The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-09
A Queer Demand.
Aberdeen weekly.1

Professor I'll. I. Moore, County Superin-
iendent OF Education for Warren county,
recently receiyed.two bills from Mr.. W. r.
Spencer, County Superintendent OF Lincoln
county, one for FIVE and the other Tor six
dollars, against Warren county Tor pupils
taught AT Whitworth College lin that coun-
ty) from Warren county during two months
OF the last term. This bill designates
Whitworth College as q free school, which
will be news TO the parents or guardians OF
the six young ladies from this county who
attended said school last session and paid
their board and tuition just the same as if
il was pay school. Prof. Moore wrote
to Mr.. Spencer to know by what right he
made this demand, when the following an
swer was received:
BRooKHAvES, Miss, Aug. q, 1885.
County Superintendent of Warren county,
Vieksburg, Miss:
Your favor of the 18th 10 hand, asking
by what construction of the law / base the
claim of Whitworth College, has been re-
ceived, and in reply will say that Gen. j.
4. Smith has given section I'll, and amend
ment thereto in laws of 1882, page 81, a
liberal construction, and rules that 1t
applies 10 schools and counties throughout
the State, aud does not restrict its appli-
cation to contiguous county and line
schools. Whitworth College is recognized
as public school by the proper authorities,
and annually draws portion of the
school funds. The pay certificates are 10
be turned over to the patrons OF the
institution, as | understand. .
Respectfully.
W. r. SPENCER,
County Superintendent Lincoln Co.
Mr.. Moore, then referred the matter to
the State Superintendent, who replied as
follows:
JACKSON, Miss, Aug. IS, 1885.
Prof H t. Moore, Superintendent Public Eduea-
tion, Nicksburg, Miss:
DEAR SIR-Yours of the 18th inst, in
closing pay certificates from Lincoln coun-
ty is TO hand, and in reply l would say
that l am OF the opinion that the accounts
are correct and should be paid. The only
question in point is: Is Whitworth Col
lege public school The superintendent
of the county in which it is located certiie-
that it is. Under my construction OF the
law educable children may attend any
public school in the State free of charge.
Yours very truly,
J. A. SMITH, State Superintendent.
We reproduce the foregoing from The
Vicksburg Herald, for the purpose of show
ing the weakness, we almost said iniquity
| of the statute that allows it. Monrot
county pays out each year hundreds o
dollars to other counties for the tuition
of children who go from the very shadow
of Monroe county school houses, because
they don't like the teacher, or desire al
'off-from-home polish" entailing add
tional expense and serving to break dowr
home schools. The statute is all wrong
no child should have tuition paid who
attends school outside home county limits
unless attending absolute line schools
that is schools situated not further thar
a half mile from county line. Indeed
the next Legislature should doctor thu
present school law into some explicit an,
| practical shape, also reduce the curricu
lum to the strict primary studies, and fl
the age of benefeiaries at from eight t.
| eighteen years.