Report of the State School Commissioner of Georgia to the General Assembly, submitted in November, 1890, and covering the educational operations of 1889 and 1890

REPORT
OF THE
OF GEORGIA
TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
SUBMITTED IN NOVEMBER, 1890, AND COVERING THE EDUCATIONAL OPERATIONS OF 1889 AND 1890.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, CONSTITUTION JOB OFFICE,
1890.

Office of State School Commissioner,
Atlanta, Ga., October 29th, 1890. His Excellency, John B. Gordon :
My Dear Sir---I herewith submit to you my Biennial Report as State School Commissioner to the General Assem bly, and beg you to present it to that body. I am reminded, while penning this note, that your term of office is about to expire, and I wish, before severing our official relationships, to bear my humble testimony to the very distinguished ability and patriotic devotion which have characterized your admin istration of your high office of chief executive of this great State for the past four years. I also desire to thank you for your uniform courtesy to me since I have been in this office, and for your promptness and fidelity as President of the State Board of Education (of which we are both members) in look ing ever closely and actively to the enforcement of such measures and policies as yon deemed best for advancing the cause of education--the true friend of the people.
May all your future be as bright and happy as your well earned fame is grandly lustrous and imperishable, is the sin cere wish of of your friend,
Very truly, JAS. S. HOOK,
State School Commissioner.

REPORT.
Office of State School Commissioner,
Atlanta, Ga., October 9, 1890.
i Senators and Representatives of the People of Georgia, in General Assembly met:
la pursuance of law, I submit my biennial report for the years 1889 and 1890, to your honorable body. I assumed in my first report to you, that the common school system had become the fixed policy of our State. I showed by a brief historic reference to educational effort and progress in Geor gia, that it was pot until about fifty-three years ago, that the propriety of adopting the common school system, free alike to the children of the poor as well as the rich, was brought to the attention of the Legislature, and that successive governorg of the State continued to press the policy upon each successive General Assembly, until at last, in 1871, it was inaugurated I said in that report what I repeat here, that " the experience of other States and nations, as well as our own, has made popu lar the golden theory, that the great end of all human govern ment is to teach men to govern themselves, and that therefore, it is the duty of the governments to provide systems of public education, and to place them under wise and wholesome super vision for the benefit of all."
"The mind of a naLion or State is its highest, brightest, best and most enduring wealth, which perishes not, but survives the decay of matter. The statesman and the patriot, he who is so not ir name only, but in feet, feels and recognizes this to be a great fundamental truth and concedes as the inevitable logical sequence that if mind be so valuable a part of a State's

4
wealth and resources, education by the government becomes a matter of greatest concern and supreme patriotic obligation," and I submitted that in view of the premises, "that govern ment is recreant to the legitimate ends of its creation which does not make the education of every child within its borders an object of vital and primary concern." And then proceeded to say: "Indeed the civilized States and nationalities of the world have reached with fixed confidence and now boldly assert four propositions concerning this whole subject of edu cation, with so much earnestness and such unhesitating defin iteness that they cannot longer be considered open questions, to-wit: 1st. Education of its citizens or subjects is the imper ative high duty and obligation of every form of government. 2nd. Suitable school houses, properly ventilated and heated to meet the constantly increasing demand, must be built, keeping steadily in view in their construction, the conditions of roominess, comfort and convenience, as well as the health of the teachers and pupils. 3rd. An adequate supply of good and competent teachers to conduct the schools, who must be paid ample compensation. 4th. Governments must raise and furnish the means to compass these important ends, so vital to human progress and happiness, either by taxation or other wise."
It can hardly be doubted that the popular heart and mind of Georgia have fully adopted and are wedded to the common school system as the true and best method of bringing the elements'of rudimentary education to all the children of the State. The system is intended to give to every child--whether he be hid away in the mountain fastnesses or far distant from cities and towns and railroads, in rem districts of the wiregrass region or at points difficult of approach along our seacoast--the privilege of entering a school house to receive that rudimentary instruction accorded by our noble and enlight ened Constitution and laws. In all this there is no opposition to "higher education," as it has recently been more distinc

5
tively called. Certainly no one can, or does, object to university or other college education, where it can be had. All that the friends of the common school system claim is, that the fund rightly belonging to all the children of the State shall not be diverted from its appropriate channel. It is said of the illus trious Stephens that, while in his youth he was struggling against poverty and trying to obtain an education and train ing for that naturally bright intellect with which nature had endowed him, two excellent Christian ladies came to his aid and furnished the means that enabled him to prosecute his studies to the attainment of a diploma that honored him, and that he everafterward honored! The help that those ladies gave to that one poor boy, the common school fund now gives to thousands of poor hoys and girls all over the State, and who shall say that many of these, thus helped, will not also rise to commanding heights of intellectual and moral power and influence ! It is the office of the common school to give all a chance. Its special function is to give the first taste for the acquirement of learning and knowledge, and thus stimulate the appetite for still higher attainment. It has done much in this way already, and it requires no prophetic ken to people the not far distant future with a grand display of glorious educational achievements in dear old Georgia. Let us cherish and foster our common schools; they are the friends of our children and our homes; they protect from the blinding shadows of ignorance; they generously encourage honorable ambition in the young; they lend a new charm and inspiration to our social life; they lead to the higher planes that bask in the sunlight of refining and elevating knowledge; they bring to the budding minds and tender hearts of our children the Consciousness of personal dignity and self-respect, and lead to the development of the highest and best types of manhood and of womanhood; they are the mainstay of our industrial classes, and the hope of the poor and the rich alike; they are the true conservators of the public morality and of popular

6
liberty ; they are the best pasture grounds for our colleges and our churches, and for all the noble and lofty enterprises that engage human attention and employ human energies. Let us stand forever by our common schools, and make them bloom as a vast garden of perennial benefactions to our children and children's children. Fear not for the higher education in the higher institutions of learning: that, in its due order, will take care of itself. If we make the valleys bloom with flowers, we may rest assured that the fragrance will find its way up the mountain heights. We cannot, we must not, we will not, give up the common school system, which has come at last into the history of modern times as the outbirth of humanity's cry for knowledge and the protoplasm of higher, broader and grander civilizations. It has come as the morning star, with its silver glow preceding the brighter day, already dawning with ite flood of golden glory. Our minds hail it and our hearts enshrine it.
A system so wise, so important, and so valuable to all our best interests, demands for its support and effective mainten ance the aid of appropriate, helpful legislation and ample means. The l^ast-General Assembly moved nobly upon this line, and some statutory provisions were enacted that brought strong assistance';and much encouragement to the work, where by we were enabled to put more children in the schools, give a longer term than formerly, to-wit: four months. instead of three, and pay larger compensation to teachers. I will say here, in passing, that it is to be regretted that in some of the counties contracts for three months schools were entered into before the order for four months schools had been received. This has produced some irregularity and confusion, but the fund that may not be fully expended in those counties will go over into their respective school funds of the next year, when, I hope, five or six months schools will be the rule through the State. I will explain the reason of this hope later. At pres ent, I wish to note specially those Acts of the last Legislature passed in aid of the common schools.

And first, the (Genera] Tax Act of 1888, authorized an assess ment upon the taxable property of the State, of one-half of a mill for 1889, and one mill for 1890.'; This gave us for the year 1889, the sum of $165,000, and for the year 1890 double that sum, to-wit: $330,000. )
Next followed the ^amendment to the Tax Act, offered by the Hon. John I. Hall, of the 26th Senatorial District,}giving to the common schools all the taxes arising out of7taxable property in the State in excess of $360,000,000.) This was a provision full of wisdom and patriotic forecast. It has brought a considerable sum to the public or common school fund each year since the year of its passage. (In the year 1889 it yielded the sum of $50,575.90. In the year 1890 it yielded the sum of $140,616 ;) as will be seen from the following note to me from our most worthy and efficient Comptroller-General:

Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner :

Dear Sir--The amount realized from the Act, 1888, allowing all taxe

on property in excess of $360,000,000 for years 1889 and 1890, is as follow.8:

1889, (not available until 1890)........................................... $ 50,575 90

1890, ( "

"

1891)--approximate .... 140,616 00

Very Respectfully,

W. A. WRIGHT, Comptroller-General.

This wise and most judicious provision should be permitted to stand unrepealed, for it shows that Georgia wants, as her wealth and population increase, the means for the education of all the children in the common schools to increase also. It is true that the suggestion of repeal has been made, and a direct tax proposed to meet the necessities of the school work. But I respectfully submit, that with this amount coming in and increasing each year, as it has done so far, and will con tinue to do for the years to come, now that our State has marched forth on a new career of increased and ever-increas ing prosperity, it would be best not to disturb this regular contribution which the State will thus make, and let such ad ditional assessments as in your wisdom may be called for^

8
take this probable amount of each year, dedicated to the high est and best possible service that any public money can be devoted, as your starting point, and regulate your assessments accordingly. In this way, the further tax you may impose will be comparatively light, and perhaps better suit the views, wishes and circumstances of our people. It is unfortunate that (this amount of excess thus devoted to the common school fund, which is usually definitely ascertained by the middle of October, cannot be utilized in school work ot the same year,'but, perhaps in another view, the present plan of paying it over in the succeeding year's school fund for ap portionment^ serves the good end, as above suggested, of let ting you know in advance what will be the additional amount needed in the next year's school operations. I would respect fully suggest, however, that when this excess goes into the treasury of the State, it goes there in its character as the money of Georgia's children within the school ages, and as the State will have its use for near or quite a year before it is paid out on the next year's apportionment, lawful interest should be allowed thereon.
I congratulate you, Senators and Representatives, upon the auspicious outlook in our educational matters, and the fair prospect of running the schools for six months all over the State next year, from mountains to seaboard, with ample money to educate the children and pay the teachers still larger remuneration for their most valuable services. I base this encouraging statement and hopeful view upon what I believe to be the already established right of this department to cer tain funds long claimed by it. On this point, deeming the positions and arguments then presented sound and impregna ble, I introduce the following from my report of last year, covering the two very large and important claims set forth therein:
And, first, I claim that of right the whole income from the State Road belongs to the school fund of Georgia. The committee, composed of Reese,

9

Church and Pierce, heretofore quoted for another purpose, make the follow ing statements, which are sustained by the facts of history in this regard:

"The Slate of Georgia, by her Legislature, at different periods, has appropriated as an educational fund (exclusive of specific appropriations to different counties) more than one million dollars in bank stock, including one-third of the surplus revenue re ceived from the Treasury of the United States, which, was three hundred and ^fty thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars. Of all this vast amount, in 1843, there remained only $262,030 in bank stock, which, at this time, constitutes the State educational fund. The interest upon which, about $20,000, is distributed through the State for the benefit of the poor children. As far back as I83fr, forty thous md dollars were annually distributed for this purpose. It is very pertinent to the subject, that we inquire what h is become of these liberal appropriations. Except the loss by the Darien Bank, the whole amount `.surplus revenue,' and all has been expen led in con structing the Western and Atlantic Railroad. So it is evident that, in strict justice, the cause of education has a Hen upon the State Road, and should the State determine to sell it, or any part thereof, the amount of the sale, after discharging her liabilities* should be made a permanent school fund. We are far f om recommending that policy; an opinion upon that subject.is not within ourduty."

