The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-03-29
Public Education.


Gen. Smith. State Superintendent OIL
Public Education will issue, in a few days,
i a pamphlet compilation of the School Laws
Eof the State. as amended by recent legisla-
ton. We take pleasure in transferring to
our columns his Introductory comments,
which summarize, in a clear and compre-
hensive style, all changes that have been
made:
OFFICE STATE SUP. Pun. EDUCaTTo.s,
i JACKSON, Mss, April 3, 1882. !
/ This publication includes the general
School Law OF the State-being Chapter
I TX, of the Revised Code Of IsSO-with such
amendments are indicated at appropriate
places in the text. They are very few, but
i very important, and show that the Legisla-
ture was not only fully impressed with the
necessity of increasing the efficiency of the
Common School system, but made very
i liberal provision to that end. 1t will be
seen by Section 724, that the distributive
common school fund has been increased
one-third-from two hundred thousand to
three hundred thousand dollars-andit will
be noted in Section 730, that the limit as
to county levy for school purposes, mot to
/ s+SGcEN AAACE 4Alllo. 1dS OCCu tCADNCAYsAu4
supervisors may, in their discretion, levy
greater sum, which, with other taxes, shall
not exceed the aggregate fixed By law.
| The "Act TO regulate the term of office of
County Superintendent, and to provide for
| filling vacancies therein" will be found in
full. The salaries of Superintendent, ex-
cept in few counties specially noted, re-
main the same 1t is to be regretted that
they were not increased, with correspond
ing increase of supervision. Still, it is a
pleasure tn know that the office of County
Superintendent is sought by gentlemen of
capacity and integrity, who thus have not
only the opportunity, but the disposition, to
render great service to their fellow-citizens.
The State superintendent earnestly invites |
their continued and jealous cooperation |
Much has already been accomplished. Let
us utilize to best advantage the increased |
means at our disposal, and each succeeding
Legislature will manifest a corresponding /
appreciation.
Special attention is called to the amend
ment to Section Ill, in reference to the pay
of teachers for pupils from other school dis
tricts or counties
1t will be noted that the provisions of
Section 687, are henceforth to be applied to
Indians. In counties where a sufficient
number of educable Indians reside, Super
intendents are authorized to establish one
school exclusively for the Indians, aud to
provide suitable teachers for. the same time
as ether free schools are taught.
The next enumeration of edueable chill
dren will not take place until 1885, and
''until the first day of January, 1886, the
basis of distribution Of the common school
funds of this State, as required by Section
725, of the Revised Code of 1880 shall be
forty per cent. Of the total population of
each county. as shown by the report of the
State Census OF 1880"
BY another Act it will be seen that
several thousand dollars in the Treas
nry, to the credit of the two and three per
cent. funds, is to be applied to common
school purposes-to be used by supervisors
in the construction OF good houses, and re-
pair of same.
The Act apportioning students to the
Agricultural and Mechanical, College, in
proportion to the number OF white educa-
bic children in each county is also published
for the information of all interested.
The liberal appropriation made to the
Agricultural and Mechanical College for
maintenance for 1882 and 1888, and for the
erection of buildings and the purchase Of
land, stock, implements and appliances to
carry out its original design and scope, will
insure the permanent success of the College
A timely appropriation was also made
to the State University, for repairs and inn
provements, and for additions to Library
The colored institutions-Alcprn Univer-
sity, the Normal School at Holly Springs, }
and the Normal Department of Tougaloo :
University-each received the usual appro.
priations.
Altogether, the cause of education in Mis- =
sissippi presents most favorable outlook,
and the close of this decade will furnish
better figures for the census takers.
J. A. SMITH