The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-12-23


free school system of the State, which is
the main policy of the State so far as
regards education to foster and maintain
first, was not receiving that care and at
tentiOn on account of the claims of these
institutions of so-called higher education
and the large appropriations made to
them which they should have had. In
1905 out of the forty-fve counties in
the State several counties had no high
schools in them ut all, and many of the
country schools were cut off for want
of appropriation from holding full
term, some having short term of only
three months. The rivalry that existed
between these institutions of so-called
higher education, not only as to pupils
but in their efforts each to obtain as
large an appropriation as possible, Gre
ated constant friction between them,
and an incentive to importune the Legis-
lature at all times for particular ad-
vantage, while in many of the counties
where these institutions were main
tanned, the counties, relying on the ap-
preparations made by the State, levied
no tax to the support of the public free
schools, but sent their children to these
institutions which contained, instead of
the higher grades, grades which should
have been taught in the grammar and
high schools of the respective counties.
1t is not meant to be said that these
schools were of no benefit, but their large
number, their want of system, their COM
petition with the public schools and the
large amounts of money required by APP
preparation to support them made them
anything but IN advantage to the educa-
tional interests of the State. To main
tain them upon the same basis and to
have maintained them properly would
have cost more per annum than twice
the amount expended upon the entire
public free school system, without OBJ
tanning any particular advantage by so
doing, and when the Legislature of 1905
was approached for this appropriation
of $75Q,OOO, a sentiment which had been
for some years crystallizing as against
the further maintenance of these insti-
buttons, resulted in the passage of the
act of 1905.
That this act was opposed is u matter
of public history of the State. 1t was
but natural that every county in which
any of these institutions were located
should vigorously oppose the provisions
of the act. But while it is less than six
months since the act was passed, as far
as can be gathered from an expression
through the public press and other
sources from different sections of the
State, the feeling of opposition that ex-
listed at the time has given place to one
of more than general satisfaction, and
this, with the exception, perhaps, of
only one or two counties.
The purpose of the act was to create
and maintain as far as the Legislature
could, hampered with the provisions of
the act of Congress before referred to,
uniform system or plan of higher educa.
ton, which should centralize in few in
situations. The objects to be thus oh.
tanned would necessarily cost less money
for their operation, and by prescribing
that they should only be open to pupils
VINO had passed through the high schools,
cut off all preparatory department and
make them entirely collegiate in their
operation. That it was the policy of
the Constitution to foster normal schools
for the education of teachers for the pub.
lie schools, a normal department was
added and also summer schools for the
same purpose. The act created one
university and one college for girls, it
being the idea of the Legislature not to
countenance co-education, and this com.
piled with the act of Congress that one
of these Institutes should be located east
and one west of the Suwannee river. 1t
maintained the Colored Normal Institute
located at Tallahassee, and sought to add
to its efficiency, and it maintained the
Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb,
as the act under which it was created
and the purposes were not simply an