The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-05-07
Letter to the Teachers in Mississippi

As many of you, doubtless. know
a few OF the leading educators of tn
State, recognizing the need of a me
dunn through which the great publ
could be reached each week, createt
this bureau last February with tn
hope Of reaching through its column
all the teachers and a large per cen
Of the people who support these teach
ers and their schools. 1t was a fint
idea-an inspiration almost-to pu.
their matter in the country papers in
stead of in the city dailies, because
the county paper" is almost as sure
OF its place in every family that pat
ronizes a school as Is the big family
Bible and the photograph album, while
a man must be able to count much
more %pretentious possessions who
makes a habit of subscribing for the
city dailies.
This experiment was inaugurated
solely for the benefit of those inter,
ested in the great work of education,
and the entire cost Of publication, edit,
ing, etc, is met by a few of these brave
men, to whom the work is so dear.
because it is the very foundation.stone
Of Mississippi!s future. Education will
be the aii-conquering weapon in the
contest of the future, and these pa
trlotic men are giving the very best
that is in them to aid the men and
women Of tomorrow to equip them
crown therein.
1t IS u earnest desire to arouse
some enthusiasm in those who are not
yet interested, and to increase the
interest Of others in those things
which are absolute necessities, if our
system Of education is to achieve the
great tsings we hope for, and believe
OF it.
As VS. have repeatedly said in these
columns, We must first of all have
longer terms in our rural schools.
Why, 1t would need the brain of a
genius to accomplish all that is ex-
pected Of a child in his few brief
months of country schooling"
The next great need is of better
trained teachers. We have the best
teachers, as all our people know, to be
found the wide world over, but some of
the very finest (some who are born
teachers, and whose success, handi- |
capped as they are, Is extraordinary
have had least opportunity for the
training that, in these days, must be
had, if the teacher is to get the best
that is within her, and, in turn, give
1t back to the child. | have in mind
as | write a young teacher whose
work as | look upon 1t, and consider
he depth and breadth of the influence
hat goes OUT daily from that little un.
box of a school house, sitting
n the shadow.of the forest, is a grand
work. She Ia more than teacher-she
$ preacheF--foF I hold that our con
iecrated young women who are teach
ng and giving their very best selves
o the work In remote country districts
are gur best missionaries; she is
riend, guide and counsellor, not only
II the children, but of the parents as
we'll. Indeed, she is so much more, as
he goes in and out among them, than
n can imagine, that it is beyond
ny skill to make a worthy picture of
Would that | might, and thus
Tn fhA yFrnrII tHn ry.I trn+ n;1
0 the blessed work of enlightening
nd uplifting the human race! This
rave little missionary-teaeher of
HON | speak, puts heart and soul and
rain into her work, and accomplishes
'0nderful things. But her entire prep
ration for the great school of life,
nd her training for the position of
was gained in just such an
nattractive school house as the one
he now presides over, and her short
3hool terms we're the same, and her
eacher had passed through Just the J
lme routine in her school days. Both
lake excellent teachers, but what l
light we hope for such girls with {
roper training? If the young girl
ad been able to study. under trained 8
,achers for eight or nine out of twelve |
if she had spent her school i
me amid beautiful surroundings. and 5
18th needed apparatus at hand, for
carer demonstration of scientific Il
'oblems; If, even now, she could 60. |
lrlAg her long vacation, to a training
'hoOl, how wonderful a thing it would g
: for her, and how vastly she would =
by the months of study and !,
association. And then, in :,
I'm, how wonderful would be the -
snefit to the children under her care! =
not only are we begging for better =
teachers to begin with, but for :;
school to which these teachers can G,
for postgraduate work, or special =
0rk in any chosen line. -
Another requisite for the success we I,
'pe to attain is a higher standard q,
long our county superintendent. To h,
Id this office a man should have not -.
ly a thorough education, but execu-
e ability, tact, and ample time to
to the important work. 1t Is not to
ough that he should give to 1t such al
pare time" as he may elect. 1t should is
so arranged that his salary would or
Nice for a comfortable support, and It
should then be required to give all &C
his time to the schools under his M
iisdietion. There is work enough, Ri
d more than enough, to keep a man nj
ny, II he gives to each school in his tn
inty the care and attention that Ia fu
eded to help 1t On to success.
have ~endeaVored thus briefly tol -,
before you the improvements we so,
desire to accomplish by this ~.
,artment, and before closing | must Wa