The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-04-16

HEeAA2AS " AAAC taSAANA R4
his desire that it reach every teacher
in Mississippi. the address is worthy,
IN itself. OF the widest circulation
and most careful perusal by those
among whom the teachers cast their
lots. Hence we publish ii in these
columns, but with an Introduction
and comments entirely our own,
Prof. Whitfield is. naturally, re
joiced at the large increase made by
the legislature of 1904 in the appro'
priation for the public schools, over
the unprecedented appropriation OF
1902 for the same purpose, ana gives
due need of praise to the wise iegls'
lators who did this great thing for the
youth of Mississippi. to the people
who created the sentiment, ana to the
school work which has proven ltselt
worthy OF it. There is II point, now
ever, which the able superintendent
fails to make, and which | shall, all
unknown to him. make for him. This
Is the fact that this public sentiment
| which lies back of this wise and gen
erous legislation has been created
largely during Mr. Whtttield's admin
istration, and the continuance OF the
public's favor, the steady improve
ment in the school work, the great IN
crease in appropriation, and the sat
isfaction with which most of the tax
payers hear of this increase, have a
foundation in the tireless work Tor
the cause of education, that has been,
and is being accomplished by Missis-
sippi's eminently practical superin'
tendent OF education, Henry l.. Whit
field.
The public" Is not blind; nor Is
it deaf, nor dumb; and had the school
work, or the department OF educa'
ton fallen behind, though eve so 1T
tie, that same watchfui public would
have seen and heard all about II, ana
would have entered its disapproVal OF
SO much expenditure along THESE lines,
in clarion tones. Instead Of that, the
public has fuzzy demonstrated her
faith in this one of her servants.
Mr.. Whitfeld's plea for better work
on the part Of the teachers should be
impressed on every teacher In Inc
State for it is trne-eYery Wofl.
Our schools are not, by any means,
what they should be; nor can we nope
for Improvement until the teacher I'M
proves herself and gives TO her WORK
the best that is within her, 1t is d
hard task. as all the world knows, lo
carve beautiful figures with bIuiit Or
broken tools, no matter how beauu'
ful and capable OF exquisite possiolll'
ties the wood may be.
1t is useless for us to comment OF
each Of the sections Of his address
since his own words are stronger lhan
mine could be, but | can not refrain
from expressing my great surprise a
the dearth Of school papers, maya
zines, or school literature Of any SORT
to be found among the greater mum
her of our teachers. Ii Is absolutely
necessary to brush up our brains pS
contact with others, brighter ant
strongcr-or at least, more e&pe
, rienced and better trained,
Then the subject of teachers meet
ings, of some sort has troubled M
no little. In very few neiGhborhood'
' with which | am familiar, Is there
I any but the most perfunctory inter
est manifested in these meetings, al,
it seems to be by the hardest WoFl
that anybody ever gets there. Ant
, really. can not blame the tire
!, teacher who prefers a quiet day a
home, to a dull, dry and uninterestinj
meeting at the end Of their IRE
"oucntly) long ride. OF course, ther,
e are some splendid exceptions a
around us, but as a rule, our month";
coming-together Of teachers Is
d mournfll thing to contemplate. Dul
ing a visit to Northern Iowa abou
six years ago, nothing SO lmpFesse
d me land there were many deiishttl
measures crowded into those weeks
II az the culture and ''up-to-dateness,
If YOU will accept the expression, {
the Iowa public school teachers. An
their monthly meeting Why 1t wa
e in every truth, a feast OF pleasar
n things to teacher and visitor alike. A
for the scant attendance with whic
we are familiar, 1t was unheard ,
since no greater deprivation coul
come to one Of them than failure I
n i0in her c~o-workeTs at the month";
Is meeting. Distance seemed 10 couf
u for naught with them, and they wei
s. glad To spend the money requlslt
More than that, there were outsider
rnnumbered, who iourneyed wit
at these earnest, happy, intelligent al
u enthusiastic land there lay the seer
Id Of ~success) workers.
to But | am e~ncrouching on Pre-
1e Whitfiald's space, so will not ia
hi about these far off meetings any NOR
hut will leave an ADLER pen than mil
to speak to you OF matters heaf'
n. home, and Of vital interest to you al
Il, all Of us.
b. Prof, Whitfieid's Address.
To the Teachers Of the State:
You are doubtless aware Of the ia
" that the recent legislature made
~ large increase in the Appropriation l
" the common schools. Two years AZ
~ an unprecedented increase was mad
~ Thirtv.fve counties are now leVyl'
local taxes for the purpose OF eSteh
ing the term afforded by the State.
h. number of new separate school d
3 tricts have been established with
Ia the last two years, In some count
~ the for schools have
creased over 100 per cent. Perha
the best indication of all Is that b.
ter public sentiment now sustains t
., teachers in their work.
~ II the teachers will take advanta
~ of the opportunity that now Is thei
"a, it will not be long before Mississir
will have schools that can prepare b
o : boys and girls for the complex dutl
of this complex age; but 1t is for
=, teachers to do this work; the peoI
's have done their part well. T
schools, as organized a
equipped. are exceedingly crude, a