The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-05-18
PUBLIC SCHOOL QUESTION.
For the STAR.

- IVY
The improvement In Scranton dur
ing the last few years has been marked.
Few towns In this state a point to
as many beautiful homes, TO as fine
business establishments and TO as good
service OF both water works and cleo
trio light. The court house has bee
renovated and improved; a Jail, the
finest In this part Of the State has
just been built.
low, with these marked improve
ments, both public and private, there
has been neglected the most import
ant OF them all. 1t Is a deplorahle
fact that Scranton has the poorest
school building for a town Of its size,
will venture to say, In the whole
State Of Mississippi.
The enrolment Of the school for the
last two years has been owe two hun.
dred each year with an average daily
attendance Of about one hundred and
twenty. The school house being too
small, the board Of trustees for two
years had to rent another building,
which was used for the primary de.
partment.
W. see that the present building is
insufficient for the needs OF the town,
and a new one Is almost absolutely
necessary.
Suppose q man With a family Of
children to educate should think Of
moving to Scranton. 1t would be ex.
pected that he would come prospect
ing, and in looking around, he would
most a%ssurediy ask to be shown the
school house. When Il a%ntiQuated-
looking building Is seen, can it be ex-
pected that he will be favorably i'm.
pressed with our tOwn-judging our
school by the building? 1t is a par.
ent's scored duty too see that his chill.
dren have every possible advantage
along educational lines and surely a
town with fine school advantages
would be preferred. How different
would be our pospector's opinion
II he had seen a magnificent brick
building!
In this way we see that with a fine
school house the value Of the property
Of a town may be increased. The
town will be forced to build a larger
school house within a few years, and
there Is no reason why we cannot
have right now a building that would
be a source Of pride to all the people
Of the town.
There are some who say that the
taxes are too high, and perhaps 0p.
pose anything that will cost them a
few more dollars, but such Is only the
opinion OF those who put the matter
Of education beneath that OF the &C.
emulation Of dollars. "The best
place to deposit our purses is in the
heads OF our children" is the advice
given US by the "many-sided Frank.
lin.
This Is an age OF unrest and discOn.
tent, when questions that grow more
and more complex each year, are put
tn the masses to decide. Now, every
advantage must be given to the chill.
dren OF to-day, so that we may dO our
duty In making them good citizens :
and 1t is the public schools of the
land, the pride Of the nation, that we
see the future citizen. We must strive
to do everything in our power for edu-
cation, getting everybody interested in
the subject, and 10 this way we my 10.
still In some a desire for education
who otherwise might have remained
Indifferent. This may prevent our
government from falling into the
hands Of demagogues and politicians
eager for gain. Instead 0! these poll.
and demagogues, with the help
Of all to encourage our schools, we
may see our government In the hands
of men "pushing firmly on, trusting
heart, the intelligence, the con.
OF their c0untrymen, healing
angry wounds, correcting misunder.
planting justice on surer
foundations, and whether his party
rise Or fall, lifting his country heaven.
ward to a more perfect union, prosper
|ty and peace" X. Y. z.
Scranton, Miss, May 49,, 1900.
1t Is said that q Methodist minister |