The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-04-02
EDUCATIONAL BUREAU
Under Direction of KATE MARKHAM POWER.

When this reaches our readers tn,
legislative echoes which are now re
sounding throughout the length anc
breadth of the State, will have grown
fainter and-as distance lends en-
chantment"-perhaps, sweeter A
any rate, those of us who are mos
deeply concerned about the schools
should find no cause for complaining
when we consider the continued gen
erosity of this body toward the pub
lie schools.
Indeed, 1t is cause for comment all
over these United States, that Missis.
sippi gives so generously to the work
OF educating her children. Compare
lively, she stands close to the very
top of the list in this respect, and 1t
isn't the fault of her lawmakers If
every child, regardless of color. race
or previous condition" dies not take
his degree in the three RS" at least.
have not the exact figures at hand,
but believe that we are given the
privilege of spending annually about
one million and half, and this, in
q population Of about one and one
half million!
The wisdom of this generous per-
mission is doubted by many, of course
there must be, always, a goodly per-
centage Of doubling Thomases" in
every community. Some of these are
from the ranks of the best educators,
and their argument is that so great
an increase over last sessions surpris-
ingly large appropriation was not nee
essary; or, rather, It should not have
been made until stronger DISPOSE
ton is shown on the part of the coun-
ties to do their own share toward i'm
proving the common school system
by making additional tax levies there
for.
And these men are right, in meas
ure. 1t Is a shame that the State
should have it all to do, while the
counties-so wonderfully benefited, sit
complacently by, with open hand, TAX
Ing all they can get, but unwilling
to bestir themselves to do their mani
fest duty.
Just think what glorius possibilities
await our boys and girls, as it is!
How much more glorious these would
be, II each county would rouse up
and do her share. There would then
be, in this great State of ours. a con-
dition Of things that would set us apart
among the States So high would be
the point to which Mississippi would
ascend that her light would, like the
suns rays, reach the uttermost length
and depth, drawing people from every
class and every cline, to come and
share In the benefits with which she
crowns her children,
The great increase in our popuIa-
tion during the past eighteen years
Is, Of course, due to a combination
OF reasons. But, among these, one
stands pre-eminent because of its DOW
or OF attracting desirable families in
search Of homes. This is the wonder
ful uplift in the work of the common
schools that has taken place during
these years. And while money-and
plenty of it's required in work of
sucn stupenoous proportions, precious |
little would the many millions that |
have gone into the common school |
fund have accomplished but for the |
wise direction, tireless energy and |
great executive ability of that trio of /
superintendents, James Rhea Preston,
Andrew Armstrong Kincannon and |
Henry Lewis Whitfield, whose united |
labors have rescued the States edu-
cational interests from the deepest
depths beneath which carelessness. in
difference, Ignorance, ETC., had buried
T.
Before passing to other matters. it
may be well to speak of the interest
ng legal question that has been raised
the poll tax distribution,
Is prescribed in the bill which passed
10Th houses Of the legislature, but was
lost in the shuttle" on the last day
( the session. The bill prescribed