The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1904-02-27
EDUCATIONAL BUREAU
Under Direction of KATE MARKHAM POWER.


textbooks is interested In the passage
of bill providing uniform system
throughout the State. And as every
patron of the high and common
schools has to make this outlay. the
result is that many thousands are In
tently watching the actions of their
representatives on this question.
Levee matters interest those of our
people who dwell beside the mighty
Mississippi, the oyster questions, and
the matter of boundary betwixt us
and our fair neighbor. Louisiana, af-
feet the dwellers on the coast: the
lumber business and the turpentine
manufactures. with the many qnes.
tions incident, are of vital import TO
tho great Southeast Thus 1t Is
throughout the State, each section
having her own special interests to
watch over. But the question OF text.
books land the contents of the text
books interests every section, ire,
spective of location. and the people
will not content themselves with any.
thing short of the best efforts of the
two houses along this line.
As wrote last week, the senate had
a long, hard fight over their bills, and
finally united on and passed an excel
lent one. The composition of the
commission, however, Is far from
agreeable to many of the lawmakers.
It is urged by some that the governor
has no real authority, but that he
would be held responsible before the
people for the actions of the commits,
sion. This II the case, should be
remedied and probably will be, while
the matter is before the house. Rep.
resentative Cowley, of Monroe coun.
ty, has offered an amendment to the
bill which meets with much favor.
His amendment provides: In all fu.
ture adoptions of school books by
county boards that the prices made by
publishers to the counties In Missis.
sippi shall be as low as those made to
any State, county, or municipality in
the United States under similar con
ditons." To many, this seems the so
luton of what has proven difficult
problem. The chief question involved
| Is that of prices, and the above seems
| to remedy this difficulty, as II fixes
absolutely, minimum price for al
! school books to be used in the com
.lon schools and the graded schools ol
Mississippi The amendment haf
many friends who claim that 1t will
cure all difficulties and will preserve
to the counties their own supreme
rights in matters educational.
What Superintendent Whitfield Says
Our able superintendent Mr.. Whit
field, was asked by the reporters to
day to say something for the use OF
the press relative to the large appro-
priaton for public schools made by
This legislature. He was asked. at the
same time, for an esti.late of the total
school funds that would be available
for the biennial period. In order that
his reply may reach the people who
are most concerned. IT is given place
in these columns He said:
The house bill passed by the sen
ate yesterday, app: opriating $1,250,.
900 from the State treasury for the
public schools Is an increase over the
appropriation of two years ago OF the
total poll tax of the State. This lat
ter sum last year was 1904 900, but be-
cause of the paying of poll tax for the
next two years will not affect the right
If suffrage in this State, the conse-
quence will be that the poll tax for
the period in question will show a
falling on A conservative estimate
of what will be received from this
source annually for The next two yearE
is $275,000, or $550,000 for the entire
period. The superintendent's report
just issued shows that the sum of ST.
100000 was expende. on the common
schools last year The boards of SUI
pervisors In twelve counties have, for
he first time. levied taxes for the ex-
tension of the school term. About
twenty counties that have heretofore
been levying taxes for this purpose
have increased their levy, and mum
Der of towns have established separate
school districts. which will increase
the amounts previously collected from
such local sources for the schools.
The total funds available for common
schools during the present year will
approximate s2,250.00 This will in
State of about six T1onths.
The agitation for better schools
will be continued The necessity for
better school houses will be especially
emphasized. and better trained teach
ers. The teachers OF the State will be
organized into professional reading
circles courses Of study will be out
lined by the department Of education
of the university" etc.
All of the plans mentioned In the
above paragraph will be outlined in
these columns from time to time, and
1T is earnestly hoped that great enthu-
siasm may be aroused throughout our
limits. Nothing Of great moment can
be achieved without a goodly amount
OF that magical motive power, and to
be effective IL should have fresh fuel
given it continually This we hope
to be able to do.
Rural School Houses.
Just here 1t seems opportune tc
copy brief extract from a letter
which found today in one OF the lead
ing publications Of the great Metho
dist congregation. 1t describes ons
OF the rural school houses(?) in ths
hill section of Northeast Mississippi
where. the writer truthfully SAYS
dwell the kindest, truest and warmest
hearted people to be met with any
where; and where is found nerve
brain. strength Of body and of mins
to enrich our State and our nationa
life immeasurably, II the right train
ing Is supplied The writer says
THE common schools here are neces