The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1897-07-30
Why the Summer Schools Are Not
Taught.

isbAApi kNaAAhtihA-rNbAs
l am glad to be called on to ex-
plain why the summer schools are not
being taught. Ny acts, as county
superintendent, are open to criticism,
and | am ready and willing to take
advice, but really did not expect ito
be jumped on like thousand brickn
by a teacher, when it was sympathy
for them that has caused some of the
trouble. How much better is 1T to
earn $500 by teaching school four
months than to be compelled to teach
eight months for it. Now, teachers.
| must be just before generous, so
please don't complain $50 much) when
justice is mcted out to all next year.
Most teachers have not complained.
In giving reasons why summer
schools are not taught, | will be as
brief as possible:
Last year ('95-'96) the public schools
OF this county, exclusive Of Scranton
and Ocean Springs, cost S9,724.l2,
then we had 5l schools: anticipating
about the same amount this year, five
hC" cNiibDio WtlC lbtdttu dub IL ICuuC-
tion made Of teachers salaries OF
about ID per cent. in order to have all
taught. In this we were trying to do
the most good for the largest number.
Our State distribution this year, ex-
elusive OF Scranton and Ocean Springs,
was only $6,2iS.64-mark the differ
ence. Now, ii this does not place Il
man "between the devil and the deep
blue sea-" I'd like to know what does.
| was begged by teachers not to cut
their salaries, and even urged by our
State Superintendent to avoid, If pos
siblc, such an emergency but | agreed
in locating the five new schools, tell
ing the petitioners that | was willing
to meet them half way, and that
patrons must charge teachers less
board than formerly. We erred in
Judgment, but not in heart. Some
may ask why this shortage?
In lS94-'95 we had 1919 educable
children in Jackson county. Now,
1S9G-'97 we have 4,767, and out of this
number Scranton and Ocean Springs,
separate school districts, have 15S
more than in lS94-'95. The town of
Scranton has been paid this year
[Sl36.4 4S for county pupils outside town
limits. This year we received much
less per pupil than last. The river
counties are swelling in population
and we losing There are 56 schools
to be taught next year with about
S6, 24S, a, including supcrintendents
salary, treasurer's commissions, eX-
pcnscs of the school board, assessors
fee for cnumcrating, stationery, print
ing, etc.
Friends, can you solve this problem
for me without petitioning the hon,
orablc board of supervisors to make
an extra one mill levy for school pur-
poses, You don't want your schools
discontinued. New ones are being
pleaded for. 1t will take at least
eco to run our schools. Must we
ask our teachers to work for 500 800 SO
and &25? Can our best teachers af-
ford to teach for what some other
counties are paying. Our county has
been paying the maximum salaries,
aud we have thus induced some of the
best teachers in the State to come
here. Can't you supplement their
salaries, or give them their board.
Please let me hear from every school
district on this subject. You can't
ignore it, Let us tide over the next
scholastic year, then, perhaps, we will
get the law, which was passed by the
Senate during the extra session of the
Legislature, but killed in the House.
This bill will give us relief. They
have promised it to us. / shall go to
Jackson when the Legislature meets
in January next, and with Others work
for its passage.
Heed the advise of "Tcacher." +"
Don't sit passiyely by and let our
school interests suffer Wemust meet
the issue. The law says the schools
must be taught, and the law also says
that no superintendent can issue pay
certificates when there is no money in
the treasury, nor cause a teacher to
teach when there is no money to pay
him with (betwocn the devil and the
blue sea again, compel me to cut the
salaries so low that we can't get
teachers, and how can ] have the
schools taught? Come to the front,
talk to your supervisors, convince
ulShu ChHO wv INNt Will SINC NdulSldC-
tion, and we will get it. They are
sensible and reasonable men. The
law authorizes it, justice demands it.,
and our children cry for it.
Give me the money, dear friends.
and your schools shall be taught. No
one regrets more than | the failure to
run the schools. If | have not the in
terest of your children at heart, then
I'm an Annanias.
A word to teachers. Let me again
urge upon all who intend to teach next
session to attend the Institute, begin
ming August 23d. You will get the
worth of your time and money. Bring
your text books and prepare for the
examination. We will help you Send
for a syllabus If I've neglected you.
Trustees, come on Friday and show
an interest in your charge.
Respectfully,
ID. ID. COWAN,
Co. Supt. OF Ed'n, jackson County,
Scranton, Miss, July 30, 1897.