The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-20

EDITOR CLlkIos: That our school
Law is imperfect is universally admitted
That it has several very weak points /
-arv evident TO all who have carefully
notl. ed its practical application. pro-
pose calling attention to some of these
defects, with the hope that our Legisla-
tUre will take the matter in hand and
| deal with it as their judgment may
direct. | will also suggest what remedies
for these evils present themselves TO my
mind, hoping that the suggestions will
/ induce some of our Representative to
give these affairs their careful considers
ton.
The inefficiency of our teachers Is one
of the evils that demands attention.
That many Of our teachers are compare
! tive failures no one, in a position TO
know, will deny. To remedy this mat
ter, would suggest that two Institutes,
one for each color, be held In all the
counties of the State annually, and that
the session be not less than one month
in each; that all teachers be required by
law to attend these schools; that it be
the duty of the County Superintendent
of Education, assisted by such local
talent as he can procure, to teach these
institutes free Of charge TO the teachers;
that the course of study pursued IN
these institutes be arranged by the State
Superintendent of Education.
Again, / believe that a day should be
fixed by law for the examination of
teachers, and that every teacher should
be examined yearly. All examination
papers should be sentout from the office
Of State Superintendent of Education,
and each teachers standing in said ex-
aminations should be recorded IN book
kept for that purpose in the ONCE OF
county superintendent.
| believe that school trustees should
be elected at an earlier date than at pres
ent, in order that they may have longer
time in which to select suitable teachers.
| believe the schools should be grad |
ed, according to tAe advancement OF their
pupils, as LIST I'd and Sd class and that |
no teacher in Sd class school receive |
more than $50 per month; in I'd class |
seool not more than S35 per month; and |
in a LIST class school not more than 500 |
per month. This plan would greatly |
reduce the cost of our schools without to |
any appreciable extent impairing their
No teacher, according to this |
plan, could teach in school of higher
grade than his certificate. The schools /
should oe graded by the county superln-
tendents visiting them and examining
the pupils.
County superintendent should be
allowed reasonable salaries, say 500 per
month during the continuance of pub
lie schools and the same amount for time
spent in teaching institutes above men
toned, and required to visit the schools
and do work therein during the entire
free term. They should bo required to
make monthly reports to the boards OF
in their respective counties,
giving an itemiZed account of each day
work All lost time should be deducted
rom their salaries, and an order made
by the Board of Supervisors, as in other
accounts, for the payment of what is
lue.
No County Superintendent of Educa-
ion should be allowed to teach in a
public school. He should look after all
he schools, and not give his entire time
md attention to any one school.
/ believe the public schools should be
opened on the first Monday in Nov, and
he entire public term completed with
,ut an intermission. Allowing public
schools to be taught during any month
If the year gives children an opportu-
lity to attend more than one school,
hus getting more public tuition than
he other pupils of the county. The
present mode of dividing the school term
nto the parts of two or three months
ZACH is very Objectionable for ihany
'easons which suggest themselves.
w b. ROS- BOROI-GH
Sup't Ed, Tate County.
SESATOBIA, Jan. 13, 1886.