The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-02
For THE CLARIoE.l
Defects in our Public School System

Being one of those that believes that
Mississippi can do more in the way OF
promoting public education than SHE
has done, | beg leave to point ont few
defects in our public school system and
make few suggestions. The first defect
that | shall notice il the length OF time
taught Two months is too short term.
The child only begins to learn we'll and
take an interest in its lesson, when il
has to stop on account Of school closing
and ~ a consequence, forgets great
deal it has learned. | wonld suggest a.
remedy for this defect, that there be
fewer schools and that a small additional
tax be LEVIED 20 AS To have at least a FIVE
month school. / know there are those
that will cry out against an additional
tax, but would say to them. you have
not certainly studied this subject; If you
had, you would find that the mosT highly
educated communities are the most re-
fined and wealthiest communities in the
world and on the, c0ntrary if you want
To- see the most poverty com
muniLies in the world you 60 10 unedu
Gated communities, and there you will
find poverty, wretehedness and crime t"
your hearts content. 1t the people viii
only invest their money in schooling
their children. they will find it the best
investment in a financial point of view
that they ever made. 1t is Il well known
fact that the greatest complaint that the
planters make is the ignorance oil their
labor They say that it is almost i'm
possible to get anything done right on
c,unt of their ignorance | think il
would pay these planters to institute
hight schools among their labor and /
hink it would soon paw them in the in
creased intelligence with which their
ahor would cultivate the soil. There l.
no farmer that knows his own interest
bat would rather have an intelligent
man work for him than an ignorant one
Therefore to have intelligent labor We
must educate that labor.
have heard some such comments as
his on the A. & NJ. College: it was
aui t at public expense to educate rich
men sous, and that poor people were
unable to avail them >elves of its advan-
tages; but if such be the case it is TO be
regretted, but the school should not be
condemned on that account. We should
seek to remedy the defect, and / will
venture to make suggestion that
would have tendency to remedy the
defect, if such exists. 1t is this: that
each public school teacher be required
to send the most intelligent pupil in his
school TO the superintendent of public
schools .or examination. and out of those
-ent up for examination there shall be a
competitive examination, and that each
REPRESENTATIVE shall be required to send
the pupil standing the highest examina
ton to the A. & NJ. College, and that
the State give the pupil such assistanc
IS may be necessary To his thorough
education. But the pupil should be
require to pledge himself that he would
follow some mechanical or agricultural
occupation for at least three years after
leaving school. believe that the A. &
VI. College is one of the wisest provis-
ious of our State for the practical
.ducation of her children. Il will be
like the fountain head of a river int
which the smaller streams will How
| until it becomes great river o eniight
| nent to our State and to the world
G.. I. III.