The Grenada sentinel., 1904-04-02

with MlSSlSSlpplS State OfhcerS war
rants the statement that most of them
earn their salaries; and some of them
earn theirs and that much more, in
addition.
That Text Book Bill.
If there is one teacher among my
readers who is not thoroughly familiar
with the '"uniform text book" bill, I
would be glad to hear from Cher or
him) just as matter of curiosity.
And If there is one among those who
are we'll up on it's provisions. who has
not had, at least, faint STRINGS of de-
lighted hope that the governor might
see fit to appoint hero him)as one of
the much-talked-of, greatlyenvied and
more greatly-t0-be-abused "cOmmittee
Of eight teachers" would like to sug-
gest to the Worlds Fair commission
that this one be given free trip to
the st. Louis Exposition, and kept
there as a curiosity Of the most pro-
nounced type.
OF course, somebody must be chOs-
en- and in this free and independent
country, where"each man is as good as
his neighbor," there is room for hope
in the breast of every teacher.
The governors task Is not an easy
one. 1t is bad enough to have to dis
appoint all but one in a small class
of people, but when it comes to dis
appointing all but eight of this grand
army" the governor may we'll antici-
pate clouds above the political horizon.
| have not heard this matter discussed
nor do l know that my position IS
correct-but it seems to me that
large percentage OF that fateful COM
mittee should be women. They SO
largely Outnumber the men in the pro-
fession of teaching and they under
stand so much more intimately the
; needs of a child, that they should,
surely, have voice in this matter. In
fact, Mississippi, with all her gener-
Gus care for her daughters and her
lavish provision for their future, has
been strangely backward in this i'm
portant matter of giving women a
voice in all school questions. Why,
! there should be one or more women
on every school board and the gentle
sex should be eligible for positions as
county superintendents. Our neigh
Dor, Tennessee, is many years ahead
of Mississippi in this matter, and the
plan has, in every instance, worked
admirably. The county superintend-
ent of Shelby county is a woman, and
Memphis, with all of the splendid men
she employs as superintendent and
principals, is under her authority.
At least the Industrial College
should have few women on her board
of trustees
But to get back to the text book bill
1t had stormy passage, over dark.
tempestuOus seas. Its own author, Mr..
Franklin, of Pontotoc, began to be
afraid that this child of his brain
! would be mutilated beyond recogni-
ton, and he fought bravely for it. In
this he was most admirably assisted
by Senator Hightower. whose clear in
tellect, unwearied patience and signal
devotion to whatever cause he believes
right, did much to secure the passage
of the bill. His eyes-which see On
all sides of him-and his ears, which
hear every sound, were always open
bill, and its friends owe him a united
vote of appreciative thanks.
| The composition of the committee
and the manner of its selection was,
from first to last. the cargo that threat
ened to carry all the rest OF the bills
! provisions with it ito the bottom of
the sea-" But. eventually, after much
pruning and trimming. and adjusting
of balances, it barely made the trip
and came into port battered and beat
en-, but with sails set toward ultimate
success. That this most desirable port
may be attained is our heartfelt wish.
There is one thing. though, that puz-
zles me, and that is, when some of
the parents of the children can no
longer complain of its "takin' a whole
bale o cotton to buy one years books
for the kids" what will they do for
a topic of conversation, and about
what will they complain? Doubtless
of never havin' nothin' new-just the
same old seven and six" However
it is useless to worry over this-they
Will discover some cause for com.
plant, and some reason why the chill.
dren don't pass" without our assist
ance. .~. @%~~
Seriously-not only will Gov. Varda
man have a difficult task in the choice
OF the committee, but the members o1
the committee will have anything but
an easy road before them. For g
while, at least, they will suffer from
the glare OF the light that beats OF
those who dwell in publicity's unpleas
ant quarters. The great school book
companies have large forces of well
trained lobbyists who took post-gradu
ate courses during their recent stay
in Jackson, with the legislature. Man,
OF these lawmakers who were thor
oughly seasoned and thought them
selves beyond the influence OF the lob
by-howeyer skillful and however ad
mirably s:,eathed-found 1t needful fol
II their own protection. To start fresl