The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-17


awards the white citizens OF the town, or |
is example was such as to bring about |
hat result. and as a consequence many |
erious difficulties had actually occurred |
between the pupils OF his school and the
.itizeus and white children OF other schools. |
That ladies had been compelled TO give
he sidewalk or be rudely jostled to one
tide. that they locked arms and walked
he streets with a deliberate design to
elbow people off the plank walks. This
frequently happened TO detenseless women
and children in the absence of a male
and was almost invariably traced
TO the pupils of IIighgate's school, not
withstanding there were several hundred
colored pupils attending other schools IN
the same place. Several witnesses testified
that the students OF the Normal School
were distinguishabie from their fellows OF
other schools on the streets by their inso-
lent bearing and general department. The
irresistible conclusion would seem 10
follow that there was something radically
wrong in the discipline of that school.
There is a want of harmony between the
teachers. Highgate charges his assistant
Bailey, with an ambitious desire TO super
sede him as President Of the Institution.
On the contrary, Bailey states that it is his
independent course in politics that has
given umbrage to Highgate, and that he
has endeavored to suppress articles written
by him for the newspapers ana resented 1t
as personal affront.
This school, which was established for
the purpose Of educating and instructiDg
colored students in the art OF teaching Is
sadly detective in that prime object. There
is not q single Normal feature connected
with the institution; Normal methods are
entirely ignored; and as the Superinten-
dent OF Education of Marshall county,
distinguished educator and accomplished
scholar-says, at is simply a high school
of very low grade" There is no Normal
course of study prescribed, and no lectures
delivered by the teachers 10 the pupils. a
to the best method of imparting knowledge
they may have acquired to others. Prof
Bailey, the first assistant, and grad
uate OF Howard University, d. c., and
who has better opportunity to judge oil
the workings OF the institution than any
one else, states shat they have no books on
normal teaching, nor any lectures on that
subject" ii it ever was conducted as a
normal school, it has degenerated under
its present management into common
school. Pupils who have been attending
school there for number OF years, have
applied to the superintendent OF education
OF that county for a third-grade certificate
as teacher, and been rejected on the grounC
of incapaeity, when they should have beer
qualified in the first instance as third
grade teachers before naturalization in th'
Normal School.
No blame is attached to the trustees
They are gentlemen OF the highest char
acter, and no doubt thought they were act
| ing in the best interest OF the school il
selecting teachers, bat they were confront
ed with the difficulty OF obtaining suitable
colored teacher who was competent to TAX
charge of that school. Although the,
! thought Highgate possessed many qalid
| cations which fitted him for the position
there were objections which outwelghed al
other considerations, and rendered il ne
cessary to make change, and they so in
tended, should the Legislature deem it ad
visable to continue the school.
The Committee was agreeably surprise,
to see the number OF schools, both whit
and colored, in operation at Holly Springs
The place seemed to be alive with schoo
children. There are about 800 colore
pupils in daily attendance on the variou
public schools.
| THE RUST UNIVERSITY
Is magnificent brick structure, bull
after the modern style and situated on a
elevation overlooking the town, about hal
a mile from the court house, and abou
the same distance from the State Norma
School. We were informed it was hand
somely endowed and conducted by an adj
and efficient corps of teachers. There is
| Normal Department to the University, an
the Superintendent of Education of tina
county states that.the pupils stand good eS
animation when they make applicationsf o
certificates to teach, and that few OF ther
are rejected for want of proper training an
qualifications. Every facility is offere
| in that school for the education of teacher
and vastly superior TO the Normal Schoo
according to the testimony of competen
witnesses who have had an opportunity t
i1dge Of such matters. We 90 not thin
| it feasible, however, to "com bine2 the tw
schools, as suggested in the Resolution
for the reason that the Rust University is
UNCONVENTIONAL school, under the auspice
of the Northern Methodist Church.
For reasons above set forth, we recon
mend that the State Nomal School at Holl
Springs be abolished, and that The Trustee
be authorized and empowered to dispos
of said property en- such terms as they ma
deem advisable.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI.
The Committee visited the University
Mississippi at Oxford, employed a stem,
grapher and devoted one entire day 10 tai
ing testimony and investigating til
affairs OF said institution. We were graf
lied to learn that everything was workin
tremendously and satisfactorily. Tt
| Trustees have the interest of the Univers
ty at heart and are fully alive to its we
fare and prosperity. They sometime
differ as to immaterial matters concernin
the general management OF the institution
bat in the main there is perfect harm on
and they work together with commendab
zeal in endeavoring to place it on that hig
eminenee it justly deserves among the fir
Universities of the South.
i The faculty is composed of able an
faithful instructors, with large experienc
some of whom have spent quarter of a cel
fury as Professors in that College and al
thoroughly conversant with all the duti,
pertaining to their respective d.
partments. No College in the Unto
is better equipped or can affol
greater facilities for education. an
all that is necessary 10 make it a grau
success and take first rank among ii
Universities of the land Is the hearty G.
operation aud patronage of all Misslssil
plans, who should feel a just pride in Sc
ing it occupy the proud eminence ii
, richly deserves. Nothing is better calc-
lated to detract from the merits of the il
. stitution or paralyze the efforts of tho
: who are entrusted with its keeping this
unfriendIy remarks or unfounded criticism
in regard 10 lis management. 1t shou
not be regarded By other schools or colleg
as a rival, bat be looked up to as affordir
superior advantages not attainabie els
whereas pre-eninently superior to a
, others. and to which all others should
r tributary All high schools throughol
( the State should be in sympathy with an
i prepare their pupils for entrance into Il
University, and become feeders to The Ii
, stitution. The impression has gone abroa
j that it is in languishing conditio
, simply because there is 4 falling off in Il
number OF students in attendance Th
J fact should not detract from its et1icienc
! as ii is decidedly an advantage to tho
who do attend. The Professors have mol
time to devote to their classes and watc
i the progress Of each pupil and see To Il
proper discipline. But there are sever
, reasons why the attendance is not as lars
this session AS usual In the FIRST place,
is regarded az more expensive school, an
on account of financial depression psren
are deferred from sending their childre
there unless they are able TO give them