I desire, just here, to be very emphatic in my disavowal of any purpose whatever to express an opinion as to the policy of a re-lease of the road, or a sale, or a return to the old policy of management by the Governor for the State. As said by that committee for itself, so I say for myself, "an opinion upon that subject is not within my duty." But I do also desire to be quite as emphatic ir saying, that whatever be the disposition made of it, nothing can change the right to the proceeds as an educational fund.

*

#

#

*

*

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But there is another claim presented by my lamented predecessor in his last report, to which I invite your attention, remarking/ that the facts as stated by him, raise a legal question of importance. There can be no doubt that the State policy which prompted the Act or* 1858, issuing bonds to the amount of $351),000, to be used as a school fund, was, as a mere public pol icy, subject to a legislative re-call whenever the State should see proper to revoke it, and require the destruction of the bonds. Dr. Orr claims, with marked ability, and presents the point with his usual clearness, that the destruction of the bonds did nothing more than to destroy the evidence of the right of the Educational Department to the bonds, but not the right itself, and that, therefore the interest on the bonds, at least from the date of the adoption of the Constitution of 1868, at which time those bonds were in existence, and which Constitut on then devoted "any educational fund, now belonging to the State, except the endowment of, and debt due to, the State University," to the support of common schools, is still due. The only question, as it seems to me, is whether the State, exercising her right to re voke a public policy, and ordering the destruction of the bonds issued in pursuance of that policy, did thereby destroy and revoke the bonds and their adjuncts--the attached coupons. I have felt some doubt on this point* and refer it to your better judgment, only remarking, that it the property right in those bonds was in this Department, and intact at the adoption of the Constitution of 1868, the fact that that organic law devoted the prop-

10
erty to education of the people, would seem to fix the right beyond the reach of legislative interference. It should he noted, in this connection, that the Constitution of 1877, so far from an attempt to revoke the action of the Constitutional Convention of 1868, on this point, and its clearly un derstood legal effect, contented itself by embodying precisely the same pro vision, which you will find in Sec. 3, Par. 1, Art. VIII, thereby also devoting to education in the State, "any educational fund now belonging to the State, (except the endowment of and debt due to the University of Georgia.)" If the organic law of 1868 fixed the title to these bonds, and no legislation could violate this organic decree, then, it follows that when the new organic law is established giving "any educational fund now belonging to the State," we have, as it were, a second and final organic consecration ot those bonds issued under the Act approved December 11, 1858, and they are still a part of the school fund of Georgia. If you decide this question in accord ance with the views suggested by Dr. Orr, and which lam strongly, inclined to think sound, this rightfully adds to the educational fund the claimed amount of interest, to-wit: $378,000, with the additionally accrued interest since then. And, with him, 1 ask for provision to he made for its payment. I give you the extract from the Doctor's report, and let him be heard for himself on that point:
" When I came into office in 1872, them were in the bands of the Secretary of State, bonds to the amount of $350,000, issued under an Act approved December 11,1858, to provide for the education of the children of the State. At a meeting of the State Board of Education, held April 1st, 1872, these bonds were recognized as a part of the State school fund. In my report, made in 1874, I called attention to them, and asked that provision be made for the payment of the interest then due. In the rejjorts made in 1875 and 1876, attention was called to the subject, and the same request was made. A resolution was adopted by the General Assembly in 1876 requej-ting the Governor to have these bonds destroyed, and the Governor complied with this request in the reso lution. These bonds were in existence as an educational fund when the Constitution of 18v 8 was adopted, and that Cousiilulion devoted any educational fund now belong ing to the State, except the endowment of, and debt due to the State University, to the support of common schools. I have never heard a doubt expressed by any one as to the effect of this constitutional provision. All agree that it at once made them a part of the public school fund. At the time these bonds were destroyed, there had been trouble growing out of the payment of illegal bonds, and the only reason given for their destruction was that they might fall into the hands of those who would make a fraudulent use of them. It was alleged that the destruction of the bonds did not destroy the right of the Educational Department to them, but simply the evidence of that right, and that abundant documentary evidence of this latter could be produced at any time. The portion of the argument going to show that the destruction of the bonds did not destroy the right of this Department to tneir proceeds is certainly true. I must, therefore, ask the General Assembly to put this claim in such form as shall put the right beyond all question, and to. make provision for the payment of the interest now due. There might be some question as to when the interest due this Department should begin to run. Some of the bonds were executed in 1859, and others in 1860. All of them bore interest at six per cent. Hardly any one would question the opinion that the interest ought to begin to run at the time of the adoption of the Constitution in 1868. This would give this Department eighteen years' interest, which, atsix percent.* would be $378,000. I ask that pr^ision be made for the payment of this interest."

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It will be seen that since that time, the State road has been leased for twenty-nine years at the annual rental of four hundred and twenty thousand dollars, payable in monthly in stalments of $35,000. Now, if these two amounts should be allowed us (most too good to be hoped for), then we could run the public schools eight months for the first year, and after that six months ail the time; or, if the Legislature should agree to treat the $378,000 as a school investment, instead of paying it out now, and allow annually seven per cent, interest on the amount, and yield us as above the whole income from the State road, there would be no doubt about enough money for six months' schools and ample means to equip them with needful school furniture. The tables below give the public school fund for 1889 and also for 1890. The fund will, of course, in any event be increased in amount in 1891 by the addition of the tax on excess of taxable property this year, to-wit, $140,616, and the one-half of the rental of the Western and Atlantic Railroad under the new lease, $210,000, making a difference from this latter source of $60,000 in favor of the school fund. I think, therefore, whether my claim for the whole of the rental of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, and for the $378,000, as heretofore presented, be accorded or not, you will agree with me that educational matters are looking up in the Empire State of the South, and the outlook is bright and cheering. By way of filling out the picture ot our progress with the common schools in Georgia, I submit iu this report short extracts from letters from county commissioners of education and others, addressed to me in response to a letter addressed by me to them, which, with the extracts, will appear under proper head in this report. It will be seen from these extracts how the common school system is appreciated, what suggestions are being made, and how the work is progressing. It is pleasant to me to be able to state to you in this connection that the
interest in education in all parts of the State is grow-

12
ing more and more intense, as is manifested by the many educational meetings held in the counties, generally called "educational mass meetings," and properly so, for very large crowds attend most of them. These meetings usually occupy the most of the day. Fine "basket dinners" are furnished by the neighbors, so that the day may be given to the object of the assemblage, and a most enjoyable time is had in hearing speeches and essays on the subject, with good instrumental music and singing, filling up the intervals between exercises.
The good results of Dr. Curry's able address before your body in 1888, are being witnessed all over the State. In a recent correspondence, he has expressed his willingness to me to address your body on the " Relation of the Common Schools to Agriculture." This is a great theme, and would receive, as we all know, most able treatment at his hands. I hope your body will invite him, so that you and our people may have the advantage of his suggestions.
SCHOOLS IN THE RURAL DISTRICTS.
I will State in this connection that our Constitution was wisely framed to put it in the power of the country districts outside of the cities and towns to have systems of their own and have them quite inexpensive at that. In my first report I gave special prominence to this feature of the Constitution in the language following:
The 4th Section, Paragraph 1 of Article VIII, of the Constitution ot Georgia declares that " Authority may be granted to counties upon the recommendation of two grand juries, and to municipal corporations upon the recommendation of the corporate authority, to establish and maintain public schools in their limits by local taxation; but no such local laws shall take effect until the same shall have been submitted to a vote of the qual ified voters in' each county, or municipal corporation, and approved by a two-thirds vote of persons qualified to vote on such question."
This constitutional provision does not execute itself. I believe that every district in a county, or all of them in conjunction that lay outside of munic'palities, as well as every city or town, ought to have it in their own power, by their own voluntary and free act on, in pursuance of a general law for the whole State, passed for the purpose, to provide themselves without

13

having to ask the Legislature for a local law to meet each case. Such a course would add great y to the convenience and benefit of those districts and suh-districts in the counties outside of the town and cities, and he attended with less expense to many of their citizens who now send their children to school in the cities and towns. Why may not a law he passed, a sort of "educational local option law," if you please, that will place it in the power of every county in the State, as well as every municipal corpora tion, when it chooses to do so, to avail itself of the benefits and advantages of the constitutional provisions quoted ? Atlanta and many of the cities ot Georgia and some of the counties have already obtained local acts conferring the power, and I respectfully suggest and earnestly request that a general law applicable to all cities and counties in the State be passed. The provis ions of such a law wold be simple and easy of application, and in my judg ment would give fresh impetus to the cause of education in the State. Thus every county or municipal corporation which felt disposed, could impose a tax on its citizens ot such a per cent, on the State tax, as, while very small in itself, would pioveless, I dare say, than the ordinary tuition fees paid to private schools, and in this way they would he able to supplement their portion of the State school fund, and, perchance, make it ample for all the educational needs of their respective communities.

It is very gratifying to see the Constitution and Journal of

Atlanta, the Chronicle of Augusta, and other leading papers

all through the State urging the building up of good schools

in the rural districts.

*

In addition to what is said above (in regard to the value of

utilizing the constitutional provision for creating local school

system^, I wish to say that their importance can hardly be

exaggerated;--especially to the rural districts and neighbor

hoods in the several counties. It is seen what fadmirable

schools are established in the towns and cities where the citi

zens supplement the public school fund by a self-imposed tax.y

So fine are these schools that the children in many of the

counties are sent from their homes in the country to attend

them, and in many cases the families remove to the towns and

cities. The effect of this, is to enhance population and wealth

in the towns and cities that have thus shown their wisdom

and prudent forecast, while on the other hand the rural dis

tricts are correspondingly depleted in population and wealth.

Our highest, best policy is to have a flourishing, well equipped

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school in every district and subdistrict in every county in the State; and when this glad day shall come, and God-speed it, the music of our rejoicings will be heard everywhere in the grand old commonwealth.
I am happy to say the .work of supplementing the public school fund has been going bravely on in response to a cir cular issued from this department, upon the subject of " Long Term Schools," until now, it is safe to say we have them in almost every county, and in some few of the counties from ten to a dozen of them.) In these schools eight months is the general duration, and the right of the pupil who is within the school ages to receive his eighty days' tuition is fully recog nized and insisted upon. While eighty-eight days would be the proper sum of days in a four-months' school, yet looking to the exigencies of the fund, on the principle of cutting your garment according to your cloth, allowed eighty days to be re garded as the number of days for the four-month term this year. As matter of information and to elicit such legislative action in the premises as your wisdom shall approve, I give here my Long Term Circular to the C. S. C. of the State and the one next following it:
Office or State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga., February 11, 1890.
LONG TERM SCHOOLS.
To the County School Commissioners and Members of the Board of Education of the several Counties of the State of Georgia--Greeting : This Circular in reference to Long Term Schools is issued by me because
of the numerous inquiries made of me as to my construction of the Sections 61 and 62 of the School Law.
I the more cheerfully send out this communication giving my construc tion, because I hope it will result, through the action of patrons supplement ing the public fund, in longer periods of instruction for all the children ot the State.
The construction which follows was given in response to a letter asking for it, received by me from from Mr. Isaac S. Clement, the very intelligent County School Commissioner of Forsyth county, who is also the editor of the Clarion, published at Gumming, Georgia, in which paper he asked leave to give it publicity.

