The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-01
State Superintendent Public Educa

EpIroR CLARION As the teachers OF
the State are directly interested in the
election of a suitable man to the office Of
State Superintendent of Public Education,
| ask space in the columns OF your yaiu-
able paper to express nv Endorsement oil
the capable manner in which the duties OF
the Office have been discharged by the
present incumbent. General james Argyle
smith. Having been a teacher in the
public schools OF one of our counties dur
ing the greater portion OF General Smith
term, feel that | speak not unsdvisedly
when | saw that under his supervision our
public schools have attained a degree OF
excellence which should excite the pride
and stimulate the hopes OF every patriotic
citizen of Mississippi.
Carefully comparing the public school
system of our own State, with that prevail
ing in at least one or two other Southern
States. / find that We may congratulate
ourselves on the fact that in point OF char
acter and ability our schools re second 10
none
That our public schools have exerted
and will still continue to exert manifest
influence on the destiny OF the State, no
one. imagine, will attempt to deny
That this influence Will rebound to the
interest of the people of the State, IS 4
point which the most embittered prejudice
will readily concede There Is perhaps
not locality in the State which has not
been benefited by the judicious manage
ment of our Public School Fund.
Consider what advancement has been
made in the fields of knowledge by the
youth of our State during the terms IN
which our present State Superintendent
has been at the head OF our educational
| system.
The bene6ciaries OF that system are
scattered throughout our State as teachers
superceding the necessity which has
| hitherto existed, OF drawing upon Other
localities for pedagogues who might OF
might not teach the young idea how &c
shoot"
The rapid progress made by the colorseo
students alone is sufficient to convince the
most unthinking mind that an eficaciou
work has been accomplished among then
by the instrumentality Of the Public
Schools.
Those students have been raised from
the sluggish depths of ignorance to which
slavery had condemned them, their be
numbed intellects have responded to tn
quickening touch of education, their con
sciences have been enlightened in proper
ton to the improvement of their intellects
and a new impetus towards civilization
has been given to the entire dusESy race.
Like General Grant, General Smith
pre-eminently a silent man." man o
deeds. not of words. The facts speak 70
themselves. He has not published hi
achievements to the world with an
flourish of trumpets, but to the patien
treless workers in the school-room thos
efforts are known and fully appreciated
No man can furnish better record tina
his previous to his appointment to Office
On the bloody field OF Chickamauga, b
threw himself in the eminent deadl
: breach" in defense of his country's homo
receiving thereby wounds of most dar
gerous character, iucapacitating him fC
the active walks of life. Mississippi
proud Of her devotion to her dead heroe
She should also remember the living.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI TEACHER