The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-04-28
The Peabody School Fund.

EDITORS CLARION Perhaps no man OF
this century has done so much for the poor
and ignorant as the great philanthropist,
George Peabody. His name is embalmed
in the present as it will be in all future gem
erations of his fellow citizens in these South
ern States The good he devised is limited
only by the money he bequeated to accom-
plish it. He blessed States when he remem-
bered the multitude ofpoor children in these
States. But when he made his princely
gift for education in the South, his work
was but half done. He left the management
of it in the hands of wise men. l learned to
admire Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, when he
was a prominent character in the Congress
of the United States DR. Sears had the full
confidence of all concerned in the manage
ment of this large fund. His letter to Mr..
Winthrop which he lately made public, is a
master production in that DR.. Sears gave a
plan for the annual expenditure of the in
come. which commends itself to the wisdom
of his survivors in this trust to the present
day with scarcely an alteration or
amendment All feel confident that DR..
Curry the successor of DIR. Sears as general
agent, will be as wise in his administration.
He has one advantage over DIR. Sears, he is
far better acquainted with the condition OF
the South, with that part of our population,
l mean, designed to be benefited by this
fund. This much / think can be said in IA
vor of DIR. Curry without disparaging the
memory of Dr. Sears. For l don't think
poorer man lived among us nor wiser in
educational matters than DR.. Sears. L Will
venture to suggest, however, where, 1t seems
to me, there can be improvement in this
State, in the details of DIR. Sears plan,
principle is solid granite.
Dr. Sears spent 81 900 a year for at least
two years in conducting Teachers lnstl-
tutes These continued at no one point
longer than three or four days These points
were wide apart, consequently always new
audiences. They partook of the nature OF
mass meeting not meaning very many by
mass sometimes-and the time spent IN
speech-making. These were pleasant gath
erings, but accomplished nothing. Our
teachers can receive but little benefit in so
short a time. These Institutes ought to last
at least with us, six weeks We need an
struction in methods and school manage
ment If this 81 900 had been appropriated
at four eligible points in the State to pay
teachers for six weeks or two months labor,
three or four hundred teachers would have
been greatly benefited Or, if spent at one
pointi in normal instruction for eight months,
in two years fifty teachers could have been
graduated in a short course. l make this
suggestion for those interested, without in
tending to find fault with anyone
The general agent supports twelve stu
dents ut Nashville. The object is to give
them thorough training in Normal in
struction. These students obligate them
selves to teach at lease two years in the pub
lie schools in the State. Here again the
theory is good. These twelve receive twenty
four hundred dollars during a session ofeight
months. My suggestion is, that this money
could be used in the State for the perma-
nent education of at least seventy. The
benefit to public education in the State
would be six times greater than under the
present plan. l venture to publish these
suggestion, for this is all / intend, in the
hope that those concerned, may see them,
and give them such consideration as they
may think they deserve. All ask is, that
they do not think me offcious.
E. ID. MILLER,
Supt. Ed. Marshall county.
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss, April is, 1881.