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He having printed it, I deem it now proper to put it in the form of a Cir cular Letter to all of you, so that my construction may be generally known. It will henceforth be the rule for creating and conducting Long Terra Schools, unless my construction is overruled by the State Board of Educa tion.
It will be seen that I hold a " Long Term " must be double the Public Term. It is permissible for the term to be made longer than this--ten or eleven months--if the patrons so will, and help out the public fund to that extent.
Very truly yours, JAMES S. HOOK, State School Commissioner.
Atlanta, Ga., January SI, 1890. Itaac S. Clement, Esq., C. S. C. Forsyth county, Cumming, Ga.:
Dbab Sir--I have never before been asked, as you now do, for my con struction of the two sections, 51 and 52, of the School law, providing for what is usually known as the "Long Term School."
I have been at a loss to get at the complete legislative intent, or, speak ing more correctly, perhaps, my trouble has been not so much to ascertain the intent of the two sections, as fully and clearly to see how the machinery shall be practically adjusted, so that the two schools, under the two con tracts, can be operated harmoniously, fairly and successfully.
/ At the time this law was enacted, one of the difficulties in the way of the progress of the public school system of the State was felt to be the op position arrayed against it by the teachers and friends of the private schools. The legislature, to meet and overcome, as far as practicable, this feeling of antagonism on the part of the patrons of the private schools to the public system, declared that there might be co-operative conjunction between private and public schools upon the following conditions :
1st. The County Board shall first have entered into a contract with a teacher to teach for the public school term and in accordance with the law governing the public schools.
2d. Then, it will be lawful for this teacher thus contracted with, to enter into a supplemental contract with the patrons of the school to teach a pri vate elementary school to embrace the period allowed by law for the said public term.
3d. This supplemental contract is left to the discretion of the County Board of Education.
4th. Before the supplemental contract can be treated as a part of the understanding, it must be examined and approved by the County Board of Education.
6th. When this is done, then, and not until then, is the "Long Term" school created, and(the teacher must then enter as pupils in said private school all pupils of common school age (i. e., all between the ages of 6 and 18 inclusive) who may enter the said school at any time within the term or scholastic year f said private school.)

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6th. The teacher must keep an accurate account of the number of pupils thus entered, and the number of days of actual attendance of each; and when this private school shall have closed, the teacher may make out and present his account against the County Board of Education for the^ full number of days each of said pupils may have attended said schools, not to exceed the whole number of days prescribed by law.
7th. Any common school scholar must be permitted to enter said school as pupil for the period of the public term upon the merits of the common school fund only.
8th. The teacher, or teachers, in this "Long Term School," must he licensed under the State School Law,, and must make reports and returns as other common school teachers are required to do.
9th. The schools must be taught according to contract, and reports and returns must be made as required, or the Board of Education is not author ized to pay the teachers.
I have thus dissected the two sections, and shown, in doing so, the neces sary conditions and elements entering into the establishment and conduct of a "Long Term" School.
And now I hold that when the Long Term is thus constituted, by the acceptance by the Board of the supplemental contract, the following duties and obligations are mutually assumed by the Board on the one hand, and the teacher and his patrons on the other.
The Board must pay over to the teacher, at the end of the joint term, the fro rata of every scholar within school age entering the school, to the ex tent that the public fund will pay for the 80 days public term to which each public schqlar is (this year) entitled.
It is the right of the public school pupil to enter this "Long Term" pri vate school, or these joint schools, at any time, and if he enters within the first four months, which must be regarded as the public school part of the long term, his right to go on and continue to receive instruction for 80 days is so clearly indicated that if he does not enter until the last week, or even the last day of the public term, be must still be taught in the school until his 80 days be accemplished, and paid for out of the public school fund.
It results that the loug term must consist of eight months, and embrace the public term, otherwise the "eleventh hour" scholars of public school age cannot have their 80 days of public schooling as contemplated and required by the statute. All scholars commencing with the term, within the school age, are public scholars, and to be paid for out of the public fund--all out side of that age are taught as scholars in the private elementary department, and the teacher's pay for their tuition during the public term and during the continuation of the term beyond the public term (except as excepted) must be provided for in the contract with the patrons.
By this I mean that every public scholar goes out when his term of 80 days is finished, unless the parent or guardian was a party to the supple-
r

17

mental contract and pays under that contract for the balance of the term,

which is not to he paid for out of the public fund.

The public school fund is provided for pupils of the school age who enter

the public term, and is in no sense a private school fund. The private

fund, to be supplied by the patrons, is in no sense a public fund. But united

in this way they give longer term schools, and therefore the children reap

the great benefit.

The schools must be taught by licensed teachers and they must make the

reports and returns required of teachers of the public schools. Teachers in

these schools, as well as the public schools, should be paid as soon after the

term closes as the money is in'the hands of the County School Commis

sioner, and this should be just as soon as the Tax Collector has enough of

the first collected taxes to pay the draft of the State School Commissioner

for the quota of the educational fund due to his county. Teachers are poor

ly paid, at best, and surely they ought to get what is coming to them with

as little delay as possible.

Of course, the foregoing is my construction only, and I shall stand upon

it until this opinion is reversed by the State Board, which I sincerely trust

may he the case if I am in error. I am always ready for more light.

Very sincerely yours,

JAS. S. HOOK,

State School Commissioner,

Office of State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga., April 24, 1890.
fZh the County School Commissioners of Georgia--Greeting:
My last circular letter to you related to the very important subject of Long Term Schools. My construction of the two sections, 51 and 52, was asked for directly by the Hon. Isaac S. Clement, of Cumming, Ga., the earnest, able and very efficient Commissioner of Schools for the county of Forsyth. I am truly glad that so many of you have approved the construc tion given by me of those sections, and that you have already established so many flourishing Long Term Schools throughout your counties, as your letters and reports to this office disclose. I congratulate the people of Geor gia on the fact that they have such active, intelligent and earnestly pro gressive Commissioners and Boards of Education in the counties all over the State, moving forward her great educational interests.
There are several matters of importance to which I invite your special attention :
1st. The next Public Examination of Teachers. This you will give notice to teachers, in your several counties, will take place on the following days, to-wit: Friday and Saturday, the 30th and 31st of May next. Ido not see the necessity for three days, as heretofore, and hence direct that only two days be employed for the purpose. Indeed, I am not sure but that I shall adopt for the future a valuable suggestion presented to me very strongly and forcibly by Dr. 0. N. Howard, C. S. C., for the county of

18
Chattahoochee, and hold the examinations for one day only. But he advises in the same letter that there be three examinations in each year, instead of two, as now. Before making so important a change as this, however, I pre fer an expression of your views on the subject. If you agree with Dr Howard, your fellow-Commissioner, I will cheerfully adopt the suggestion. You are brought in constant contact with the teachers, and I will thank each of you to express what is your and their preference in the matter. Do you prefer only one day for each examination and three examinations in each year ? Answer at your earliest convenience so I may shape my course in regard to a third examination for this year, should a majority of you ad vise it. Of course this will entail considerable additional labor on this office, both in the preparation of questions and the examination of papers on which Permanent Licenses are sought,but if the interests of the Public Schools of Georgia will be enhanced thereby, I will cheerfully accept the burden of increased work. You will please give twenty days' notice of the May ex amination in your county paper, or the paper most taken in your county,and at public places in your county by posted hand bills. The questions, with appropriate instructions, will be forwarded to you in due time.
2nd. It is exceedingly important to teachers, as well as all interested in popular education in our State, that certain valuable data should be ob tained, and you and your County Boards, and the Superintendents of local systems, are the duly authorized and accredited functionaries having in charge all educational matters in your respective communities, and are* therefore, the proper persons for me to look to to obtain the desired and most desirable data.
1st. I wish to know how many teachers you have in your respective coun ties. I have attempted to do all in my power to help teachers wanting schools and schools wanting teachers by keeping a docket in my office where I regis ter the wants of each. This has enabled me to do some good work in this way. But you must see that a full list of the teachers in the State is a val uable record which should exist in this office, and would greatly aid teachers and all others interested. I have long desired this list, and I now make direct appeal to you to furnish it to this department. Let there be two lists furnished--one containing the names of white teachers, male and female, and the other colored, male and female.
2d. Please'send me a list of the school houses in your respective counties, and the character of the structures--whether log, framed or brick or stone-- and the estimated value of each.
3d. I wish each of you to write me short statements of interest touching the school work and its progress in your county, that I may embody your statements over your own names in my biennial report. This will give a new and very attractive feature to our State school report. And you must see at once that the data for which I ask will be valuable to he laid before our next General Assembly, and furnish facts which will materially aid

19

that enlightened body in determining upon the propriety of some educa

tional legislation 'which I shall respectfully ask at its hands.

Please get the facts for me sought herein, and in a few weeks I will send

you proper blanks to fill up concerning them, and thus save you much'

writing.

Yery respectfully yours,

JAMES S. HOOK,

S. S. Commissioner.

PAYMENT OF TEACHEES.

I again call attention to tM necessity of some proper legis lative act to provide for payment of teachers as they perform their work./ They should be paid either monthly, quarterly or semi-annually.1 It is simple cruelty to them to require that they wait till late in the fall before they can receive their pay for services rendered months before.! We treat no other class of laborers in this way. And it is a marvel that these gentlemen who stand in the value and importance of the work they do, only second to the noble ministers of God, should be kept waiting for their pay, by the great State they are, to my knowledge, so faithfully, usefully and efficiently serving. I submit to your higher wisdom and sense of justice the necessity for prompt action in this matter, and also the method of relief. With diffidence I suggest that State school bonds might be issued and sold to raise the money for the teachers--this issue of bonds to be called in and paid in ten years from date of issue. Such bonds bearing reasonable in terest could be easily floated. Some prompt action is de manded to aid and properly encourage a class of citizens, so useful, so able and so conservative as the great body of our teachers are.

INSTITUTES AND NORMAL WORK.

