Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-04-03
Local Correspondence.
SUPT. GIRAULT EXPLAINS.
lie Makes IA Clear Showing in Answer
our Eor-a.nnuIant's s,r;t;,;s,,s

| our Correspondents Criticisms.
OFFICE OF SUPT. OF EDUCA-
TIoN OF LINCOLN COUNTY MISS,
April ., 1894.
| Editor MISSISSIPPI LEADER:
\ citizen living in the Mt. Moriah
neighborhood, ) miles South from
Brookhaven, asks "the County Super
intendent of Education to explain why
Mr.. Frank Campbell has an assistant
teacher for less number of students
than is required by law" And states
farther, that "a patron of the school
| informed him that the attendance of
pupils ran down as low as fifteen stu
dents during the Sd week in the 4th
month of the term" &c. Replying to
| this, beg leave to state:
1st. If the gentleman had asked me
personally (which was his privilege
and duty) could have saved him the
trouble of writing the unnecessary ar
ticle, which is a little savored with
censure as to having special pets, &c.
81 take pleasure in making the follow
ing explanation:
In the LIST place the month had not
| ended in which the small number of
pupils are claimed to have been in at
tendance, before the whole matter was
published-that is to say, an objection
was made and complaint filed before
the month had closed. The school re-
port was not made out until the week
after the complaint was filed. No
doubt only ID pupils were in attendance
on some rainy day, but that would not
change the general attendance, for
there might have been 40 or 80 pupils
the following day.
When there are 40 pupils in actual
attendance the County Superintendent
can visit the school and grant an as
sistant, If IN has Judgment one be need
ed. The Mt. Moriah School Reports,
now on file in my office, signed by the
teachers and trustees, show the fol-
lowing:
First month 81 pupils attended school.
Second month 81 pupils attended g
Third month o3 pupils attended school.
Fourth month AZ pupils attended school
visited the school January 10, 1894,
being the second month of the term,
and granted an assistant for 3 weeks
during that month There was no as
sistant the 1st month"; There was a
full school during the third month (53
pupils and the assistant teacher was
retained At the close of the third
month | Intercepted the teacher as to
whether an assistant would be needed
during the 4th, or last month, or not.
He stated that he was sure there would
be over 40 pupils during the 4th or last
month. Therefore, permitted the as
sistant teacher to continue.
1t is the ruling of the State Board
that if an assistant teacher is employed
during any school month, and per-
forms the work, such teacher should be
paid his or her salary, even if the at
tendance does fall short of the require
ment, &c. But care should be taken
not to employ the assistant the subSe-
quent or following month, for this
would be wrong. Suppose an assistant
teacher is employed and board, lodging
&c, are contracted for by the teacher,
and the school goes down before the
end of the month. must the teacher
pay board, &c, and receive no wages?
| trow not.
In conclusion am always pleased to
talk with any one on school matters,
and make any explanation in this re-
gard. | am very anxious to have as
good schools as the time and money
allotted will give US. | ask every citi-
zen to assist me in this direction. If
you know or hear any thing wrong
about a public school, 7 will thank you
to name it to me, when you see me, or
write me a note, but don't try to con-
denim and publish me without an OPP
portunity of defense. I am not infal-
liable by any means; to the contrary, l
need your counsel, even your prayer
fui assistance.
have made this simple and wordy
explanation because it is Just and
right to all parties concerned.
j. M. GIRAULT,
County Supt. of Education.