The Tupelo journal., 1904-02-19

yO~ ~ yOot, Jooe no W. uta OAO
anybody knew any better.
But a brighter time Is coming! A
fairer day is at hand, because the PEG.
pie of the State are willing now, to
do their very best toward opening up
the way, aad making it attractive and
desirable for the boys and girls who
are growing so rapidly into our men
and women Mississippi has done
much for her children and Is going to
do SO much more that strangers will
never come from distant lands to build
another capitol of marbles from every
known region saw ours, and of South
American woods!
County Superintendent.
To one who has read attentively
the legislative proceedings it must be
manifest that there is a widespread
feeling Of dissatisfaction with the
present system of school supervision
in the counties. There are some men
now serving as county superintend-
ents OF education who are thoroughly
equipped for their work, and whose
schools are up to the mark. There are
others who are equipped with the edu-
cation but who lack the executive
powers requisite to the successful dis
charge of the duties. There are some
who have the ability, but lack suf-
ficient time-and, ] regret to say
there are some who have the time, but
lack the other needful. OF course
since a school cannot be better thar
it's teacher-and a teacher ought not
to be better than his superintendent
the superintendent should be chosen
from among the best men to be had.
And he should then be paid enough
to make the position worth his while.
In the pioneer days of our public
school system it was too often the
case that a man who wasn't good for
anything else was considered good
enough for this position. provided, al
ways, that there was an ancient d.
ploma shut away with other useless
accoutrements of his early campaign
in life. This-with a long tailed coat
and a duly impressive air-earned his
salary, and the schools take care Of
themselves. There were, of course,
exceptions, and the rule of the few
really able men who were county SUI
p~erintendents in those days, is still to
be traced in the splendid system of
which some of u counties have long
been proud. AS all other things ad-
vance along educational lines, how,
ever, the county superintendent must
do so too, and keep so well abreast
of the times as to be able to guide
the small army of teachers with which
he labors.
This head of the county's school
work must be-irst and foremost-a
gentleman, otherwise the women COM
prising his teaching force must suf-
fer-and suffer much. He must IN
derstand the practical work of the
school room, as it is given to very
few to teach another to do that which
he cannot do himself. He must, of
course, be an educated man; and he
must be a man of considerable execu-
tive ability. And, unless he cares not
for the pricks along a thor1y way,
his tact must eve give out, so long
as he has a score or so of teachers of
the gentler sex.
This position is no s%inecure. 1t re-
quires work, and plenty of it. The Of
fee work is of a peculiarly wearisome
type, consisting as it does, largely
of grading papers. making out exam
nations, planning programs, courses
Of study, etc. The pleasa1ter but
more arduous part of his work IN
sists in frequent visits to schools, in
instructing his teachers as to their
work, holding patrons meetings for
discussion of school matters, and the
very necessary work of stimulating
the. people to renewed effort for bet
ter schools, more comfortable build
ingS. etc. Now, it may be that some
Of the county superintendent do not
earn their salaries. Blu a man who
Toes all this in the average rural dis
trict in Mississippi earns his salary
a big salary-and a Christmas gift
thrown in, for l%agniappe. Why, in
some neighborhoods the single duty
Of convincing the patrons that their
children need anything better for a
school house than a good sized box
with three holes in it Zone for a door
and the other for windows CD, Is
well worth the salary paid. 1t is a
sign of the better times, that our pee.
pie are willing to pay their officials
better salaries. Now, if they would
only advance to the position where,
because of a willingness to get the
best and pay for it, they can command
the entire time and talent of our
best trained men n teachers, it will
be a glad day for Mississippi and her
schools.
The Text Book Bill.
1 had expected to be able to tell
our readers all about that wonderful
Text Book Bill" which has engaged
so much legislative time during this
session n last, the bill which, like
the cat, has nine lives and wont die.
Because it was evidently the desire of
the people to have a uniform system of
text books, and by virtue of the in.
domitable perseverance of some and
the good fighting qualities of others
of it's supporters, it has at last passed
the senate, but is so amended that it's
parent, Senator Franklin, of Po1totoc,
the bill was terrifc-first, to get it up
at all. Finally, when it came before
the senate, there was a battle over
every section. and almost every line.
Too much cannot be said in praise of
Senator Hightower's method of caring
for the interests of the bill, and even
tually, securing it's passage, he having
been put in charge of the bill by it's
friends. 1t must nov go to the house,
but will scarcely be taken up before
my next letter.
The legislature of 1904 seems to
agree with that master poet who wrote
"A little nonsense now n then is
relished by the wisest men," as they
adjourned this (Friday) evening un-
til Wednesday of next week, in order
to enable them to ''spend the day"
with Vicksburg tomorrow, and to par