Another and very important matter demanding legislative action is some appropriate provision for Normal Schools or Colleges in this State. Georgia is one of the four or five states in this great Union of forty-two states, that have no

distinctive Normal School. It is true that in this number the great and wealthy State of Ohio, is to be found. But

20
her people are agitating the subject and pressing it upon the attention of the law-making power--for they are not content with the provision already made for a normal department in their university at Athens. Teachers, like persons in all other professions, must be trained for the work they have in charge. There are poor and imperfect methods as well as better.and more improved methods of instruction. We want and must have teachers trained in the best methods to instruct the young. These improved methods are best for teacher and pupil alike--especially are they fortunate for the child whose mind more readily receives knowledge when conveyed by en lightened and simplified, rather than by those confused and confusing methods which have in the past so retarded rapid and lucid acquirement of knowledge. Whatever else may be omitted, in the conduct of a school, a competent teacher in the school-room is the one essential thing. The schoolhouse may be very fine, or very inferior--the school furniture may be good or bad; all the apartments and surroundings of the school-room may be complete and well adapted to the work, or very incomplete and insufficient for the purpose; yet, with a thoroughly competent teacher present to guide and educate the pupils, we can but feel that these other things, while quite important in their place, are not indispensable. But it must be understood that there are many good teachers to instruct in the schools, who would not be efficient as normal instruc tors, simply because they have not been used to that work. Men trained in normal work are those who, alone, should lead and guide our. Institutes, and Normal Schools--should we ever have the latter. I have (ever favored county insti tutes and am pleased to say that many of the counties hold them monthly. The overwhelming majority sentiment of the teachers of Georgia is in favor of normal instruction, so that teachers, however good they may be, shall be taught the best methods of instruction, in order to make compara-

21
tively easy the work of communicating knowledge to their pupils.
I commend to your earnest consideration and invoke your favorable action upon a proposition for an established system of normal instruction by the State, which you will find set forth in the following resolution adopted at the Peabody In stitute, held in July last, at Salt Springs, by a majority of the teachers present on the day of its passage.
The resolution was offered by Superintendent E. H. Orr, of the Public Schools of Glynn county:
Resolved, That the following committee, to-wit: Hon. James S. Hook, Maj or W. T1. Slaton and Prof. W. H. Woodall, he appointed to urge upon the next General Assembly the provision by law for County Institute In struction--the plan preferred by this body being the appointment of four State Instructors, who shall receive ample salaries from the State' Treasury, and shall be under the control of the State School Commissioner.
It shall be the duty of these conductors to give their whole time to the work, obtaining in the various counties such local voluntary assistance as may be available.
If this plan should not be acceptable I respectfully suggest another--something like this--the idea, or general plan of which, I borrow from the organization of the Supreme Court of the United States. That court as you know, with its nine judges, sets in bank (full bench) several months in each year in Washington City, and when it adjourns each judge goes to the judicial circuit assigned him, composed of several States, and there aids the presiding U. S. Judge of that circuit in the trial of cases pending therein.
Let a Normal College be located in Atlanta or Macon, or some other central and easily accessible point from all parts of the State. Let six well chosen, competent normal in structors compose the faculty and require it to keep the col lege open some two, three or four months, as may be deemed best, and at a period of the year best suited to the conve nience of teachers desiring to attend, and who can leave their schools then. This institution should instruct only in methods#

22
of teaching, aiming always for the hest and most approved methods. When the term should close require each instructor to visit a district of twenty-two or twenty-three counties assigned to him, and then with such local aid as he could ob tain among the teachers, hold a school for normal work. He would, of course, call as his assistants the best material among the teachers to be found in his special district. It might be impracticable to hold a session in each county--but the school could be located centrally as near as possible between four, or even five counties, and thus make it reasonably convenient to all the teachers in those counties. Reasonable salaries should be provided for these instructors or professors. It is believed that this plan would not require any heavy outlay of money on the part of the State, and I have the assurance of Dr. Curry, the distinguished general agent of the Trustees of the Peabody Fund, that if your body will make a liberal as sessment for normal instruction in Georgia, it will be most lib erally supplemented from the Peabody Fund, and enable us to put our Normal State work on a sure footing for the future.
There are strong reasons why action on your part on this important subject should not be delayed. In four or five years the fund donated by the great philanthropist, will be dis tributed in accordance with his will, among those Southern States which have taxed themselves to establish Normal Schools or Colleges. There are two millions or something more of this fund to be distributed, and if Georgia puts her self in position, there is no reason why the amount she will receive would not furnish an investment, the interest on which would ever afterwards sustain her Normal Colleges.
PEABODY INSTITUTES AND THEIR WORK.
Peabody Institutes were held in this State in 1889 and 1890. The attendance of teachers, while improving some, is far less than it should be; and I believe one of the prin cipal causes is, the present most objectionable delay in paying

23
teachers, whereby they do not get their money in time to pay the expenses of the trip and the attendance. I give here sufficient extracts from the proceedings of the white Insti tutes of the two years to inform you concerning them. The teachers who attended both, with the view of hearing the instructors and reaping the benefits, expressed themselves as highly pleased and edified. At these Institutes it has been the custom to have present the County School Commissioners, who are usually present with the teachers while the lectures are in progress, and then have special hours for their own discus sions and suggestions touching the school work in the State. It is to be regretted that more of them do not attend on these occasions and confer together as to the best interests of the great work committed to them as responsible school officers of the State, charged with this great trust so deeply concern ing them, their children and the counties they represent.
It will be seen that by one of the resolutions passed by the 40 or 45 Commissioners present, they make a strong appeal to their fellow-Commissioners to attend from year to year as these annual meetings occur.
The Institute of 1889, before closing its session, passed resolutions which follow, and to which, as requested, I invite your attention:
I give here the resolutions of the teachers at the Institute of 1889, whose suggestions therein contained are respectfully referred to your consideration. They cover matters of great importance to the educational well-being of this State:
Resolved, That in the name of the teachers of Georgia, we return thanks to the manager of the Piedmont Chautauqua and to the proprietor of Sweet "Water Park Hotel for the courtesies and hospitable kindness shown this body during its session; to the trustees of the Peabody Fund, and to Dr. J. L. M. Curry, for their generous donation in support of this Institute, and to Commissioner Jas. S. Hook for his efforts in obtaining and applying the same. We also express our thanks to Miss Dempie Anderson, the efficient Secretary of this Institute, for the courteous and obliging manner in which she has discharged the duties of this office.
Resolved, That we cordially endorse the proposition to build a Teacher's

24
Home on the Chautauqua Grounds, and we pledge our aid in formang a stock company, and the solicitation of stock for the purpose of raising money sufficient to erect said building. "We respectfully ask that the State School Commissioner appoint a committee of five to communicate with the teachers ot the State with the view to raising funds sufficient to build such a Home, placing Miss Love, the originator of the movement, at the head of said committee.
Resolved, That we teachers attending the Peabody Institute, feel that nothing at the present time more vitally concerns the educational interests of Georgia than the better education of its teachers, and we most respect fully request our legislature, which has shown such a liberal spirit in edu cational matters, that they provide such facilities for the normal training ot Georgia teachers as they in their wisdom may deem best.
Resolved, That the Peabody Institute commit itself to the wisdom of an additional direct tax of one mill for public school education ; that a county may, at its option, locally tax itself within five mills limit for public school funds.
Resolved, That we strongly believe it to be to the best interest of the State, and a matter of common justice, that the entire rental of the State Hoad and the revenue now derived from other sources- for educational pur poses, should be devoted first and mainly to the support of the common schools of our State. Then to the founding of two Normal Institutes, one for the whites and one for the blacks; to the providing and sustaining of two Technological Schools, one for each sex ; and to the endowing, liberally,, the State University.
Resolved, That the State School Commissioner, Jas. S. Hook, be requested to place such matters in these resolutions as are addressed to the Legisla ture, before that body, with a view to inducing legislation favorable to car rying out the above suggestions.
Resolved, That we, the teachers, attending the Peabody Institute, extend our sincere thanks to the corps of able lecturers that have favored us with instructions and entertaining talks from day to day. Also, to Judge Hook, for his uniform kindness to the members of the Institute, and his zeal and enthusiasm in the cause of education.
Resolved, That the thanks of the Institute be extended to the Atlanta Constitution and other State papers, for kindly opening their columns todaily notice of the exercises of the Institute.
THE INSTITUTE OF 1890.
The following resolutions were adopted, showing that the teachers in at tendance upon the institute appreciate its success:
"Whereas, "We have been in attendance upon the Peabody Institute, and .having carefully noted its progress, we beg leave to submit the following resolution:
Resolved, first, That in the management of the present session of the Peabody Institute, Hon. James S. Hook, our worthy and efficient State

25
School Commissioner, has evinced great energy, skill and executive ability, and that the success with which this organization has been crowned reflects much credit upon him. Judge Hook, by his untiring efforts, affability and genial manner, has done all in his power to make the Institute a thorough success and a pleasant professional meeting.
Resolved, second, That the Conductor of the Institute, Dr. E. E. Sheib, has by his persistent efforts and energy, endeavored to make this session of the Institute profitable and entertaining to all.
Resolved, third. That the instructors and lecturers have been fully equipped and have faithfully performed their work in their respective places and relations.
Resolved, fourth, That Judge Hook, in the selection of the Chautauqua grounds as a suitable place for holding the Institute, has chosen a location that meets with the approbation of all the teachers present, and by its cus toms and associations affords intellectual entertainment and social enjoy ments.
Resolved, fifth, That the secretaries, Miss Jessie L. Goodall and Mr. Feimor Barrett, have discharged their duties faithfully, and that for their kindnesses we, the teachers of Georgia, return to them our thanks.
Resolved, sixth, That we are deeply indebted to Professor Alwyn Smith and lady for their excellent music.
Resolved, seventh, That the Atlanta Constitution be requested to pub lish the above resolutions and ask other papers to please copy.
On July 9th and 10th, the County School Commissioners of the State met under the auspices of the Peabody Institute, which I was at that time holding at Salt Springs on the Chau tauqua grounds.
At my request Dev. D. G. Phillips, of Jefferson county, was made chairman.
July 9 th.
The following committee known as the Committee on Leg islation, the duty of the comtnittee being to draft resolutions recommending to the next General Assembly changes in the school law, and the passage of new laws, such as they might see fit, was appointed :
E. H. Orr, of Glynn; J. D. Attaway, of Cherokee; Daniel Walker, of Coweta; E. E. Pounds, of Butts; J. F. Cheney, of Oglethorpe, and State School Commissioner, Jas. S. Hook.
The Committee on Legislation reported the following:

