The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-03-04
OUR SCHOOLS.


Do the people OF Jackson county
ever think OF what vast Importance
the schools of to-day have in the near
future Of our county? Do the schools
we now have come up 10 the standard
of excellence to which they should?
Do the sch1o,sof Jackson county give
To her children equal opportunities to
children OK other sections of our coun-
try? Arc her children receiving the
same moral aud mental training as
the children of other sections OF our
country, with whom they must come
in contact in the lapse OF but a few
years? Is our county furnishing such
schools as is ia its power to give or
should give?
Ask yourself the above questions,
and you can but answer them all. No.
except the first, and perhaps chat, too,
must be answered by many the same.
Such being the case should we not, as
"a people, stir ourselves, shake of our
lethargy, and be up aud doing? Igno-
rance is always at the mercy of a few
leaders, aud when that few are selfish
and designing persons, laws, which are
just are not enacted, or If enacted. are
not enforced only as suits the selfish
motives Of the persons In power. A
people or "a natien is not measured
alone by numbers, but numbers must
be backed by intelligence and culture;
for in all contests superiority of power
will prevail, whether 1T be nation
waring against nation, or whether 1t
be individuals battling with the
storms of life. There should, in all
, cases, be nlassed the physical forces,
il, directed by an able and cultivated
, mind. Compare our schools with
, others and mark the contrast, In
one case there are schools nine months
in the year, in good school buildings
, 50 situated that every child caa at
tend; buildings well lighted, warmed
! and ventilated, furnished with COM
Portable seats and desks, and appala-
, tus for illustrating and making plain
, TO the minds OF the children such
things as are taught in the common
schools, which is sufficient to enable
one to enter on the duties Of life in
any calling, except the professions,
and is also a high stepping stone tt
them.
On the other hand, school four months
in the year IN many cases small school
houses, WELL VENTILATED, poorly
lighted, If the door must be shut,
rude seats, no apparatus, and at such
distances that make it impracticable
for many children to attend. Is it to
be wondered ut, that ia nDe case many
children grow up in total ignorance,
or perhaps can read and write a little.
and but few acquired fair education
aud: on the other hand. every mothers
son and daughter can read and write
well, have Il good knowledge of aritb-
metic and grammar, and Gany have
not only a good foundation for an edu
cation, but are educated in the broad
sense OF the term, and are ready fOl
the battle Of life. TO the people
would yen have it different? The
remedy is in your hands. The grea'
State Of Mississippi does as much
perhaps more than any other State
for her children, and the laws are sucI
that If YOn say so, you can have sch0o
) eight months in the year instead 0
only. four, only say to u County
Fathers" we want more school, an cd
ucation Is the best legacy we can leave
our children. Tell them to levy a taa
on the property in the county, ant
give us four months more school
, Look about you and you will see grea'
property interests, great holdings 0
: land, etc, held by non.residents pay
ing but little tax, their owners boast
:, ing sit costs but little to keep it,
y A small tax on the property in tn,
county would support the schools 70
four months, which would give IL
eight months school. Culture and in
~telligence would increase. The stan
T. dard of excellence would be RAISED
4 higher. The people Of Jackson coun
ty would stand on a higher level, AM
- the great property interests would b
n increased in value much beyond til
e pittance paid for the education of tn,
y children Of the hardy sons of toll.
r Will this find an echo 10 the heart
Of the people? II you favor it, let /
c be known, and let there be united az
tion, let there be petitions before GU
county government, and see II som
good cannot be done. Let us hca
g from you, II. j. ALLEN.
y Ocean Springs, Miss, March l, 1898.
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A delegation Of pronlinent citizen
IA pf LnrnntY, npa ~ II, l.tn n