Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

The schools of the country are oper-
ated separately from those of the city
Of Pine Bluff, and each of the school
districts has it's own board of trustees,
Tho ali schools are under the super
vision Of A. w. Lowe, county superin
tendent of public instruction.
Spending approximately 100000
for its schools last year, in addition t.
amounts expended for new buildings,
Jefferson county has placed before the
bows and girls of the rural districts
practically the same educational ad-
vantages offered to their sisters and
brothers of the cities. Remarkable
Improvement has been noted since the
adoption of county SUPPLEMENTARY
several years ago, placing all county
schools under one head. Mr.. Lowe has
occupied this position since its Gre
alton, and to his guidance of the ac
Invites ambitious school directors are
largely due the great progress record
Teacherage at Watson Chapel.
The Watson Chapel school recently
added teacherage, the first of its
kind in the country. 1t is probable
that other districts will follow the ex-
ample shortly, as it is gnerally re-
allied that in order to obtain the COM
potency and efficiency sought better
provision for the comfort and content
ment of teachers must be made than
could be had by the old custom OF per-
hitting the teacher to board wherever
he or she could obtain accommodation.
The Watson Chapel school is lending
practical aid to the farmers of the
neighborhood thru facilities for test
ing soils and milk. Besides proving
of value to the training Of youths for
agricultural work, these departments
are assisting farmers who utilize the
opportunity to increase their profits,
The report Of County Superinten-
dent A. w. Lowe, submitted in August
for the year preceding. shows q scho-
lastic population of 23,923, an increase
Of $50 over the previous year. These
figures include the city of Pine Bluff.
Three hundred and seven teachers
were employed in the county schools.
1923 School Buildings.
There are in all 1913 school build
ings in the county, with 26S rooms.
The aggregate value of the buildings
is placed at $458,450, the furniture
is estimated to be worth $94,670, and
the aggregate value of buildings and
furiture is placed at S553,120.
In a general way, the report shows
that the children of the rural schools
are given equal opportunities with the
children of the city. During the year,
the Dollarway school erected a $1,000
addition and installed new sanitary
furniture, the. first of this particular
kind, perhaps, in the state. There are
ich4 4D-, II l>o
ing erected in the county, while repairs
of considerable magnitude have been
completed already on a score or more
of the older buildings.
Wabbaseka, with $4,000 modern
building, has IS pupils and three
teachers, and music is included in it's
curriculum.
Altheimer, with $4,000 building,
opened during the last term, has about
40 pupils, four teachers, and it's cur
riculum includes domestic science,
manual training and both vocal and in
strumental music.
Humphrey, with 80 pupils and four
teachers; Sheriff. and Tucker, with 30
pupils and two teachers each; Watson
Chapel, Union, Redfield, Jefferson
Springs, are all thoroughly up-to-date
IL SVCAy 1CSPCCC, dIlu are equal W Guy
schools anywhere leach including also
the high school courses in greater or
less degree.
Humphrey, Redfield, Whiteville are
among the schools which have INSTALL
ed pianos and give instruction in in
strumental music as a part of the
regular work.
School Finances.
In addition to the revenue derived
from a school tax, voted upon sep
arately in each district, the county re-
celves an average of So per capita of
scholastic population each year from
the state school fund, which is deriv-
ed from a tax levy, interest on bonds
and receipts from state school lands.
Receipts last year aggregated $175,-
521:66, from the. following sources:
state. $49, 552.88; district taxes, $780,
1925; other sources, $1,023.31.
Disbursements were $157,72O.O4
and the balance on hand was, ST.
SOl.l2, against balance at the start