26
Resolved, That we respectfully recommend to the next General Assem bly the following legislation:
1st, The passage of an Act, properly guarded, enabling the County Boards of Education, through the County School Commissioner, to hold special ex aminations in special cases in their discretion, the successful applicant to be licensed temporarily; the license to be good only until the next regular ap pointed examinatian, and within the limits of the county wherein they are granted only.
2d, The enactment of a law providing for the payment of the same com pensation to members of the Boards of Education as is, by law, paid to jurors > the same to be paid from the county treasury or from the school fund, as the legislature may determine.
These resolutions were passed without one dissenting voice.
July 10th.
I'he Committee on Legislation continued its report as fol lows;
Whereas, The school fund as apportioned by the State School Commis sioner, is constituted of moneys paid into the State Treasury during a period of time covering one year preceding the apportionment, and,
Whereas, The State now obtains the use of this money for months, Resolved, That an Act should be passed authorizing and requiring the State School Commissioner to make two or more apportionments of the school fund yearly, and providing for the payment from the State Treasury, of the sum thus apportioned to those counties whose Boards of Education shall so request, and to those counties only. Be it further resolved, That said Commissioner should authorize the Coun ty School Commissioners, by order of the County Boards of Education, to pay in advance of close of their schools, ------per cent, of the sum estimated to be due teachers for services rendered up to the time of said payment.
Passed unanimously. The following was adopted:
Resolved, That in addition to the ad interim license suggested by this body, we do further recommend that the proviso to the 38th section, relat ing to examination in case of providential hindrance, be repealed.
The following was offered and adopted :
Be it Resolved, That the committee on legislation be authorized and re quested, in connection with Hon. J. S. Hook, S. S. C-, to present to the in coming General Assembly the changes in the law proposed by this body of County School Commissioners, and urge the adoption of the same.
The following was passed :
Resolved, That the County School Commissioners, in convention assem-

27
bled, appreciate the great benefit to ourselves and to the interests we repre sent, resulting from this annual assemblage, and that we earnestly beseech our fellow-Commissioners to meet with us from year to year. We who are present, do pledge ourselves to exert our influence to have the largest possi ble attendance at each coming meeting.
A resolution requesting the Atlanta Constitution and the Atlanta Journal to publish these resolutions, was passed.
In my circular announcing the Institute held last July I made public the following statement, which I deem important to be copied here, to give you some idea of the scope and de sign of these
"PEABODY SUMMER INSTITUTES.
"Without State aid, as yet, for Normal Instruction in Georgia, I have, after full conference with Dr. J. L. M. Curry, General Agent of the Pea body Trustees for the distribution of the fund, determined to adopt a course in regard ta the Institutes in this State, which, I am persuaded, will give fresh impetus to the work, and far greater interest to the sessions. I shall endeavor to so arrange the work that the curriculum which will be inaugu rated will be continuous, including two annual sessions, at least, in the course. I will appoint a Conductor for the Institute who will be thorough in the whole science of pedagogics and educational psychology, and to him the Assistant Instructors whom I will appoint will be expected to submit, in advance of the session, a comprehensive outline of the work each pro poses to do. As the course of study will embrace not less than two years, the curriculum should furnish ample material between the sessions, so as to encourage and promote preparation and progressive study. On the comple tion of the course, appropriate certificates will be given to teachers entitled to them. "With a view to progressive instruction adapted to public school teachers, the course determined upon will include :
"1st. Methods of the Primary Grades. "2nd. Methods of other grades. "3rd. Consideration of Psychological and Educational Principles. "4th. Purpose and Methods of Institutes, General Principles of School Supervision, Organization, Management, Economy, etc. "5th. Outline Drawing, Modeling in Clay and Sand, Singing, Calisthenics, Construction of Simple Apparatus. These may require special classes. "I shall appoint my Conductor and Assistants in due time, so that all may be ready for the work that may be required of them when the . session begins. As to time and place I will give notice at an early day. The ses sion for each year of the two will be three weeks. "This program will be fully and rigidly carried out by the Conductor and

28
his Assistants, who shall be teachers of eminent character and ability, and who will, in good faith, seek to make the Institute a success.
"I think the General Assembly will enact a law allowing those teachers who procure the certificate of the Institute, as well as those Georgia teach ers who graduate from the Nashville Normal College of Tennessee, to re ceive, without submission to the public examinations ordered under our school law, the Permanent State License now allowed to be granted to a certain class of teachers. This will measurably approach a Normal College in this State, and if the Legislature will supplement the Peabody Fund now so generously being given to our Institutes, with only a few thousand dollars, the great need everywhere felt in the State for a Normal College will be largely met and prove of immense utility to the general cause of education in Georgia. It will enable me, also, to hold two or more sessions annually, and in different localities, so as to meet the convenience of teach ers.
"I will add for the benefit of all concerned that I expect to make attend ance upon the Institutes even cheaper than heretofore--so cheap, indeed, that a teacher will find the three weeks thus spent at the Institute not a whit more expensive than living at home.
"As soon as I have completed arrangements as to place, board and lodg ings per day, time, railroad fare, etc., I will issue a circular giving all the details."
. In pursuance of the above, I proceeded to select my corps of Instructors---all of whom, save the Conductor, are teachers of Georgia, and well known in the State for their eminent worth, ability and learning. The chosen Conductor was first strongly commended to me for the position by Dr. Curry, and this was sufficient commendation ; but since I selected him I have heard from other very eminent sources of the su perior qualifications of Prof. Sheib, who is at this time Prof, of Pedagogics in the University of South . Carolina, and I now announce the Corps of Instructors as follows :
CORPS OF REGULAR INSTRUCTORS.
Prof. E. E. Sheib, Professor of Pedagogics in the University of South Carolina, at Columbia, Conductor. He will, in addition to his general work on Pedagogy and General Principles of Method, do much or all the work of the Primaries with Illustrations of Method.
Major W. P. Slaton, Superintendent of the Public Schools of Atlanta. His subjects will be the English Language and County Institutes.
Rev. Charles Lane, Professor of the Chair of English in Georgia School of Technology--Geography and Sand and Clay Modeling.

29
Prof. C. B. Chapman, Principal Boys High School, Macon, Ga., will in struct in Arithmetic and Discipline.
Prof J. W. Frederick, Principal of High School at Marshallville, Ga., will have for his subjects History and Ungraded Schools.
In reference to these Insructors, having already spoken, of the ability and prominence of Dr. Shieb in the circular above quoted from, I now quote a few sentences from my report of the Institute to Dr. Curry :
" Prof. W. F. Slaton, of this city, is a very strong lecturer and prominent for years as a superior instructor, hut much of his time his place was tilled, by an agreement with me, by Prof. Moore, of this city. In my judgement, Prof. Moore was one of the clearest headed, best posted and most impressive of the Instructors. He and Major Slaton both did good work."
" Prof. Chas. Lane, of this city, is a rare genius who seems to have sipped his intellectual sweets from all the flowers. He is a good teacher, preacher, lecturer and an inimitable humorist."
"Prof. C. B. Chapman, of Macon, won golden opinions from all and Dr. Sheib predicted great things for him in his profession."
"Prof. J. "W. Frederick:, of Marshallville, is a very popular teacher in his section and proved a good lecturer. He favorably impressed all by his earnestness, good, bright and captivating way of handling his themes. The whole corps was able, efficient and did excellent work. There were present one hundred and forty-eight teachers. They were very attentive to the lectures and instructions and expressed* themselves as highly edified. There ought to have been a much larger attendance than. this. I issued 12,000 copies of. the programmes, and saw that they were sent to every county, in numbers sufficient, to each, to be distributed among all the teachers. But most of our teachers are poor and cannot stand even the small expense to which I got their attendance and stay reduced. This grows out of a very hard practice which prevails of not paying the teachers until in the fall. I hope and believe suitable and appropriate legislation by our next Legislature will relieve against this crying and inexcusable wrong."
PERMANENT LICENSES ASKED FOR, FOR NASHVILLE NORMAL COLLEGE GRADUATES, ETC.
I desire to call special attention to a suggestion made in this foregoing extract from my published circular. It is that por tion of it which suggests that those Georgia teachers who go to Nashville Normal College, presided over by that most emi-

30
nent Christian and learned gentleman and scholar, Chancellor William H. Payne, and receive diplomas from that celebrated institution, as competent teachers, be allowed to receive from this department, on their return home, and the production of their diplomas, a Permanent State License. I also earnestly recommend that where teachers have attended two sessions of the Peabody Institute regularly, and received a recommendation from the board of instructors in said Institute, to that effect, that this department be authorized to issue State or Permanent License to them also.
TEMPORARY LICENSES SUGGESTED.
While on this matter of the' grant of licenses, I beg leave to commend to your favorable consideration, the suggestions of the County School Commissioners touchingthe necessity for such modification of the present law as will lodge in the appro priate hands, the grant of Temporary Licenses to meet special emergencies, and also the repeal of the proviso relating to provi dential hindrance from attending the regularly appointed examinotions. There has arisen much trouble on these points, and I trust that such remedy shall be provided, by appropri ate amendment, as in your wisdom may be deemed best.
COLORED TEACHERS DEPARTMENT OF PEA BODY INSTITUTE FOR 1889.
It was found impracticable to hold the Institute for these people at Salt Springs for the reason that, notwithstanding fine and commodious arrangements had been made separately for them up there, it was so far from that portion of the State where the colored people mostly inhabit, and the colored people were so earnest in their request to have a separate In stitute held in that part of the State where it would be most convenient for the teachers to attend, that upon consultation with Dr. Curry, it was deemed best to hold it in the cotton belt of the State. I accordingly held the first of these Insti-

81
tales, to-wit 1889, in Augusta, and I deem myself exceedingly for tunate to have been able to secure the services of Superintend ent L. B. Evans, of the public schools of Augusta and Rich mond county, to aid me in the conduct of both these Insti tutes, the one of 1889, at Augusta, and the one of 1890 at Milledgeville and Augusta. As is known, Superintendent Evans is one of the most scholary, accomplished and thorough instructors in the State. I give below a list of the instructors who aided me on these occasions, and will simply state that in the last Institute I had the valuable assitance of Prof. John Neely, Principal of the Tubman High School, Augusta, Ga., who belongs to a family of first-class teachers long and favor ably known and highly appreciated in Georgia.
The Colored Teachers Department of the Peabody Institute will he held in Augusta from August 19th to August 30th, under the direction of Lawton B. Evans, Supsrinteudent of Public Schools of Richmond county. The fol lowing is the list of lecturers and their topics of discussion:
Lawton B. Evans, Pedagogy. J. Colton Lynes, Ph. D., Natural Science, Geography. Prof. Henry L. Walker, Language, Lessons, Grammar. Mrs. Adella Hunt Logan, Reading, Spelling. Mrs. A. D. Carey, Arithmetic, Penmanship. In addition to the regular course, there will be daily special lectures, even ing exercises, addresses, etc., that will render the sessions pleasant and in structive. The railroads will give reduced rates, and board can be secured for $3 per week. Eor all information as to Colored Institute, address
LAWTON B. EVANS, Superintendent, Augusta, Ga.
COLORED PEABODY INSTITUTE EOR 1890.
The Colored Teachers' Department of the Peabody Institute will be held in the Colored Baptitt Church, at Milledgeville, from August 18sh to Aug ust 30th, inclusive. The demand of Dr. J. L. M. Curry, General Agent of the Peabody Trustees, that the Annual Report fo Georgia shall be submit ted by September 1st, renders this advance in the date previously announced for opening the Institute absolutely imperative.
The Institute will be held under the direction of Prof. Lawton B. Evans, Superintendent Public Schools for Richmond county. The following is the list of Instructors:
Prof. Lawton B. Evans, "School Doctrines," "School Management." Prof. John Neely, Principal Tubman High School, Augusta, "Primary Numbers," " Arithmetic."

