The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-01-16
The School Law.

EDITOR CLARIos: That our school
Law is imperfect is universally admitted.
That il has several very weak points is
very evident to all who have carefully
noticed It's 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 10 my
mind, hoping tina. the suggestions will
induce some Of our Representatives 10
give these affairs their careful cOnsidera-
ton.
The ineiiiciency Of our teachers is one
Of the evils that demands attention
That many Of our teachers are compara
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 be 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 day should be
fixed by law for the examination Of
teachers, and that every teacher should
be examined yearly, All examination
papers should be sent out 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 Office OF
county superintendent.
! believe that school trustees should
be elected at an earlier date than at pres
ent, in order that they may have alOnger
time in which to select suitable teachers.
believe the schools should be grad.
ed, according TO the advancement OF their
pupils, as lst, I'd and Sd class and that
lao teacher in a I'd class school receive
more than $25 per month; in I'd class
scool not more than $35 per month and
in LIST class school rot more than $50
per month This plan would greatly
reduce the cost of our schools without to
any appreciabe extent impairing their
efficiency. No teacher, according to this
plan, could teach in school of higher
grade than his certificate. The schools
should be graded by the county superin.
tendents visiting them and examining
tho pupils.
County Superintendents should be
allowed reasonable salaries, say 800 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
supervisors in their respective counties,
giving an itemized account of each day s
work. All lost time should be deducted
from their salaries, and an order made
by the Board of Supervisors, AS in other
accounts, for the payment of what is
due.
No County Superintendent of Educa-
tion should be allowed to teach in a
public school. He should look after all
the schools, and not give his entire time
and attention to any one school.
believe the public schools should be
opened on the first Monday in Nov, and
the entire public term completed with.
out an intermission. Allowing public
schools TO be taught during any month
of the year gives children an opportu-
nifty TO attend more than one school,
thus getting more public tuition than
the other pupils of the county. The
present mode of dividing the school term
into the parts of two or three months
each is very Objectionable for many
reasons which suggest themselves.
w. B. Ros5BoRoUGH,
Sup't Ed, Tate County.
SENAToBiA, Jan. l3, 1886.