Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-12-23

MISSISSIPPI MATTERS,
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By J. L. POWER.
Deserved and Timely Compliments.
By J. L. POWER.
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N"'f'J '~N"Plch' IL HAS III SOilc WY
fallen to his lot to read the proof-sheets
Of the proceedings of the State Teach
ers Association that met in Jackson in
April last, and the several addresses
and papers read on that occasion. The
pamphlet is being printed by the
state Printer, and the Secretary of
State, as a member of the Board of
Public Contracts, has the privileged
monopoly Of reading all the proof
sheets of all the department reports,
laws and journals, and all printing re-
quired by the State, and hence the
teachers doings come under lis notice.
All this might be considered white
mans burden were it not that the
practical experience of two-score years
along that line makes proof-reading as
easy a thing as rolling off a log.
There are so many bright things in
the addresses and papers appearing in
this pamphlet that it is quite a relief to
lay down the proofs of the Law Com
missioners report, which deals with
things earthly with its sections, town
ships and rangcs-and read discussions
that relate to mind and SOUL and Gull
ture, and intellectual and social pro-
gress Indeed, we found it a labor of
love to read the papers submitted at
the last meeting Of the State Teachers
Association. They are up to date, !"
and richly worth the few dollars it
may cost to print and thus preserve
them
The opening address of President
j, c. Hardy, Our Public School Sys-
TEN, Its Past and Future, was a splen-
did introduction to the three days pro-
gram. We have only space now to
copy two paragraphs that pay tribute
to two of Nississippi's most efficient
and most popular educators, in the adj
dress of Prof Hardy, himself star Of
no small magnitude:
During all these years the public
schools were at a very low ebb and the
public schools We're very unpopular.
Even within my memory men have
made the race for the Legislature and
been elected upon a platform opposed
to the public schools 1t is to Mr.
Preston that the credit is due of giving
to Mississippi a public school system in
keeping with the dignity of a great
State and a free people, 1t was under
his administration that the people saw
for the first time what a school system
meant for a State. 1t is due to him
that our school law is equal to that of
any State in the Union. 1t was under
his able administration that the sepa-
rate school districts were organized,
which has given birth to our splendid
system of graded schools in almost
every town in the State. 1t is due to
him more than to any other man that
we have class of professional teach
ers in the State fully abreast of the
times. 1t was his uniform State exam
nations that put the teachers to study
ing and gave them scholarships, with
out which no true progress can be
made. lie gave ten years of hard work
to the educational system of Mississippi,
and raised our standard equal to the
very highest. The life of j. r. Preston
cannot be lost from our State, for it
has gone into every home and freside
Of Mississippi. He must die, and his
name may be forgotten, but the work
he did for the schools of our State will
live and continue to live "until the
stars grow old and the sun grows cold,
and the secrets Of the judgment book
unfold"
Mr.. Preston was succeeded by Mr.. A.
A. Kincannon in 1896, who kept the
standard fully up to the mark by secur-
ing the adoption of some valuable adj
ditions to the school law He was
allowed more money for the employ
ment of help in the clerical department
Of his office Too much praise cannot
be accorded Mr.. Kincannon for his
splendid service during the last Lcgis-
lature, in having appropriations for
the support of the common schools
raised to S95O,OOO. Great fear was felt
among the teachers and friends of edu-
cation everywhere that an effort would
be made to cut down the appropriation,
and the increased appropriation was
entirely due to Mr.. Kincannon's zeal
and enthusiasm.