32
Prof. Henry L. Walker, President Colored Teachers' Association for Georgia, "Grammar," "(Geography."
Prof. Thomas A. Johnson, Principal Mitchell Street Colored School, At lanta, Penmanship.
Mrs. Adella Hunt Logan, Heading and Spelling. Miss C. L. Barefield, "Music,'' "Calisthenics." Mrs. A. D. Cary, Secretary.
As to the colored instructors in these Institutes, I concur with Superintendent Evans in saying that they were well in formed, and that they were faithful in the discharge of their duties.
Among others, the following resolution was passed by the teachers assembled.
To all the Lecturers--by Prof. I. Blocker:
Resolved, That Institutes for teachers are of incalcuable value and benefit, and that the session of 1890 of the Peabody Institute of Georgia, is a de cided success; that to Superintendent L. B. Evans, conductor of the Insti tute, to Prof. John Neely, tutor in arithmetic, Mrs. Addella Hunt Logan, tutor in reading and spelling, Miss Cecile L. Barefield, tutor in calisthenics, Prof. Thos. A. Johnson, tutor in penmanship, Prof. H. L. Walker, tutor in grammar and physiology, and to Mrs. Alice Hugged Cary, the Secretary, the gratitude of the teachers and all who have enjoyed the instruction and the influence of the meeting, is due, and the same is hereby gladly tendered to each of the instructors for the able, earnest, conscientious manner in which they have performed their labors. That the sense of thankfulness of the Institute and the public be expressed to Miss Lucy C. Laney and Hon. Judson Lyons for the instructive and entertaining lectures delivered.
Motion to adopt. Carried.
With reference to that of 1890, I will say that, as will be seen, the Institute was commenced at Milledgeville, and while it was in session, it was deemed best to conduct the - last week in Augusta, which was done. These two Institutes of 1889--'90 were both well attended, and the colored teachers present were exceedingly attentive to the instructions given and expressed themselves as greatly benefitted thereby.
It is due the colored people to say, that everywhere in Georgia as far as they have come within my observation, that they are anxious for improvement, and in proportion as they become interested in the schools, I note growth in moral senti-

33
ment, less interest in partisan politics, and more anxiety to make themselves useful and respected citizens. They are anxious, the teachers among them, and their people generally, for a Normal College, and some of their ablest and best men, such as Bishops Turner, Gaines, Roberts and H. L. Walker, President of the Colored Georgia Teacher's Association, have suggested to me, that as the college fund has been forfeited by the University of Atlanta, by its violation of the constitutional provision of Georgia, for the separate instruction of whites and colored, this fund should now be appropriated to a Normal Col lege for the instruction of colored teachers, and that it would be the speediest and best way to dispose of that fund which still remains hung up because of the persistent disregard of the requirements of the laws and settled policy of Georgia by this institution.
This suggestion is submitted to you for such consideration and action as shall seem proper to you.
I will state, however, that this appropriation of $8,000 per annum, was not intended as an appropriation to the Atlanta University, per se, but for the education of colored people. It would seem, that in as much as this institution has disqualified itself to receive this fund, the colored people, for whose benefit it was intended, should not be longer deprived of it.
The suggested method for its use is as good as any other that could be devised.
INSTITUTE FUNDS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
Below I give the financial statement of the funds furnished me, and the disbursements. My report of the Peabody In stitutes to Dr. Curry, accompanied by the vouchers, show this

March 21, 1889 July 15, 1889 July 29, 1889 .

$ 300 500
1,053

$156 72 -- 1,853

$2,009 72

34

DISBURSEMENTS--TOWN SYSTEMS.

Paid Sandersville Paid Dalton . . . Paid Cedartown . Expenses of two Institutes.......................................

160 150 165 1,395 63-- 1,880 63'

Balance on hand................................................

$ 129 09

Paid to Waycross.................... ............................... ... $ 129 09

Balance................................................................. 1890.
Check from Dr. Curry............................................ Paid to Waycross ........................................................ . . ! $ 200 Paid to Fort Valley.................................................... . . . 100 Received of Dr. Curry...............................................

$ 00.00 $ 500
$1,300 00

$,1,800

300

Balance on hand . ............................................ Received of Dr. Curry during Oct.. 1890 . . .

$1,500 226

Cost of two Peabody Institutes for 1890 .

1,726 1,753 06

Balance....................................................

% 27.06

PEABODY SCHOLARSHIPS.

Georgia, under the generous donation and division of the

Peabody fund, has fourteen regular scholarships in the Normal

College at Nashville, Tennessee, now under the presidency of

Dr. William H. Payne. There were ten vacant scholarships

to be supplied at the close of the session of summer before last.

The applicants for these vacancies were numerous. I ordered

the competitive examination required to be so conducted as to

make it perfectly fair, and then the examination papers of the

contestants were impartially examined and the scholarships

awarded. The following were appointed for the term begin

ning October 2, 1889:

Aydelott, William Thomas........................................................ . . Oxford.

Edwards, Eva Grady..........................................................................Marshallville.

Foute, Laura Chester .

............................................................. Atlanta.

Jackson, Reuben Franklin................................................................. Social Circle.

Jones, Claudia....................................................................................... West Point.

Jordan, Ada....................................................

.......................... Canton.

Jumper, Ada........................................................................................... Dawson.

Mahone, Lila Handie...........................................................................Columbus.

Speer, Virginia Maud..........................................................................Roopville.

Waters, Loie............................................................................................Atlanta.

The following were appointed in the same way for the term beginning October 1, 1890 :

Miss Josie W. Clarke.............................................................................. iCsom Hill. Mr. Columbus L. Gunnels ................................................................. Banksville. Miss Florence McKemie.........................................................................West Point. Miss Maggie Brown................................................................................. Newnan. Miss Mamie Turnbull.................................................................... ' . . Tugalo.

These scholarships are for two years, and pay $200 per year.

I here append a letter from Dr. Payne to Mr. Fermor

Barrett, my clerk, which gives a list of students now at the

Normal College.

Nashville, October 16th, 1890.

Dear Mr. Barrett--In answer to your note of the 14th, I take pleas

ure in giving you the names of Georgia students present. The names of

scholarship students are marked

and those with certificates "c."

Lucy Anderson, Athens. W. T. Aydelott, .?. Oxford 2. Bertie E. Boyd, c, Atlanta. Myrtle Brooke, Canton. Margaret L. Brown, s 1, Newnan. Josie West Clarke, s 1, Esom Hill. Lula Collinsworth, c, Eatonton. Eva G. Edwards, s 2, Marshallville. 0. L. Gunnells, s 1, Banksville. Claudia Jones, s 2, West Point. R. F. Jackson, s 2, Social Circle. Ada Jordan, s 2, Canton. Ada Jumper, s 2, Dawson. Mamie T. Lucas, Athens. C. E. Little, Eatonton. E. C. Miller, c, York. Maggie McGough, c, Forsyth.

| Florence C. McKinnie, s 1, West Pt. Lila Mahone, .* 2, Columbus. Nora Nell, c. Atlanta. Willie Orr, c, Newnan. Clyde Patman, r,-Athens. James T. Stewart, c, Butler. Virginia Speer, s 2. Mamie Short, c, Washington. Ola Stewart, c, Morgan. L. O. Whitehead, c, Social Circle^ Lou Walters, s 2, Atlanta. J. M. Caldwell, c. Pleasant Hill. Myrtle Jarrell, c, Crawford. Annie W. Bennett, Columbus. Ernest W. Edwards, Cuthbert. Mamie Turnbull, # 1, Tugalo. Jno. R. Whettle, Cohutta.

I think this list is correct, and trust it may serve your purpose- The "IV

or "2" beside the " s " indicates whether the student is here on his scholar

ship for the first or second year.

Very truly.

W. H. PAYNE.

The following letter from Dr. Payne, Chancellor of the

University of Nashville and President of Peabody Normal

College, explains itself:

Nashville, Tenn., October 16, 1890.

Dear Mr. Hook.-- Miss Turnbull has just called my attention to her

scholarship appointment. I can see why you supposed her appointment

was for one year, as in a certain sense she is the successor of Miss Foute;

but in reality, every appointment is good for two years, and I have so cred

ited Miss Turnbull on our books.

Very truly.

W. H. PAYNE.

36
IMPOKTANT STATISTICAL TABLE.
The following table, which has appeared in several preced ing Reports of this Department, with the additions necessary to bring it down to date, is reproduced in this. It exhibits in one view the progress of our public schools from their inau guration in 1871 down to the close of 1889.
Table showing the enrollment in our public schools and increase in enrollment, the average attendance and increase in average attendance from the year 1871 to the year 1889, inclusive.

, Average at
tendance. Increase over preced in g year.

YEAR.

ENROLLMENT.
Increase White. Colored. Total. over pre-
e'dng year.

1871...................... 1872* ................. 1878 ...................... 1874 ...................... 1875 ...................... 1876 ...................... 1877 ...................... 1878 ...................... 1879 ...................... 1880 ......................
1881..............................
1882 ..................'. 1883 ...................... 1884 ...................... 1885 ...................... 1886 ................. 1887 ...................... 1888 ...................... 1889 ......................

42,914 6,664 49,578

63,922 93,167 105.990 121,418 128,296 137,217 147,192 150,134 153,156 161,377 175,668 181,355 190,346 196,852 208,865 200,786 209,276

19,755 42,374 50,385 57,987 62,330 72,655 79,435 86,399 91,041 95,055 111,743 110,150
119,248 122,872 133,429 120,390 133,220

83,677

34,099

135,541

51,864

156,375

20,834

179,405

23,030

190,626

11,221

209,872

19,246

226,627

16,755

236,533

9,906

244,179

7,646

256,432

12,253

287,411

30.979

291,505

4,094

309,594

18,079

319,724

10,130

342,294

22,570

321,176 tt

342,496

21,320

85.839 98,029 12,190 108,646 10,617 119,160 10,514 180,605 11,445 130,565 t 145,190 14,625 149,908 4,718 164,180 14,272 188,371 24,191 195,034 6,664 209,184 14,149 226,407 17,223
226,290 t 217,896 tt 230,384 12,488

*No public schools were put in operation in 1872. fThe report of average attendance for 1879 was not full. JThere is a decrease in average attendance as compared with 1886 of 117. tflt will be noted that in the enrollment for 1888 there was a falling off of, say about 20,000. This was probably owning mainly to the introduction ot the new requirements of the Denny Act, just then, for the first time, put into practical operation, which made the obtainment of suitable teachers more difficult. But last year, when the law had gotten into comparatively good working order, this falling off was more than regained, as is seen from the table.

