The Russellville Democrat., 1882-05-25
OUR SCHOOL.
An Institution of Which the
 People are Proud.
The Progress of the Past and
 Hopes of the Future.

Arkansas has made rapid strides for ward in the great cause of the public education of the masses, and go where one will, within her borders, he will see unmistakable evidence of the fact. The people everywhere have been lib- eral in their support of public schools, both financially and morally, and to- ' day Arkansas occupies proud position well up in the front rank of the educa- tional army.
 In no city or town of the state has greater or more healthful progress been made than in Russellville. Until last year, the people, never having had the benefit of tirst-class public school, were 10th to give it their support and almost invariably voted against the tax, leaving the district with no reve- nue but their per capita share of the general school fund of the state. Thus education languished in our otherwise enterprisiHg town, and thus the cause of education was found by Rev. G. A. Jones, who moved to the place from Dover two years ago. Mir. Jones, with hope for the future, established'a pri- vate school and being first-class edu- cator and exemplary christian gentle man, he soon aroused the educational fire that had long been slumbering and only needed stirring and flaming to cause it to burst forth in an inextin- guishable flame that has been kept burning brightly ever since. With confidence in the people, Mr. Jones started the project of building a large schoolhouse and, enlisting the aid of a few progressive spirits, lie persevered in the good work until brought to com pletien. Something tangible in the shape Of school appearing, the people of this special school district last year voted the full amount of tax authorized by law. This put the cause of educa- tion on a firm basis in Russellville and Mr. Jones, with that indomitable ener- gy for which he is noted, sprang to the work before him with renewed zeal and carried the citadel of opposition. He has labored iL and cut of season for this people and their children, and has brought order out of chaos, until we can boast of having one of, if not THE BEST graded public school in the state. In discipline of the pupils from the tiny primary pupil to the grown young lady or gentleman of the high school, Mr. Jones has not superior in the state, and we make the assertion with out fear of successful contradiction. AS to his intellectual attainments, we have no hesitancY in saying that we re- gard him as one of the ripest scholars and clearsst- brained meE in the com- monwealth, but no better evidence of this fact is needed than to point to the advancement made in the several stud ies by the pupils who have been under his training. The honor of having Snnh alt
 ing in Russellville can justly bs given to Mr. Jones, for but few men could have succeeded in the face of the difh- culties he overcame. The board of school directors are wide-awake, pro- gressive men, and have nobly sustained Mr. Jones in the past in the glorious victory he has achieved, and we hope they will honor the people, themselves and Mir. Jones by retaining him at the head of the public school for the next year, and we are confident we but echo the unanimous voice of the patrons of the school and the taxpayers in hoping the board will unite as one man and say to MT. Jones, "Well done, good and faithful servant" and reward him by retention in the exalted position he has so honorably and satisfactorily filled. In the schoolroom labors, Mr. Jones has been ably assisted by Prof, L. E. Alien, and Misses Florence Mcclure, Addie Kirby and Fannie B. Collier, than whom four better teach CTS in their respective departments it would be difficult to find. The music depa artment has been most efficiently managed by Mrs. E. c. Barrow, who is abreast of the musical progress of the age. All in all, 1t would indeed be similar to hunting for needle in haystack" to attempt to find better, corps of teachers than Rev. G. A. Jones and his assistants.