(From report of Hon. J. Argyle Smith, State superintendent of public instruction, for the two years indicated, with return from the same for 1882.) STATE SCHOOL SYSTEM. GENERAL CONDITION. The statistics show a large increase in the number of each race enrolled in public schools and in average daily attendance, notwithstanding a comparatively small one in youth of legal school age. More than 59 per cent. of the school population were, in fact, enrolled in public schools, and more than 34 per cent. were in average daily attendance, an increase during the year of more than 11 per cent. enrolled and of about 4 per cent. in average attendance. There was a corresponding increase in the number of teachers employed for each race and in the amount expended on the schools, the total for all school purposes reaching $503,876. The average length of school term for the State for 1882 was 754 days. In 1853 it was 2 days longer than this in the country districts. But fuller means for the support of public schools are required to render the work more effective. The superintendent, therefore, recommends that the poll tax be made $2 per capita instead of $1, that an allowance be made for an optional increase in the 3-mill school tax by removing the limit which fixes the minimnin at 3 mills, and that a dog law be enacted, the fines resulting to go to the public schools. He also urges the establishment of a State normal school for white pupils, and aske of the legislature an appropriation for the purpose, stating that Dr. Curry had offered to defray from the Peabody fund one-third of the expenses of the establishment of such school, exclusive of buildings and incidentals. The superintendent reports that unusual interest was manifested in education during the years 1882 and 1883, and that public instruction was growing in the estimation of the people, as shown by their willingness to pay the school tax, their desire to extend the school term beyond 4 months, and their readiness to employ competent teachers. ADMINISTRATION. Provision is made in the State constitution for a superintendent of public education, to be elected by the people for 4 years; for a State board of education of 3 members, including the superintendent, which is charged with the management of the school funds and with other duties; and for county superintendents, one in each county, appointed by the State board for 2 years. The law requires that before any person be appointed county superintendent he must have a certificate from a board of examiners instituted for the purpose of ascertaining the fitness of candidates for such office, the examination embracing, first, educational qualifications, which must not be inferior to those of a first grade teacher; second, habits and moral character; and, third, executive ability. Two of the 3 members of this examining board must be professional educators or men who have had experience in school teaching. One is selected by the judge of the circuit court, one by the chancellor of the district, and the other by the board of county supervisors. The local interests of public schools are supervised by trustees, a board of 3 being provided for each school. In country districts they are elected by the patrons of the schools; in incorporated towns, by the mayor and aldermen. Trustees are required to select teachers, protect school property, provide fuel, and visit the schools at least once a month. Separate schools for white and colored children must be maintained. The legal term is 5 months, except when this would require a tax of more than $7.50 on each $1,000 of taxable property; in such case the term may be reduced to 4 months, the minimum length fixed by the State constitution. Districts that neglect to sustain schools for at least 4 months during any year forfeit their proportion of the public school moneys for such year. Each county in the State constitutes a school district. FINANCES. The public schools are supported from a distributable State fund of $200,000, from township funds, and by municipal and county taxes, with some assistance from the Peabody fund. The State fund is apportioned among the several counties according to the number of children of school age therein. Aid was received from the Peabody fund during 1882 and 1883 amounting to $3,200, besides about $5,000 intended for the expenses of Mississippi State pupils at the Normal College, Nashville, Tenn. CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS. ADMINISTRATION. An incorporated town of 1,000 or more inhabitants may constitute a separate school district if the mayor and aldermen so elect, its boundaries to be those of the town. For the supervision of city schools the mayor and aldermen appoint a board of 3 trustees, whose duties are similar to those of country school trustees, the county superintendent retaining the same jurisdiction over these schools as over others in the county and the mayor and aldermen exercising the functions otherwise belonging to county supervisors. STATISTICS OF VICKSBURG. Vicksburg, with a population in 1880 of 11,814, reported in 1882-'83 3,760 youth of school age, with 1,320 pupils enrolled and 1,120 in average daily attendance, under 21 teachers, 12 of the latter being women; 1,100 sittings for study in 3 school buildings; all school property valued at $10,600; schools taught 170 days, at a cost of $14,830, all except $30 raised by taxation. Estimated enrolment in private and parochial schools, 600, PREPARATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS. STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATES. To be employed in public schools teachers must have certificates of qualification signed by their county superintendent, who, in conjunction with the board of supervisors, examines candidates for positions as teachers, and, if found qualified, gives them certificates of first, second, or third grade, according to their attainments, which certificates are valid in any part of the county for one year. The certificate of a first grade teacher shows that the holder is thoroughly qualified to teach the higher branches of English literature, natural philosophy, elements of book-keeping, and all studies usually taught in common schools; that