SCHOOL FUND FOR 1889.
Show tax.................................................................................................... $ Liquor tax.................................................................................................... One-half rental W. & A. R. R................................................................. Dividends Georgia R. R........................................................................ Net hire convicts....................................................................................... Net fees Inspectors of Fertilizers...................................................... Amount appropriated by Act of 1888 ...............................................

1,895 80 71,739 96 150,00000 2,046 00 17,356 98 87,186 19 165,00000

Making a total of.................................................... Disbursements from July 1st, 1888, to July 1st, 1889
Leaving a balance to be apportioned..................

$ 495,224 93
4,516 79 $490,708 14

SCHOOL FUND FOR 1890.

Tax on excess over $360,000,000 taxable property......................$ Amount received from tax assessment........................................... Half rental of State Railroad............................................................. Dividend Georgia Railroad Stock.................................................... Tax on liquor dealers............................................................................... Net fees from Inspectors of Fertilizers..................... Hire State convicts................................................................................... Tax on shows..............................................................................................

50,575 90 330,000 00 150,000 00
2,046 00 71,861 80 17,451 15 17,417 29 5,248 00

Making a total of...........................................................................$ 643,420 14

Disbursements from July 1st, 1889, to July 1st, 1890..................

4,764 09

Leaving a balance to be apportioned........................................$ 638,656 05

These amounts, $490,708.14 and $638,656.05, for the years 1889 and 1890, respectively, are increased by this poll tax, which was last year $188,000, thus making a total of $678,708.14 for the year 1889, and $826,656.05 for 1890.
A very desirable change was made in the law by repealing the proviso to section 20 of the Denny Act but I give here extracts from a circular I issued to County School Commis sioners soon after the close of the session of the last General Assembly, which discusses the proviso and other matters, to which I invite your attention :

" I think it important in this place to call your attention to two amend ments to the general school law, passed by the Legislature at its recent ses sion.
"The first seeks to restore the district trustee feature of the old law, which was repealed by the Denny law. This amendment, if put in practical oper

38
ation, will prove unfortunate, in my judgment. It will tend to produce friction of authority between the Trustees and the Boards of Education! and probably lead to dissensions and bitterness in the selection of teachers to be contracted with by the Boards to the injury of the very interests the system was intended to promote. The Legislature must have felt the pos sible and even probable detriment to the public school interests of the sev eral counties that might result from the appointment of these Trustees, with the extraordinary power conferred of peremptory dictation to the Boards of Education in the matter of the selection of teachers, and most wisely left the appointment of such Trustees to the sound discretion of the Boards. Thus, the amendment cannot become operative unless the County Boards see proper to make it so by appointing Trustees according to its provisions. Section 20 of the Denny law, which this amendment is intended to repeal, is not repealed by it unless the County Boards, by their action, give vitality and force to the amendment. This section of the Denny Act was designed to confer upon the County Boards the high, honorable and responsible func tion of selecting teachers with whom they would contract; the amendment makes the Boards the mere registers of the edicts of the District Trustees. The office of member of the Board of Education is one of the most honor able and responsible of any of the offices that are held in the State. It is so honorable and so responsible, and so full of duties of high value to the interests of education, that so far from wishing to see it snubbed by taking away from it the large discretion conferred upon it by the Denny law, I had hoped the Legislature would have shown its appreciation of the mem bers of the Board by paying them a reasonable per diem of from $2 to $3 for each day of actual service rendered by them in the discharge of their official duties. Surely this ought to be done, as I urged in May last before the teacher? in Athens, and on other and different occasions since. *
If the Boards appoint trustees, it may sometimes, nay, often happen, that teachers nominated by the Trustees would be distasteful and even very ob jectionable to the Boards; yet the latter would have to submit and contract with teachers whom they did not want or at all approve. Still, if the Boards are willing to thus handicap themselves and minify the dignity of their own office, so be it. And let us hope that in that event the results would not be as disastrous to the cause of education as I fear they would prove. But whatever may be our private individual opinions of the wisdom of this amendment, when it is put in operation (if it shall ever be) by the action of the County Boards, it should command our respect, and its behests should be obeyed implicitly. I am not the enemy of any law touching the Public Schools that the Legislature may see fit to enact, and that many good and true men--as I know to be the case in this instance--may ap prove. I am only and always a friend of education in Georgia, and stand ready to subordinate my own views and judgment, and cheerfully enforce all provisions required of me that shall build up the school* and give in struction to all the children of the State.

39

The other amendment I regard as quite valuable, as it will tend to put

more children in the schools. It repeals the provision requiring an enroll- ,

ment of at least twenty-five scholars for additional schools, after the two re

quired schools in each sub-districthad been formed.





The chief advantage of this amendment, which I heartily approve, consists in making it more'possible to reach and teach all children in remote,

poor and sparsely settled neighborhoods all over the State. : This can be done if the patrons will slightly supplement the public school fund.

The Legislature that has just adjourned did noble work for the cause of education, and it will go into history as a body having the wisdom and pa

triotism to assess property in the interests of the whole people ; for the edu

cational tax it imposed was for the benefit of all the children and house

holds in Georgia, and will benefit them not only in increased culture and

enlightenment, but in the increase of money in their midst. The taxes thus gathered for the object stated, are taken up from the people upon the ad valorem principle, the richest men and corporations, of course, paying the most of it, and then comes back to them to circulate in their respective communities, after doing its glorious work of intellectual and moral ad

vancement and elevation of our children, who, ere long, are to take their places in the line of the various duties of personal manhood and citizen ship.

"No one should complain of the tax for educational purposes. The rich

and influential have made their wealth out of the people, and it is but just and fair that they should contribute thus to help the people educate their children. The great body of poor farmers and other laboring men who have, by their honest toil, made all the wealth of the country, should be con tent to pay their comparatively small proportion of the taxes; when they are so richly repaid in the intellectual growth and improvement of those who are dearest to them--their children.

"It was thought best by the Legislature to relieve the farmers from the large fees for the inspection of fertilizers they have heretofore been phying, and hence the bill reducing the fees from fifty cents to ten cents per ton.'

Certainly no people or class of people have suffered more, as a class, than our farmers, and I am the last man that would say a word against any relief

extended to them. There is still a great deal more relief due to them, and I, for one, hope and believe it will come very soon. It must by no means, however^ be assumed as proved that the fertilizer inspection fee comes out

of the farmer's pocket instead of that of the manufacturer. Yet, even

admitting this, it may be a question whether the farmers, as a class, will be as much benefited by the relief from the fertilizer fees, which was compara tively small to the individual farmer, as their children will be injured by -diverting the amount, which was considerable in the aggregate, from their -education."

40
After showing what the school fund would be as increased by the Hall amendment, the circular proceeded thus:
" This, I am happy to believe, will enable you to run four months schools in eviry county, and I advise that contracts with teachers be made accord ingly for the ensuing year. I wish we had the money to say six or eight months' schools. We have the right (if we only had the means) to teach six or eight or ten months under the present law, and there was no necessity for a statute fixing the length of the term."
"One more remark, and I am done. Under our law, as it stands, con tracts may he made with teachers and the arrangements may include a con tract whereby the patrons shall agree to supplement the public school fund for a term of six or eight months if desired. It is known to you that in my report to the General Assembly I urged the passage of a general Educa tional ` Local Option ' Law, which would put in practical operation that provision of the Constitution which permits any district, county or-town, to apply to the grand juries and get permission to establish systems of their own, and by a slight tax on their respective citizenships sufficiently supple ment the public fund to give them longer term schools. This suggestion was ably pressed by Governor Gordon in his message, but no action waa taken upon it. It would have prevented so many applications each session for local educational acts, and furnished a quicker and more inexpensivemethod of obtaining them. Thus we are left to the generosity and liberality of patrons to get school terms longer than the four months which the publicfund will pay for.
" I am glad to kno^w that some of the counties and districts in the Stateare extending the terjh in this most laudable way. The feeling for educa tion in Georgia grows stronger every day, and I am grateful for the strong encouragement and new impulse given to this great subject by the late Leg islature, the earnest Boards of Education and the School Commissioners, as well as many intelligent teachers and patrons in all the counties.
" God is in it, and let us all bow in deep reverence and gratitude to Him. JAMES S. HOOK,
State School Commissioner."
I quote here the extract from my speech at Athens, 2d May, 1889, touching school boards and proper compensation to them:
"One of the principal difficulties in the way of a properly adjusted school system that would reach all places and all children, in the earlier history of these United States, grew out of the immensity of our territory and the sparseness of population--especially in the rural vicinities. In other nations, where population was ample, they had divisions and subdivisions of their respective territories favorable to the inauguration and adoption of the common school system. Prussia had her Gemeinden, her Kries, her Regier-

41
vngen and her Promnz; France, her Communes, Canions, Arrondissements, etc.; England, her Parishes, Townships, etc. Without pausing hereto note what other nations and a number of the States of this Union have since done in regard to this matter of appropriate subdivisions of territory, suffice it to say that our Georgia school laws now provide fully and very wisely for redis tricting and subdistricting of the counties, in order to reach the whole school population of the State with oua system of common schools. Each county is made a school district, and the district is again laid off into subdistricts, with power (and a most valuable and important power it is) conferred on the boards of education in the several counties to make new^subdistricts, or such changes in the boundary lines of existing ones as will make it conven ient to all the children, by bringing them in close neighborhood to the schools. ) It is true that this imposes quite an onerous duty upon the mem bers of the county boards, but instead of being an objection to tbe provision of the statute, it only furnishes another and a very strong reason why a fair, liberal'and remunerative allowance per day, out of the public school fund, should be allowed to each member of the board for the days he actually serves as such. The county boards have varied and highly important duties to perform, requiring much of their time and attention, and it is but right and just that they should have at least sufficient pecuniary compensation to save them from actual expense and loss while engaged with these duties. Their work, if faithfully performed, is of an importance to the proper work ing of the system that cannot be exaggerated."
AMOUNT OF SHOOL FUND FOE 1889.
Total amount of State appropriation for 1889 ...............................$ 495,224 93 Net yield of poll tax............................................................................... 188,155 5T
Gross sum realized by State in 1889 ....................................... J 683,380 50
WHAT THE ENTIKE SUM EAISED BY THE STATE AND BY CITIES AND COUNTIES UNDER LOCAL LAWS PAYS PEE CAPITA.
Gross sum raised by State in 1889 .................................................... $ 683,380 '50 Raised by counties and cities under local laws.............................. 337,814 53
Total.................................................................................................... $1,021,195 03
Taking the school population of 1889 and the enrollment and average attendance of 1889, the same being, respectively, 560,281, 342,496 and 230,384, a simple calculation will $how that the foregoing fund paid that year per capita-.
On school population................................................... ...................................... $ 1 82 On enrollment........................................................................................................ 2 98 On average attendance....................................................................................... 4 43

42

WHAT THE GROSS STATE SCHOOL FUND OF 1889 RAID PER CAPITA.

