The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1894-08-31
To the Patrons and Trustees OF Our
Public Schools.
RESPECTED FRIENDS /:

Il
Public Schools.
RESPECTED FRIENDS f:
The business and responsible
tiles of the new scholastic year arc
opening upon us. You will shortly
be called to select your school offici-
ais and your teachers for another
term. The occasion is a momentous
one; for on your choice depends the
success or failure Of your school; and
1 cannot, in view of the gravity OF
the situation, let this occasion pass
without speaking 10 you of those
things so very near TO the life OF our
schools. OF my deep interest in their
welfare, you have been long ago con-
vinced. My deep solicitude, lest mis-.
takes may be made that may mar the
machinery Of our system, and keen
desire to further improve the work of
our excellent schools, impeI me to
speak to you as "frIend to friend"
On the first Saturday Of September
(see notice in the Reveille), you are
to choose new trustees and perhaps a
teacher. AS two Of these trustees are
TO remain in Office for two and three
years, they should be the representa-
tive, settled men of your school dis
trict-men free from bias, with a Wit
al, earnest interest in your school, on
whom you can rely at all times to do
their duty to teacher, pupils and pa
irons fearlessly, and who will coop
crate with the Superintendent in his
efforts to bring your schools up 10 the
maximum degree Of efficiency, as TO
discipline, instruction and classifca-
tion. YOnr willing cooperation in
the past has made it possible for us
to outstrip every county in the state
in educational work, and with it, for
the future we may expect and realize
grand things for Claiborne county.
In your selection Of a teacher for
your children, let me entreat you to
weigh well every phase Of the appli-
cant's life and experience before you
entrust her or him with the training
of those children. Eight or nine
months Of wasted time, Of misapplied
instruction, of lack OF moral influ-
ences, 10 these little ones, mean a
criminal responsibility TO your Maker
for your hasty, ill-cOnsidered selec-
ton, and it will take years to undo
the mischief thus done. Your schools
are we'll graded, the whole system
now revOlVes together as harmoni-
ous whole, and no teacher should be
chosen, who, you believe, cannot or
will not adjust herself 10 the rules
for maintaining them up to that high
standard Of progress in which we
now find them.
Our most grievous fault is the con-
slant desire to change teachers too
often for causes not connected with
the regime of the school. If / may
be permitted to offer q word Of eau
tion here, it is that an ideal teacher
never has been found-neyer will be:
so, to search for one is "a vain
thing" Unless your teacher is in
or cannot enforce order
and discipline, or is irTeIigiOHs, or
ignores the regulations, she should
be retained for another term. You
have in such man or woman all the
essentials that make a good teacher,
and we should, in this case, be guild
ed by the maxim, "Let well enough |
alone" A great deal more harm is
done to the pupils and school by max
ing change than by retaining a
pGSsably fair teacher.
Applications are pouring in, daily,
for positions in our schools; and from
this broad field you may gather the
richest fruit, if you desire change;
you need not make a single false step
in this direction.
Our schools will open on the 5th
day of November; but again recon-
mend the month OF private tuition in
0ctober;-the results we're excellent
last term. Our funds viii eni tle US
10 run our schools as long as before,
and l earnestly ask you to give me
your support again, so that we may
10 grander, higher things for these
and make them second to
none in the state. We must not take
my steps backward in this matter.
Yours respectfully,
CHAS. X. REGAIN.
August 10th, 1894.