Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-28
Simple Sam Dustin and the States
Public School system.

missioners has at last come forward TO
reply 20 various published criticisms on
the present -extravagant management OF
the public school system in Georgia
Mr. NJ b Dennis wrote OF signed an
article 10 this effect in the Jorunal of
April 10Th.
took ID the state school commission
er's report for 1900. 20 find the name OF
the writer. because I felt sure he wac
one OF the people who was interested IL.
holding on" and I saw the name OF
Mr.. Dennis. OF the county OF Putnam
I Mr. NJ b Dennis. In the year 1900. the
county OF Putnam was allowed a fraction
under Sl2.0o 10 educate black and white
children Mr.. Dennis was paid $4,000.
postage and incidentals $3.50: twenty-five
white teachers paid SS.5sS-7o; CSo5I per
month. monthsl: total ss.s445o.
Without including the state commission
er's salary or his office expenses, YOU viii
discover that the white children OF Put
nam county received or were credited with
that much money in cash towards a ave
months schooling in elementary English
How many white children went to
SCHOOL,
These twenty-five schools averaged 54s
pupils in attendance. about twenty-four 10
the teacher. II they were evenly divided
II 50 divided. each teacher was paid
fne salary for FIVE months work. and the
commissioner himself had splendid pay for
the same length OF time He reports 50
visits 10 the schools. black and white, an
average OF sl2So each visit. as expressed
by the salary Of sl.ooo- His postage biii
and other trimmings were paid BY the
state. $40.
DEFY contradiction when / say the state
dealt literally with those teachers. No
other business IN the state averages so
well for I'VE months work leaving seven
months for other and additional work
IL beats farming 10 death. and the re-
suits should be commensurate with the
outlay.
do not know that school books were
sold at private profit in Putnam county.
Some complaints are heard in other coun-
ties OF 10 the percentage allowed 10 ON
cials for book patronage
Vow. I should have expected Mr.. Dennis
to bring forward some reliable informa-
ton on the public school question he
might have given some references as 10
the results In Putnam county. some letters
from those who had received benefit.
some AFFIDAVIT as 20 the fair and satisfying
nature OF that work. but ] was disap-
pointed 70 find nothing. What did he bring
up In The Journal article under review?
Who talked for him7 Simple Sam Bus
tin "a half-witted negro" the butt OF
the town boys" nliterate, of course.
semi-idiot-
What message did Simple Sam deliver
school methods now in use. and which are
50 unpopular all over the slater .t-
Mr. Dennis says. speaking for the half
witted'' negro. and addressed 10 the tax
payers Of the state Cwho are providing
good living for Mr.. Dennis): Talk dat
what you know. and dat what you don't
know don't talk"
The mountain brought forth a mouse.
and leave II 10 the readers OF The Jour
nal 10 measure the size Of the squeak
But we must not take Mr.. Dennis too
seriously. because find a printed letter
from him in the school report Of 800. in
which he says: The longer I work at
the business Of supervising the public
schools OF my own county the more am
impressed that the one great thing needed
Is the diffusion of practical Information
relating 10 popular education among the
masses OF the people.
II that was a sincere expression. why
should he suffer so acutely with indigna-
ton because the system itself Is placed
under review How viii Simple Sam Bus
tin answer that question, wonder2 VIII
Sam say talk or don't TALK" When
Mr.. Dennis gets down from his present
stills and understands that the taxpayers
would ike 70 get some return for their
money. ] hope he viii apologize for the
implied threat about liberty Of express
sion and freedom Of speech" in his open
ing sentence The meat our Caesar has
and has affected him with a serious COM
plant somewhere in his anatomy.
And when he charges hate" venom
ssnaIfrnIty'' Ignorance" etc. on all OF
US who have dared TO ask for some &C
counting for the millions OF dollars. which
have sunk out OF sight. into the plethOric
pockets OF thrifty and shifty managers,
Il f. poor comfort to be pushed up against
a shalf-witted" negro. who had 10 do
the talking for che writer himself-because
the writer was either too contemptuous Of
his audience or incapable OF making prop
er defense-because after scanning the
whole article for some information.
was left 70 decide that Simple Sam Bus
tin had simply creamed the entire epis-
tie and Mr.. Dennis failed 10 talk about
vat he cid know and adopted Sans
method OF what dat you don't know,
don't talk"
I has been a serious mistake 20 allow
these matters TO drift so long. After
some officials get themselves planted in
the suhson Of treasury vouchers they
conclude they own the field and like Mr..
Dennis. they begin TO warn on trespass-
ers and vsgrants-
You are creatures OF hate II you make
an inquiry into your own business.
You are ''venomous" II you ask to see
q lance sheet. and you are malignant
n you express a desire for something
better" when you try a thing thirty
years and are confronted with failure.
Simple sam Rustin" Is doubtless
half-witted negro. that Is harmless in
his infirmity OF misfortune. but Simple
San seems 10 represent a good deal I'm
Putnzm county school politics. as applied
to the school s-stem. Rest assured, bid
Mr. Dennis a welcome TO Simple Sam
as a mentor. There Is no accounting for
tastes. and I suppose II IL safe TO talk
not. when you cont know. and can't talk.
Chinese Christians Under Review.
In the Congressional Record dated April
18th. there has been printed and included
a very lengthy recital as 70 the character
OF the Chinese. Senator Matt Quay. OF
asnnsylvania. insisted upon some fuller
understanding OF Chinese character as
@-'e.sd BY American writers and obtained
nom American missionaries in China.
Il would appear 20 be a far cry from
senatorial elections OF Pennsylvania 10
true and pure Christianity in the Orient.
but nevertheless the Christianized Chi
nese have found an indefatigable advo-
cate in the senior senator from Pennsyl-
wanna.
This recital Is taken from an elaborate