The Daily clarion., 1886-02-24
Our State Finances and Our School
System

EDITOR CLAgIoS; | have just read
the articles by Wool Hat on the fore
going subject published in your last
weekly issue. quote sentence in tie
last paragraph: 81 do not believe there
is faculty OF educators In America
unpr0yided with a situatisn they are
unwilling TO abandon who would decline
10 take charge Of any one Of our Colleges,
il they could be assured that the State
would continue 10 lend us moral support
and would appropriate annually an
amount equal to 5000 ia advance
TO pay the tuition Of each student"
This reminds me OF proposition the
writer made 70 the Legislature in tebru-
ary, 1882 He WIS appointed by the
State Association Of Teachers 10 memo.
rialize the Legislature 70 establish a
NJsmai School This ~ did by pre-
sentilg written memorial to the House,
which was referred without reading.
lie afterwards had memorial printed
Ga copy Of which is herewith enclosed)
and put on the desk Of every member.
lie drew bill and advocated its adop-
ton before the Committee on Educs
tiOn. Believing, from information he
had from members, that the Legislature
would not incur the expense of erecting
suitable building as provided for in
the BILL he submitted the following
proposition TO the Senate Committee on
EducatiOn
should the Legislature be indisposed
to appropriate money to put up a suit
- I,,sI,It,,.. f,r ZAata hnrptaI Anhnpl
the undersigned proposes to procure or
erect = first class school building or
buildings for State Normal School at
such place and on such plans as shall
meet the approval of Board of Trustees
to lie appointed by the Governor, with
out any expense TO the State, and to
open ana conduct the school under the
direction OF said Board, the pupils to
consist of white males and females, or
of white females only, tuition and text
books free, the school to be fully under
State control, according to the provisions
of the bill accompanying this, On CON
dtion that the State will pay sixty
dollars, or should text books not be fur
nished free, then fifty dollars per school
year for every pupil in attendance.
This proposition is made on the suppos-
tion that the State is not willing to
appropriate the money necessary for a
building and for carrying on the school.
February 2, 1892
1t is proper TO say that the writer had
been assured by prominent gentleman
of Grenada, that the building there
could be procured for nominal sum;
or if he should fail in that, or if the
trustees would not receive it, he was
satisfied he could erect a suitable build
INK at any place they might name. It
is also proper TO say that he had con
suited with DR.. Curry, Agent of the
Peabody Fund, who approved the plan,
promised assistance, and recommended
as principal Il distinguished educator
who WAS experienced aud successful MS
Normal teacher.
One argument urged before the Com
mittee was, that the benefits of Normal
School could be tested by the State
without any outlay for buildings, or for
other object, except for tuition, and
that if the results were not satisfactory,
the State could withdraw its support
without loss,
Of course the writer did not suppose
he would lose anything by the venture.
That first ss.teachers could be pro
cured aud all necessary arrangements
perfected with the $4,000 guaranty, he
did not doubt for moment.
wish to add that the writer did not
intend to abandon Whitworth College,
but TO intrust the teaching in the
Normal School to such teachers as the
Trustees might appr0ve-under the
immediate control of the gentlemen to
whom reference has been made, or some
other person equally competent.
The foregoing is submitted as part
of the history of the first effort to have
established a Normal School in Missis-
sippi Il. F, JOHNSON.
February 10, 1886,