Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-02-11

rural districts, on account or sparse
ness OF population and low taxable
values are left to their owa efforts
and cannot maintain schools of this
character.
Il hold that the sources of the
wealth of the State are, in the main,
the country, and that the large tax
able values OK the town are made pos
sible by what they receive from the
country; that it is right that all of
the property of the State should be
taxed for all of the children of the
State, and that it is the duty of the
Legislature to provide for system of
free high schools, where the great
body of our boys and girls can receive
good business education, of il they
desire, cal be prepared for our State
colleges. In my opinion, nothing Will
so bring the State University into the
affections of our rural people as the
supplying of this connecting link be-
tween their present schools and the
university. 1t will also have the ef-
feet OF keeping a great many boys and
girls at home in the schools that other
wise go to the Agricultural and Me-
chanical College and the Industrial In
otilutO anu SOllCSVp mus u o"uAio
these institutions with students pur-
suing preparatory work and material
ly Interfering with their regular work.
The trustees of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College, because OF the
overcrowding of the institution by this
character of students, passed resolu-
ton denying admittance i1to the pre-
paratory department of that institu-
ton to any student who lives near a
school of sufficiently high grade to pre-
pare him for the first college class.
After a careful study of this propo-
sition. | am convinced that if such
schools are to be had the State must
help the rural districts, and | would
respectfully recommend that where
small villages or rural communities
will voluntarily organize themselves
into districts of not less than sixteen
square miles and containing not less
than one hundred and fifty educable
children, the power Of local taxation
be given them on condition that they
provide a suitable house, elect compe-
tent teachers, levy local tax, and
maintain a high school for not less
than seven scholastic months each
year. To encourage the formation Of
such districts and the organization of
such schools. | think the State should
make al appropriation for the first
year of not less than 500, 10000, to be
distributed to these districts In
amounts, within certain limits. equal
to those raised by taxation, or sums
donated. Those districts should also
receive their part of the regular State
i,rct IN tho
arate school districts. After two years
the principals of such schools should
be required to have professional IL
censes, and in the mean time special
examination should be provided by
the State Board of Examiners for
them. Such a scheme will not only
provide rural high schools, but will
| encourage by voluntary action the COZ
solidation of two or more weak schools
with low curriculums into strong
school with two or more teachers and
higher curriculum.
1t might, perhaps, be wiser for me
| to offer no further suggestions within
these columns at least, until next time,
but there is one subject so near to
my heart that / would feel untrue to
| the interest and the comfort of the
dear little children who live in the
country if l did not seize the first pos
sible opportunity to beg our good and
great men for better school houses.
The present country school houses
are, as rule, disgrace to the State,
| however great triumph some of them
| may be to the willing, but unskilled
| hands that build them. | know, OF
course, that it is generally accepted
| fact that the bigger the man OF today
gets to be the shabbier the school,
| the harder the bench aad the fewer
| his school years grow, as he looks
back over them. If we are to judge by
| the achievements of most of today's
| rulers and heroes, it might be well not
| to have any schools, or books, at ALL
| in which case the struggles of the
youth, bent on educating himself
| would carry him to heights hitherto
undreamed OF
But | believe l voice the sentiments
| of most of the children of today when
| say, give us fewer struggles today
and less of fame tomorrow, and, in
| the meantime, help our parents to
| build slightly school houses, in pretty
groves and to furnish them with cas-
| Ter seats, better desks, and such ac-
cessories (besides the regulation
| blackboard, "all battered and torn"
and a map as will make the inside
of the house attractive to us, with
| nothing but the trees of the forest to
| obstruct Gods blessed sunlight. Most
| of our country school housese are dark
| and gloomy. How could they be 9TH
! erwise, when the o1ly light is let in
through one-or maybe two-24x24
| windows AS for the heating system
| adopted in these schools, | can find
| no words One must experience one
of those winter terms. during which,
| after long cold Tor damp tramps, the
teacher enters her school room and
i finds it, each day, ike refrigerator
) And thus it remains until she sends
+. the larger boys for wood to make
| a fire." And such fire. Wood Is
cheap and the store is usually big,
| hence the pupils (and teacher) get
ample exercise, mOeing around that
stove. There is much more that de-
| sire to say on this subject-some
| things | would say for myself. and
some for the children, with their lit
tie cold noses and fingers. But Will
let this subject drop, while express
| ing the hope that cur rural school
| houses henceforth will be built with
some idea of beauty, as well as with
view to comfort If the patrons land
the STATED would do half as well as
| the teachers and the little children,
every school house in Mississippi
would be so attractive that the chill
dren would all enter the contest for
| the prize offered the most attractive
| rural school house and grounds-and
what Is more. | believe every single
| one of them would win the prize.
Reward of Merit.
81 believe YOU sent for me-. said thH