Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-11-03
EDUCATION IN MISSISSIPPI
NOUS.

II was brought to US once more by DR.. Provine when
he was in NoXubee last week, that Mississippi stands out
an example among the sister states, OF "iilteracy oui
state beng second from the last in educational standing
in the entire union. Now this word llhteracy IS one tnat
carries a sting. and causes a feeling Of reVuiSlon-no
individual and no state wants to be dubbed lliterate, for
1t is an anathema that smacEs of "a low grade OF civlIlza-
ton. People who do not know Us Of this great ola state
with the marvellous Influence Of ~preJudlced minds, as
soclating swamps with water, in this connection, LINK Mis-
sissippi, because It's name souhdi wet to them, on ac-
count Of being that Of the Mississippi river, imagine the
entire state is a half submerged area, Astounding IN slush,
mosquitoes and aligators, supplemented with a generous
atmosphere of malaria, and that we of the state are pro-
ducts of a swampy climate.
In booming Mississippi to the iliteracy line, though,
it would be but fair and right to concede that the great
percent of her negro population is a weight in the bnlance
against her high rank in the educational count. The state
takes care Of this class Of her population, and ample
and adequate appropriation is made for their education,
out the negro is not ameanable to the heights in learning,
and can attain, as a race just SO much toward this goal,
This it is that holds our state at the end of the line that
she occupies.
Take Noxubce county as ar example of what is being
done cducatiorally by the commonwealth. The state for
last year, gave $3S,41j for the schools Of Noxubec county,
and this was supplemented by the county with $4,000,
this to be used for the consolidated and 3 her schools of
the county, Macon and ShuQualak not being included in
this count. The per capita expenditure for the year 1921
was so, and 80 per cent, or four out of every five Of the
white children of the county attended the schools of the
different Consolidated districts and separate school dis
tricts.
Advancement in every line of educational WORK il being
practiced more and more in the county. Splendid school
buildings, finely equipped are in use; AS many of the
schools as Is practicable are consolidated, and transpOr-
tatlon furnished for the boys and girls; the terms are
longer; the schools are graded; the teachers are more
carefully and eXactingly selected, and are paid salaries
commensurate to their superior ability. Athletics, that
Is a recognized necessary part of the school work, is being
put in every school, and the pupils are Systematically
trained in this line. The estimated value Of the white
school property in the county is 100000.
The Agricultural High School at Mashulaville is fast
becoming a pride to the county, with its splendid build
IngS, equipment. improvements, and superior corps of
teachers, Here every branch of education is taken up
art, music, mechanics, manual training, domestic science
and domestic art, besides the splendid literary advantages,
and the fine opportunity for the coming farmers of the
county to gain practical instruction in their lire.
This is not a plea for the intelligence of Mississippi as
a state, for We need no pIea-too many magnificent men
have gone out from her midst, and too many brilliant
women have made the name of the state a proud one, for
am apology for the intellectual status Of her people to
I've necessary. Our state holds up as proud and well fill.
oG . head as any in the crowd, but it is not amiss to review
Fer achievements ever ana anon. and call attention to the
many negroes in her midst who are counted as population
and are a factor in raising a question: as Go the lteracy
OF the state. 1t may not be amiSs, either, to state that
the NJ. 5. {. w., formerly the l.. |. & c., that great institu.
tlon OF learning, was the first State-suprorted institution
OF ITS Kind in the whole United States, nor that. some time
hHcN, emma, or IT not that country. some other lust as
good, IN searching for a foreign college in which to edu.
cate certain young men along agricultural lines to be
directors of the work in their own country, selected. afte,
long hesitation, MisSissippi's A. & NJ. College. Missis
SlpplS all right educationally as she is in every othe,
way, and here's to her health-"May she live long ant
prosper"