The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-06
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Report of Hon. ]. a, Smith, State
Superintendent, for the Year 1884,
OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT }
PUBLIC EDUCATION. ?
JACKSON Miss ADril d 1880

ANhSON, AAloo.s y pm -, 1901
Hon. ROBERT Lowry, Governor of Mis-
sissippi;
SRI have the honor to submit this
my report for the year 1884. lnasmuch
as the Legislature Will not be in regular
session again until another annual re-
port from this Office shall have been
made, all matters pertaining to the sys-
TEN Of Public Education, needing spe-
cial legislation, are omitted from this
report. 1t is proposed here to refer
only to public education, including such
statistics as may give a clear under
standing Of its present condition.
In the general prosperity which a
bountiful Providence has vouchsafed to
the people of Mississippi during the
past year, the cause Of popular educa-
ton has fully shared. Personal vista
ton and observation, together with evil
dence furnished by reports of county
superintendents, have satisfied me that
the interest in favor of our system of
public education, as established by law,
in steadily increasing and assuming q
more intelligent and well defined form
Of action. Notwithstanding the fact
that there are still a few who can see no
merit in it, active opposition to the sys-
TEN has almost ceased, and universal
recognition of the idea that the State
should maintain and cherish uniform
system of public education is assured.
1t is a source of no little qualification
to be able to state that the system is in
healthier condition, and that the COM
plicated machinery of the department
ii working more smoothly and satisfac-
torily than at any time III its previous
history. The insufficiency Of funds has
been, and still is, the great drawback to
an approximation to perfection i'll the
system. This difficulty has, however,
been removed, to a limited extent, by
the act of Legislature of 1882, whereby
the State distributive school fund was
increased to 100000. Then again, the
condition of the school fund in all
the counties of the State, with few
exceptions, is much improved. Old
debts, o. years standing, have been paid
off. The county levy of taxes for the
last few years tor school purposes has
been more liberal and paid more will
ingly than at any previous time. In
but few counties now are school war
rants below par, there being money on
hand to pay them off when due. With
rare exceptions, in counties, the schools
for the past year were continued four
months, and in some of the more pro-
gressive counties, for five months. This
year, ! am informed by county superin-
tendents, several of the counties will be
able to continue their schools for six
months, and this without the levy of adj
ditional taxes for their maintenance,
In nearly all of our cities and larger
towns the public schools are continued
from eight to ten months, and are doing
well, the most efficient among them
being those where the local revenues
are liberal and constant, as thereby an
energetic public sentiment, local interest
and watchfulness SIS to results are Sc
cured. These schools are generally well
graded, and a good, practical elementary
education can be obtained in them
Local supervision is receiving more at
tention, the boards of supervisors in
several of tho counties paying the ex.
penses of the county superintendent
that he may give his personal attention
TO the schools, and this has aroused new
interest on the part of trustees and
patrons. Local agencies are needful
auxiliaries, and thorough county super.
vision has been demonstrated to be most
helpful in bringing schools up to the
proper standard.
Another marked improvement and
hopeful sign is the increased efficiency
in our teaching force, and this is due
principally to increased interest in the
cause of education throughout the State
as manifested by the increased attend
ance not only in the public, but also in
| the private schools.
| Teachers Institutes, under the direc
| ton of this department, lave been held
in many of the counties of the
State with good results. Out of these
| County Institutes, under the direction
of the County superintendent. have
grown, and which in many instances
| have become well established, and are
doing much in the preparation of teach
ers for their work. In addition to this
many of our private schools of high
grade, recognizing the increased demand
| for educated teachers in our public
schools, have attached to them nor
NAL department in which those who pro
pose making teaching profession car
acquire fair preparation in elemen-
tary branches for their vocation. The
State being but indiferently provided
with schools for the education and train
| ing of her teachers, especially her white
teachers, we must depend for the pres
ent mainly upon private schools of high
grade, and Teachers Institutes, for gooc
teachers. Obviously there is much
waste of money, time and talent in EN-
ploying unskiiled and Incompetent
| teachers. Observation and inquiry fur
nish conclusive evidence as 10 the ad
vantage of trained teachers, in methods
and processes of instruction, in the or
ganization and management and discip
line of schools, in elevating the profes
sion of teaching, and in educating the
people to better estimate of the true
object and value of school system
The education received in schools and
colleges il a meagre result compared
with what might be accomplished ii
teachers knew how TO teach so as te
obtain the best results A good scholar
is not necessarily good teacher. The
solsat and the h0lo are two very different
/ things. If the art of teaching il
founded on the science of education, and
the science of education j. founded on
the science Of mind, then it is not true
that any respectfully educated person
can teach. What Mississippi most
needs to-day for the promotion of hel
educational interests and the enlighten