. The expenditures, including sal
aries of officers, amount to 1892, S07 10.
| These and other facts, so 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, and the
year 1878 is the first Of the biennial
period. In pamphlet published by
| the Superintendent, April, 1878, eX-
planning the school laws, we find the
following general statement: at
cannot be questioned that much of
the opposition which the public free
school system has hitherto encounter
ed in our State is gradually but surely
giving way to more advanced ideas.
But the system is yet in its infancy,
and its growth in the early years of
its existence was slow. In fact, there
was a time when the friends of popu-
lar education entertained serious
doubts as to its fate. But more
economical and judicious administra-
ton of its affairs, and clearer insight
into it's advantages, and the conse-
quent removal of prejudice, have in
great measure dissipated these fears.
Its destiny is now fixed; and, guided
by wisdom and sound policy, bright
future awaits it. 1t is essentially an
institution of the people, and the peo-
pie will sustain it." In letter of
June q, 1879, he says. "The public
shOOl system has never been in so
healthy condition as at present"
A little more than year ago the
superintendent requested that the
funds designed for his State, as the
amount was not large, should be APP
piled mostly to scholarships at Nash
Vile; but it was already 80 late in the
season that only seven of the appli-
cants could make the necessary prep
aratiOns. He has recently renewed
the request.
early in the year, efforts were
made to establish Normal Institute
for the summer, on the plan adopted
with so much success in North CARROLL
ma. At the request of the Superin-
tendent, l selected and employed two
men from other States, eminently
qualified by attachments and expert
ence to conduct the teaching exercises.
The Superintendent made all other
arrangement, and procured additional
teachers and lecturers. For the sake
of attracting greater numbers to at
tend on these instructions, it was
thought eXpedient, for the first year,
to hold the sessions in five cities con-
secutively. AT the end of the first
week, the Superintendent, under date
of July 4, 1879, wrote: "All are
pleased with the excellent gentleman
you sent us. So far, the results of !
our effort have exceeded my expec- |
tations.',
GAN the Teachers Institutes which /
have been appointed were held, except |
the last of the series; and this one |
was prevented by the appearance of |
the yellow fever at Memphis. 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 unqualified praise; opposers
of the school system attended them,
and gave up their opposition in
short, nothing has been done during
the last ten years which has produced
such an impression upon the public
mind. All this has resulted from
putting the conduct Of these institutes
into the hands Of men Of the highest
qualifications.