of a second grade is proof of ability to teach the intermediate branches of arithmetic, grammar, and other common school studies; and that of third grade certifies as to the elementary branches. STATE NORMAL TRAINING. The State Normal School, Holly Springs, established in 1870 to train teachers for the colored public schools, presents a course of study designed to secure this object and none other. All studies in the course are compulsory, only such being included as are necessary to prepare teachers for reaching the masses of the unlearned. The standard is raised each year to meet the increasing requirements of county superintendents. Tuition and text books are free, the school being supported by the State. There were 155 students in attendance during 1882-83. OTHER NORMAL TRAINING. Iuka Normal Institute, Iuka, first opened in 1882, reports a 4-year course of study, which includes drawing and music, a chemical laboratory and apparatus for illustrating physics, a small museum of natural history, and a model school. Jackson College, Jackson, a normal and theological school, is one of the fifteen institutions founded and sustained by the American Baptist Home Mission Society to train men for the work of the christian ministry and qualify teachers for the public schools. Normal departments are also reported in connection with Rust University, Holly Springs; Tougaloo University, Tougaloo, and Union Female College, Oxford." For statistics of normal schools reporting, see Table III of the appendix, and for a summary of these statistics, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissioner preceding. TEACHERS' INSTITUTES. It appears from a paragraph in the Educational Journal for July that over 50 county institutes were to be held in the State in 1884, but no more definite information as to this work is at hand. EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL. The Educational Journal started at Jackson in 1882 is now published at West. It is a biweekly, edited by P. W. Corr and devoted to the interests of the public schools of Mississippi. A limited amount of educational information from this State is still given in in the Mississippi department of the American Journal of Education. SECONDARY INSTRUCTION. PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. By a law of 1878, private academies and colleges having suitable school buildings, libraries of not less than 200 volumes, and a faculty of good standing are recognized as high schools, and pupils attending them are authorized to draw from the school fund, in payment of their tuition, the pro rata amount to which they are entitled. Such high schools and colleges are required to adopt a course of text books as nearly as possible in accordance with the curriculum of the University of Mississippi, so that students may pass from them into the university without loss of time. There is no information at hand as to the number of such schools in the State. OTHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS. For statistics of business colleges, private academic schools, and preparatory departments of colleges, see Tables IV, VI, VII, and IX of the appendix; for summaries of such statistics, see corresponding tables in the report of the Commissioner preceding. SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION. COLLEGES FOR YOUNG MEN OR FOR BOTH SEXES. The University of Mississippi, Oxford, still provides preparatory, collegiate, and professional instruction in its 3 departments, viz, the University High School, the de partment of science, literature, and arts, and the department of professional education, this last including only a school of law. The department of science, literature, and arts presents 5 distinct courses of study, 3 of them undergraduate and 2 graduate. The undergraduate courses are for the degrees of A. B., B. S., and PH. B. The first two, extending over 4 years, have a fixed curriculum, in which all the studies are compulsory. The course for PH. B. is elective and embraces the studies of any 7 of the 10 departments. Students not candidates for a degree may parsae a course of select studies under certain restrictions. The 2 graduate courses lead to the degrees of A. M. and PH. D., the former extending over 1 year, the latter over 2. A choice is offered in each between 6 special lines of study, in one of which the applicant must pass a satisfactory examination. Since June, 1882, women are admitted to the university on equal terms with men, but they must be qualified for the freshman class. There were 22 in attendance during 1883-84, the whole number of undergraduate students being 148. Mississippi College, Clinton, provides no regular curriculum, except in the preparatory department. Scholarship is measured, not by the time spent in college, but by the attainments made, and degrees are conferred when the prescribed studies have been mastered. The schools are those of mental and moral science, Greek, Latin, mathematics, natural science, English, modern languages, and commerce. The degrees conferred are those of A. B., B. S., and B. LIT. Four students were graduated in 16:4, all bachelors of science. Bust University, Holly Springs, continues to present a theological department, a classical course of 4 years, and a shorter scientific course, in which Greek and Latin are omitted after the sophomore year. To prepare for these it has a subacademic course of 4 years and an academic of 3, leading up to freshman studies. There is also a normal of 3 years, which is the same as the academic, except that pedagogical studies are substituted for Greek. Both sexes are admitted. For statistics of colleges, see Table IX of the appendix, and for a summary, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissioner preceding. INSTITUTIONS FOR THE SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG WOMEN. Reports for 1983 or 1884 have been received from 8 institutions for the higher instruction of young women, all authorized by law to confer collegiate degrees. All make provision for preparatory instruction and nearly all include in their course of study muste, drawing. French, and German. For statistics, see fable VIII of the appendix, and for a summary of them, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissioner preceding. SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION. SCIENTIFIC. The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi. Oktibbeha County, has not only received from the legislature ample appropriations for the necessary buildings and their equipments, but also receives fair support. The property, consisting of. lands, buildings, and appurtenances, valued at $150,000, includes 1,540 acres of land, of which 600 are under cn.nvation. There is a large supply of stock, with a fall outdis of farm machinery and implements. Preparatory and collegiate courses afford the means of acquinng a thorough elementary education and a scientite and practical knowledge of agriculture and the mechanie arts. The degree of B. 8. is conferred on those who complete the ecllegiate course, which extends over 4 years. Gradiste courses of 2 years in agriculture, hortien rare, chemistry, and botany lead to the degree of M. s.. and students are earnestly advised to follow one of these studies. Those who do this are exempt from the military duty and compulsory labor imposed on all other undergraduates. Talon is free to residents of the State. There were 10s students during 153-54 in the regular college classes, besides 14 in irregular courses and 135 in the preparatory department. Aleora Agricultural and Mechanical College, Rodney, shares with the preceding the con ressional grant for the benets of agriculture and the mechanie arts. Its property, valued in 18:2 at about $43,700, comprises 30 acres, 125 of them under calvstion. The courses of study are an academic of 2 years, a sciennide preparatory of 2, and a scientice of 4. In the last there were 16 students in 198SEN For full statistics of the two agricultural cells see Tide I of the appendix. and for a summary of them, see a corresponding talle in the report of the Commissioner preceding. PROFESSIONAL. Theological instruction is given at Jackson College. Jacksen, stopered by the American Baptist Home Mission Somery for training musters and teachers, and at Bast University, Holy Springs, Methodist Episcopal la the last the text books used are mainly those prescribed by the general conference, and theological students are expected to take such studies from the collegiate course as are deemed expedient. Natchez Seminary, Natchez (Baptist), sends no information for 1884, nor has Bishop Green Associate Mission and Training School, Dry Grove, sent any for several years past, and it seems probable that this last has been discontinued. For statistics of theological schools reporting, see Table XI of the appendix, and for a summary of them, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissioner preceding. Legal training is provided for in the law school of the University of Mississippi, which, in a 2-year course, undertakes to qualify students for practice in any court in the State. Applicants for admission must be at least 19 years of age, and, if not graduates of some college, must show certificates of good moral character. No examination for admission is mentioned. Twelve students were reported for 1883. SPECIAL INSTRUCTION. EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB. The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Jackson, established by the legislature and supported by the State, is open to deaf-mutes of the State who desire an education, boarding, tuition, books, and medical attendance being furnished free of cost, and, to the very poor, clothing and transportation also. Increased accommodations were provided in 1883 for both white and colored pupils by the erection of new buildings and the improvement of the old, funds having been appropriated by the legislature for this purpose. There were separate buildings for the two races, and at the date of the report colored pupils numbered 15. The whole number under instruction during 1882 and 1883 was 88. Since the last report instruction in articulation has been added to the course of study, which, besides the more elementary branches, includes algebra, history, natural philosophy, and moral science. The employments taught are printing, carpentry, shoemaking, cabinet work, sewing, and cutting and fitting. For statistics, see Table XIX of the appendix, and for a summary, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissioner preceding. EDUCATION OF THE BLIND. The Mississippi Institution for the Education of the Blind, Jackson, a free school sustained by the State, is open to all resident blind youth 9 to 21 years of age who are not incapacitated for instruction by physical, mental, or moral infirmity. Three departments are included, literary, musical, and industrial. The first, designed to give a fair English education, includes elementary branches, with history, elocution, geometry, physiology, and astronomy. The employments taught are broom making, chair seating, mattress making, upholstery, sewing by hand and machine, knitting, crocheting, and bead work. There were 37 pupils at date of the report for 1883, under 14 instructors and other employés. EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION. STATE ASSOCIATION. The Mississippi State Teachers' Association met at Jackson, December 27, 1883, remaining in session two days. Among the topics discussed were technical education, coeducation in colleges and universities, system as it affects school work, the proper limit of the school age in public schools, the art of questioning as related to teachers, excellences and defects of the public schools, the proper limit to the public school curriculum, and the duties of the State in the support of public schools. Coeducation received more attention than any of the other topics presented, two papers on it being read. One was by Mrs. Annie C. Peyton, favoring separate education for girls; the other, by Prof. C. W. Hutson, claiming for coeducation special and important advantages, aside from the evident one of economy. A discussion followed, in which a majority of the speakers favored the views expressed by Professor Hutson. CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICER. Hon. J. ARGYLE SMITH, State superintendent of public instruction, Jackson. 11 E |