The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-26
Commissioner GIenn's Report.

| Commissioners GIenn's Report.
| The annual report of state School Com
missioner Glenn, a synopsis of which we
4 publish this morning, is very well calcu-
lated TO give a favorable impression of our
public schools and TO increase public inter-
est in them. Mr.. Glenn appears to be very
much in love with his work. Able earnest
and enthusiastic he has made notable pro-
gross in building up our public school sys-
TEN. If he had the means 70 do all he
would like to do, and what he sees ought
to be done, it would not be many years
before Georgia would be second TO no
other state in the general intelligence of
the masses of her people. We agree with
him that the state could make no better
or more profitable investment than to put
money in her public schools. In proportion
as illiteracy was driven from her borders
her wealth and prosperity would increase.
He says that the states which have the
lowest percentage of ilnteracy have the
greatest prosperity, and have also the
greatest variety of manufacturing insttu-
tons. Other facts to which he calls atten-
ton are that states which produce the
converting their raw materials into manu-
featured products have the finest systems
of public schools and crime decreases
among the native population just in pro-
portion as intelligence spreads among the
Iaboring classes"
Surely the foregoing conditions are wen
worth striving for. Georgia has vast I'M
developed resources from which wealth can
be produced. These resources will be devel-
oped, however, in proportion as her people
are educated. There is no reason why
Georgia should not turn the cotton from
her fields into manufactured goods, and
her iron ore into the great variety OF iron
and steel products which are demanded
by the markets of the world.
Mr.. Glenn says that the interest in edu-
cation taken by the people in all parts of
the state is increasing with gratifying ra-
pidty. Some of the counties have as many
as fifteen more school houses than they
had a year ago. 1t is noticeable that a
better grade Of school houses is being
erected and that in the rural districts the
tendency is to build finer dwelling houses
in the vicinity Of the better grade school
houses.
The amount spent annually for education
is not of course what it ought
to be. Mr. Glenn thinks there
should be an educational tax in
all of the counties. Some of the coun-
ties have such tax which, together with
what they receive from the state enables
them TO have good schools This question
of a local tax for school purposes is one
which we have often discussed. We agree
with Mr.. Glenn that the great majority of
the people would willingly pay such tax
The payment of tax of that
kind would lead them to take
deeper interest in the schools
and have a higher appreciation of them.
The legislature at its approaching session
will be asked to consider this question of
local taxation for educational purposes. 1t
ought to give it very careful attention.
1t is gratifying to learn from Mr.. Glenn's
report that there are many hopeful signs
that the people are awakening to the i'm
portance of education among the masses.
In the number of teachers last year there
was an increase of 143. The increase in the
first grade teachers was 27s, and in the
number of trained teachers 242. This is a
pretty good showing. Our great need of the
public schools is a higher grade of teach
ers and it appears from Mr.. Glenn's re-
port the number of high grade and train
ed teachers is steadily increasing. The in
crease in the number of pupils is also
gratifying. The increase in 1896 over 1895
was 28,12o, and the increase in the number
of schools was 1876. All things considered
the outlook for the public schools of the
state is very encouraging. 1t is SO en-
couragng as to justify the hope that the
| legislature will be liberal in making pro-
vision for the schools.