The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-15
The Public Schools of Jackson.

ment here Of shops for both roads, are
pleasant things TO note and hope for.
Water works, a paper mill. furniture
and other factories will all, in the near
future, be institutions of cur city. The
ways and means for securing all these
will be appropriate and profitable topics
for consideration by our citizens at the
proposed monthly meetings.
TIE CLARION ventures to suggest
another interest that deserves very spe-
cial attention, and that is, the Public
Schools of the city. They are not what
they should be, and their improvement
is a duty that should no longer be
delayed The public schools should be
50 organized and equipped, so supervised |
and sustained, as to secure the attend |
ance of ali the children Of the city. |
They should be so complete in all their
appointments as to dispense with the
necessity for private schools. This has
been nearly accomplished in Vicksburg,
Natehez, Water Valley, Columbus, West
Point and other places in the State; and
this is the rule throughout the North
and West The tuition now paid by
the patrons of private schools, and the
money expended in sending boys and
girls to school elsewhere, if added 10 the
present school revenue, would be ample
to erect and furnish suitable buildings,
continue the schools nine or ten months,
and secure the best teaching talent
There is no reason why parents should
be double-tsxed for the education of
their children, and the wonder is that
the burden has been so long and so I'M
complainingly borne. IN 1882, the Board
of Mayor and Aldermen memorialized
the Legislature for the passage OF a bill
for the consolidation and grading of the
public schools of this city. The idea
was to sell the present College Green
property for building lots, and erect
suitable building in the square or park
north of the Executive Mansion This
location for the school wa1 opposed for
several reasons not now necessary to
state, and now that the square has beel
enclosed, and is a sure-enough Park, it
is best that it should so remain. The
College Green property would now bring
much larger sum than in l8S2-per
haps enough to purchase a school site at
some central point that would be aces
sible to the children from all parts of
the city, and contribute also toward the
building fund. A brick building, to
cost from ten to fifteen thousand dollars,
should be erected according to the best
plans of school architecture, and sup
piled with maps, charts and other appli-
ances Then the best teachers that
good salaries could secure, should be
employed, and the school would at once
command a confidence and patronage
equal to its capacity. Families would
remove to jackson for the education of
their children, and thus add to the pop
ulation; and the erection of houses for
their accommodation would enhance the
value of real estate and continue the
building boom.
One great advantage of a school Of
this kind is, that all the children of the
city would he brought into daily con-
tact and competition in their studies
As it now is, they are divided up into
half dozen or more schools, and thus
they grow up to be men and women
quite unacquainted with each other, and
with but little of that co operative feel
ing SO essential TO push and progress in
public as well as in business affairs.
The special law under which the pub
lie schools of Vicksburg are conducted
gives the city authorities ample power to
raise the necessary revenue, and provides
for the election of trustees by the people,
to whom they are directly responsible
for the efficiency of the schools. If the
trustees fail to visit the schools, and
perform no other duty than attend a
meeting for the election of teachers,
they are likely to be retired at the next
election. Trustees should not, necessa-
rily, be patrons OF the school. Some
would make excellent trustees whose
children have been educated, or who
have none to educate. In Jackson, we
have three public schools, and three
separate boards of trustees, each indie
pendent of the other in the election of
| teachers, etc, but sometimes meeting
together for conference. The white pub
| lie schools are located at College Green
and West Jaekson-six teachers. If
these schools could be consolidated and
thoroughly graded, the same teaching
force could do more and better work.
But the citizens of West Jackson very
justly insist upon a separate school until
such time as a central school can be es-
tablished. They will be among the
most active promoters of such an enter
prise. The eolored schools of the city
were consolidated about twelve years
ago, since which time male principal
has been employed, who gets higher
salary than is paid to any of the white
teachers. This is the only colored school
in Jackson.
In presenting this matter to our read
ers, we do not expect that nything
may be accomplished this year. The
tax levy for the next school term has
been made, and for the same schedule
of school work and expenses as hereto
fore; but if some of our progressive,
public spirited citizens will take this
matter in hand and formulate a scheme
for the reorganization and improvement |
of our public school system, we know
that it viii have the hearty cooperation
of Mayor MeGill and the present Board |
of Aldermen. We know, also, that the |
State Superintendent of Education, Hon. |
j. r. Preston, would be a jealous CO.
worker in such an enterprise. Nothing
would please him better than to see
Model Pablo School established at the
State Capital, and We his have personal
assurance that he would do his utmost
to make it success.
There Is no reason why Jackson should
not become an educational, as it is now
becoming commercial centre. In addi-
ton to a perfect public school system,
it is an admirable point for colleges of |