Year: 1878

In former years. number of schools located in
and towns have received liberal aid from this fund Many
of their efficiency due this timely and generous
1t is with pleasure that recognize the fact that the
thanks of the citizens of State due the Trustees
this fund.- and their efficient agent Rev. Dr. b. Scars of Stan
fund.- the appropriation of former curaed 1876
the amount then appropriated being limited 5000 This
necessarily excluded quite number OF the schools applying
for ad from appropriation that year Bu hope
induged that larger appropriation might be made the
and to schools failing receive
aid the year previous tE'


Board Trustees Peabody fund October
last thereafter communication was received from
Dr. Sears the general agent notifying that owing their
greatly reduced income he would be obliged to withhold
funds from Mississippi for the year. in order to aid States that
doing more and have less schools" He adds
'We have been just liberal to Mississippi if it had
knowedged and paid its bonds"


This letter received this office a time when l
officially absent and when County Superintendent and Boards
of of schools applying for aid, impatient
know result of their applications AS the letter
ceedngy brief the clerk my Office copied the letter and
sent County Superinendens
little anticipating that it would find the public
prints 1t has been made the subject of anmadveson in
many papers the State For this reason the publ
city heretofore inadvertently given to it, and the criticism
which it has elected have thought proper aude to it in
this connection S. !. 5..ss..e


In my reply Dr. Sears expressed surprise and morti
fcaon that in withholding appropriation from the State
he should have fit with doing little for
selves and the State with refusing acknowledge and its
bonds The reference these things could not therefore
be otherwise regarded than uncad for if not unklnd


In subsequent received him. have been assured
purport and spirit of his hast and somewhat
note had been entirely misunderstood.
He dscams all intention of drawing any nvdous compar
between the and former Of the pub
lie the State and his reference to the
the of the called repudiated
81 what did not
haste that ought to have said said nothing


introducing these thus pubicy
is deeply be they do ofhca cor
espondence with the distinguished gentleman the general agent
of this Funda correspondence which has been uniformly
and the most liberal sentiments
toward people the State This itte unpeasantness
it hoped will allowed make breach between the
Trustees and Agent Of this Fund and the citizens of the
State. - 4ss.ra.t


Before closing duty which terminates official


ton with this department the public interests of the State


trust deemed pesumptuous in me to offer few
reference to needed Legislation IN the INTERESTS
of the public school system. . : = ,oaf 8 :.


respectfully suggest the necessity and wisdom OF
consolidating the school law repeating
and practically obsolete and supplying what IS
give cohcreny and greater efficiency to the system


g. Under the general work OF amendment attenton Is
respectfully called the following items: .a


perfectly NANTES high degree of efficiency the public
supervision by competent officers. But in order
efficient local supervision, something like
adequate be awarded The law should be
so require County Superintendent to visit ana
personally inspect all the schools their respective countess
and this service adequate compensation should be PAID


(bo Graded Schools and Teachers Sadries-A very Sc
rous difficulty is encountered under the present law winch
limits salary teachers to $40 per month In
the impoverished condition of people the question OF
Continued on the Fourth Psge.)