The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-04-02

there as curiosity of the most pro-
nounoed type.
OF course, somebody must be chos-
en- and in this free and independent
, country, where"each man is as good as
his neighbor," there is room for hope
In the breast of every teacher.
The governors task is not an easy
one. 1t is bad enough to have to dis
appoint all but one in a small class
OF people, but when it comes to dis
appointing all but eight of this grand
army" the governor may we'll antici
pate clouds above the political horizon
| have not heard this matter discussed
nor do | know that my position Is
correct-but it seems to me that
large percentage of that fateful COM
mittee should be women They so
largely outnumber the men in the pro-
feSsion of teaching and they under
stand so much more intimately the
needs of a child, that they should,
surely, have voice in this matter In
fact, Mississippi, with all her gener-
GUS care for her daughters and her
lavish provision for their future, has
been strangely backward in this i'm
portant matter Of giving women a
voice in all school questions Why,
there should be one or more women
on every school board and the gentle
sex should be eligible for positions as
county superintendent. Our neigh
Dor, Tennessee, is many years ahead
OF Mississippi in this matter, and the
plan has, in every instance, worked
admirably. The county superintend-
ent of Shelby county Is woman, and
Memphis, with all of the splendid men
she employs as superintendent and
principals, is under her authority.
At least the Industrial College
should have few women on her board
Of trustees.
But to get back to the text book bill.
1t had a stormy passage, over dark,
tempestuous seas. It's own author, Mr..
Franklin, of Pontotoc, began to be
afraid that this child Of his brain
would be mutilated beyond recogni-
ton, and he fought bravely for 1t. In
this he was most admirably assisted
by Senator Hightower, whose clear in
tellect, unwearied patience and signal
devotion to whatever cause he believes
right, did much to secure the passage
of the bill. His eyes-which see on
all sides of him-and his ears, which
hear every sound, were always open
in the interest of the passage of this
bill, and its friends owe him united
vote of appreciative thanks.
The composition of the committee
and the manner of its selection was,
from first to last, the cargo that threat
ened to carry all the rest of the bills |
provisions with it ito the bottom of |
the sea-" But, eventually, after much |
pruning and trimming, and adjusting |
of balances, 1t barely made the trip |
and came into port battered and beat |
en-, but with sails set toward ultimate |
success That this most desirable port |
may be attained is our heartfelt wish. |
There is one thing, though, that puz-
zles me, and that is, when some of |
the parents of the children can no
longer complain of its "takin' a whole
bale O cotton to buy one years books
for the kids what will they do for
a topic of conversation, and about
what will they complain? Doubtless.
Of never havin' nothin' new-just the
same old seven and six" However.
1t is useless to worry over this-they
Will discover some cause for COM
plant, and some reason why the chill
dren don't pass" without our assist
ance.
Seriously-not only will Gov. Varda.
man have a difficult task in the choice
Of the committee, but the members of
the committee will have anything but
an easy road before them. For a
while, at least, they will suffer from
the glare Of the light that beats on
hose who dwell in publicity's unpleas-
ant quarters. The great school book
have large forces of we'll
rained lobbyists who took post-gradu-
tie courses during their recent stay
n Jackson, with the legislature. Many
If these lawmakers who were thor
'ughly seasoned and thought them
Ielves beyond the influence of the lob
skillful and however ad.
nirably sheathed-found it needful for
heir own protection, to start fresh
md take another course. And then
hey didn't learn 1t all! Imagine then, 1
low wide-awake these teachers who {
re to form the committee to select
he books, must be! Otherwise, should 1
ne of them be caught one moment, G
apping, 1t will be bad for them, for
he schools, for the State and for all /
kept the company fortunate enough f
D find him mapping"
Gov. Yardaman will choose only !