The Osceola times., 1885-05-23
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS.
The schools Of Little Rock.

The schools Of Little Rock.
A correspondent Of the ST. Louis Globe
Democrat recently visited the various
public schools Of Little Rock, and this 10
what he says OF them:
"Ths schools here enroll at the present
time some $500 scholars; the populau on
Of the city 10 estimated ct 2),oOl. This
shows II per cent actually attending
school, while San Francisco has II per
cont; Chicago, IA per cont; Boston, Is
per cent; vicksbarz, Miss, 10 per cont. ;
Omaha, 10 per cent; Cincinnati. IA per
cent; Milwaukee. IS per cent, and st.
Louis, 10 per cent.
The friends Of public education will be
pleased to hear shat reports which arc true
of sDme Southern cities do not ap.
ply here. The proportion OF whites
to colored 10 - : TO ], and the
proportion OF the enrolment 10 as 2 10
!. By these figures We see that the schools
for the colored children are just ~ well
patronised in proportion to the population
IS the schools for the white, and tie roa-
son for IL 10 that the School Board have
provided An exactly parallel course Of in
struction for both races, and taken pains
10 secure equally good teachers for both,
20 that no ono could possibly have excuse
for saying thst Little Rock neglected any
class. There are among the forty one
teachers fourteen eolored teachers, thus
properly representing all classes.
Another excellent feature Is that no re.
ligious denomination dictates the action
OF the board. In other words, . teacher
docs not have 10 belong 10 some particular
church 10 have the social inf fence Of that
church to get or keep for him place. The
School Board have made their policy &c
impartial In this particular that all de.
nominations, including the Catholic, are
represented, and consequently all the
churches heartily support the schools. All
broad minded ministers commend them tc
the patronage OF their respective fol
lowers There are, Of course, people who
do not know what good school 10 who
object
The course Of study IL parallel with that
Of the best schools of the United States
having . hvs years. primary course, q
four years grammar course. In the
grammar grades . system Of "depart.
ment" work or . division Of teaching
Into separate branches 10 success ly
carried on One teaches arithmetic, an.
other teaches grammar, another teaches
reading. another teaches geography, and
20 on. By this system . teacher can b
much more proficient, AMI . scholar can
receive more personal attention from the
teacher.
The salaries paid to teachers of the same
experience and preparati ons are tho same
whether they teach primary grades or
grammar grades
The average cost Of instruction and in.
cidentals per capita, based on the average
daily attendance, 10 $I3.9l Comparing
this with the Same data from other cities,
we have very favorable show ing for the
business mana cement Of the Board: Dem
ver, $2l.6S; Atlanta. $i4s4; k uisvills.
&L22; st. Joseph, $lL01; Chattanooga.
Si3.2s: Nashville. $l5sz
Your correspondent spent two hours
visiting the colored hi gh school, which Is
under the supervision Of Prof. H allie. The
organization and quality Of instruction
there will compare vsy favofably with
the best high schools In the United States,
and 10 . reminder that the grand solution
for the great political problems in tie
South 10 education.
The people Of Little Rock are 10 Le conf.
plimeuted on their wisdom in selecting
level-headed men to manage the schools.
and without reference to politics, as there
are on the board two Democrats, two In
dependents and two Republicans; and
they are to be commended In having sc
rovnpetant a Su N ari n tan ant nj a Prof ! n
Rightsell, to whom belongs . large share
of the credit for the present ane condition
Of the schools.