The gross State school fund for 1889, ($683,380.50) the school population, enrollment and average attendance, being as named above, the. per capita paid was as follows:

On school population............................................................................................ $ 1 22 On enrollment......................................................................................................... 1 99 On average attendance................................................................................... . 2 97.

WHAT THE NET STATE SCHOOL FUND OF 1889 PAID PER CAPITA.

The gross State school fund in 1889 was, as stated .

$683,380 50

Taking from this the expenses of the office of State

School Commissioner........................................... $ 4,764 09

Gross sum paid County School Commissioners . : 30,904 47-- 35,668 56

Net school fund.......................... .................

$647,711 94

This sum, $647,'711.94, is the sum that may fairly be said to have been expended in paying for the teaching of the chil dren. Using the same figures for school population, enroll ment and average attendance, the per capita paid directly lor teaching the children was:

On school population............................................................................................. $1 16 On enrollment.............................................................................................................1 89 On average attendance........................................................................................... 2 80

COST OF OPERATING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN 1889.
Expenses of this office......................i......................................................$ 4,764 09 Sum paid County School Commissioners........................................... 30,904 47

Total.................................................................

$35,668 56

The gross State appropriation in 1889 being $683,380.50, the total expense, as given above, is only 5.21 per centum of this gross appropriation.

WHAT AMOUNT OF FUNDS IT WOULD REQUIRE TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OPERATION FOR ANY GIVEN NUMBER OF MONTHS.
To meet a question frequently presented to this Department by citizens deeply interested in the success of the educational system of the State, to-wit: " What amount of funds it would

require to keep the public schools in operation for any given number of months?" I give below an estimate which will enable all interested to get an idea of what the fund should be to run the schools for any given number of months up to six.
The gross State school fund for 1889 was, as stated above, $683,380.50. During 1889 the schools were operated for three months, thus making the cost of operating the schools for one month $227,793.50.
Thus it will be seen that--
$227,793.50 will sustain the schools for one month. $455,587.00 will sustain the schools tor two months. $683,380.50 will sustain the schools for three months. $911,174.00 will sustain the schools for four months. $1,138,967.50 will sustain the schools for five months. $1 ,366,761.00 will sustain the schools for six months.
The foregoing estimate makes no allowance for operating the system. This, as has been shown in another place, is at present very small. With the increase of the fund the duties of the County School Commissioners would be heavier, and the responsibility of holding and disbursing funds would be greater, and consequently it would be necessary to increase their compensation. This increase, however, need not be, and would not be, in proportion to the increase of the fund. I think it well to state, in this connection, that the schools for this year, 1890, ordered by me to be put in operation through out the State for four months, 80 days, have cost, counting the poll tax the same as that of last year--1889--about $831,575.71.
EXPENSES OF THIS OFFICE.
I simply request, under this head, that you will look to what was said by my predecessor and myself heretofore, and through a committee examine for yourselves into the labor of the office, and decide whether any additional clerical force is needed, and what.

44
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, let me say, I have tried to comply with the requirement of section 12, of the Denny Act, stating the several matters to be covered by my biennial report; and all, that is not already presented in the foregoing pages, will be found in the accompanying tables which have been pre pared with much pains-taking and care.
Very respectfully, JAS. S. HOOK,
State School Commissioner.
I.KTTKR ADDRKSSED TO COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR REPLIES.
Some of the County School Commissioners and Superin tendents did not answer this letter, but I give extracts from those who did, which I think will prove quite interesting to your body. It is to be regretted that as yet the reports for the present year of 1890 cannot now be given. They will show great increase in attendance, and advancing progress with rapidly growing interest in the school work all over the State. These letters will give you some insight into this remarkable and gratifying condition of educational develop ment this year. I attribute much of this to the establishment of Long Term schools in many of the Counties. If a sum mer session of your body is held, I will have ready for you a supplementary report, giving statistics of this year's opera tions, which could not find place in this report. You will find many valuable suggestions in these letters, and they are from practical, thoughtful men, and entitled to your earnest consideration.
Djear Sir--Please send me at once, to be included in report for 188i> and 1890 now in process of preparation, a short statement of the work done in and the progress made hy the schools under your charge for the years

45
1889 and 1890, together with any suggestions derived from your official ex perience relative to the administration of the schools, or to legislation for their benefit that you may deem advisable.
Kindly make your communication of reasonable length, condensing as much as possible, in order to prevent my report from being too cumbrous and expensive.
Your early attention will oblige, Very respectfully yours, JAS. S. HOOK, /State School Commissioner.
BANKS COUNTY.
Banksville, Ga., July 17, 1890. Hon. J. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga:.
Dear Sir--There is a gradual improvement in our county in the way of schools; our schools doing better for 1889 than any previous year. The difficulty with o8r people has been that theyhave depended altogether too much on our little short-termed public schools, and at the same time a number of these schools have been taught by third grade teachers.
We need more time devoted to teaching, more money, and a better class of teachers in the main. We have only a few competent men and women in the profession.' Very respectfully submitted.
J. D. GUNNELS, C. S. C.
" ' BEKBIEN COUNTY.
Nashville, Ga., August 14th, 1890. J. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The spirit of education is fast gaining ground in my county. I visit all of the schools, consult with the teachers as to their way of teach ing, and give them the best I have on the subject. We have better teach ers, better pupils, greater advancement, more interest taken by teachers, pupils and patrons every year. In 1888 we had fifty-one schools and an av erage of 1,06469j pupils; in 1889 we had fifty-three schools and an average of 1,234||, a gain of 170^f pupils on average attendance. We need more money and a five months' term. That would give us good pro fessional teachers and cut out those half-handed teachers that just teach one school to help out a crop. A five month term a teacher can afford to teach, or he can teach in the year two terms of five months each and thereby can live by teaching. Then he can find time to study how to teach. This is what my people want.
Your most obedient servant, JAS. F. GOODMAN, C. S. C.

46

BUTTS COUNTY.

Judge Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner:

Dear Sir--It required sixty-six days to perform my official duties during"

the year 1889, besides letter writing and frequent conversations on the school

laws and school regulations of the County Board of Education, which were

not taken into account. We are endeavoring to raise the standard of teach

ing in the county, aiming in whatever we do to stimulate the teacher to ad

vance the pupil. As the teachers' licenses are graded, so we grade the

schools, dividing them into three classes, viz: primary, intermediate and

higher, paying teachers a per diem, according to the advancement of the

pupil. Now as to legislation: In my judgment the school law as a whole is

a good one, and only needs more money to make it efficient, though I think

a few changes would he productive of good. First: The law should be so

amended as to pay the members of the Boards of Education a per diem.

Second: There should he two examinations a year and only one day at each

examination, which would be eminently sufficient for all professional teach

ers, only in extreme cases, then provision should be made to issue ad interim.

licenses in such cases.

E. E. POUND, C. S. C.

CATOOSA COUNTY.

Hon. J. S. Hook, Atlanta, da.:

Pravine, Ga., July 12, 1890.

Dear Sir--The school service ot Catoosa county, having always been

under the direction and guidance of a Board of Education of most excellent

material, as much system prevailed as was possible under the circumstances,

and a good degree of discipline prevailed, while every appearance of irregu

larity of morals among teachers was scrupulously eliminated.

As far back as 1880, the Board.of Education prescribed a uniform series

of text-books, and vigorously enforced the same, while adjoining counties

failing to take this advanced step: made success to us much more difficult of

attainment.

But nothwithstanding the difficulties under which Catoosa county labored,

her Board resolutely and surely established a uniform series of text-hooks,

thereby rendering her public schools far more efficient and profitable, than

they could otherwise have been.

Thus Catoosa county placed herself in shape to enjoy all the benefits of

our most excellent school system, which in practice, is encumbered with the

following wants, viz :

1. Money enough to secure it for eight months in the year.

2. Efficient corps of teachers.

8. County Normal Institutes in every county.

The first great want being supplied, the others will disappear in a reason

able time as a natural consequence.

Teachers could then afford to go to the expense, of time, and money, to

qualify themselves, which they cannot do now, with the prospect of employ

47
ment for only one-third or one-fourth of the year. Teachers would then regard themselves as having a profession, and their natural ambition could he relied on, to make that profession not only successful, but in the highest degree, honorable.
The same laudable ambition could be relied on to inspire teachers to enter into the spirit of organizing, encouraging and upbuilding County Normal Institutes, and Boards of Education would promptly co-operate and soon establish the practice of employing such teachers as attended the Institutes, in preference to those who do not; and thus we would have an efficient corps of teachers, with County Normal Institutes, as a permanent source of supply, and the second and third wants would naturally disappear with the supplying of the first by the Legislature.
I have served long enough in the school service, for it to be one of my highest desires, to see this glorious fulfillment of the possibilities of our educational system in our grand old State. M. D. LA MS FORD. C. S. Cl.
CHATHAM COUNTY.
Savannah, Ga., July 9, 1890. Hon. J. S. Hook, State School Commissioner:
Dear Sir--The condition of the schools in the county of Chatham, for the year ending June 20, 1889, was highly satisfactory. The whole number of pupils enrolled is 5,877, being a large increase over the preceding year. The average number attending tbe schools was 4,891. The cost per capita per month was $1.33.
The people, both in the city and county, are awake to the importance of educating the masses, and are willing to be taxed to supplement the appro priation received from the State. The two great wants of the country schools are proper school buildings and competent teachers. The latter can not be secured until better compensation is offered.
It seems to me, that it would he good policy to set aside annually from the amount given to each county, a certain proportion to be used in the erection of school houses. In this way, in a very few years, the people would be provided with comfortable buildings for the education of their children. Such a policy, I am sure, would give a great impetus to the gen eral cause, and the number enrolled would be largely increased. Until we can provide for better pay, better teachers and better school houses, it will he idle to expect any material improvement in our schools.
Respectfully submitted, W. H. BAKER, Superintendent. '
CHATTOOGA COUNTY.
Summerville, Ga., July 11, 1890. Bore. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The reports from the public schools of this county show, for the year 1889, a considerable increase in the number of schools

48
established, number of pupils enrolled, average attendance and per capita paid by the Board. The new system of examinations has given us better teachers, and there is a decided growth in the interest manifested by the people generally in regard to schools.
I suggest a law allowing members of the Board a per diem for the time they are employed transacting school business. Also a law allowing and -compelling the Board to take one years' school fund and have the county divided into school districts of convenient size, and build and furnish one good school house in tbe center of each district and have no other schools in such districts. I cannot say that I advocate the latter, but I suggest it as probably a feasible plan. Tours very truly,
JNO. D. TATLOB, C. S. C.
CLABKE COUNTY.
Athens, Ga., July 12th, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--Under the circumstances, the work and progress have been satisfactory. But then there are the circumstances, and such circumstances 1 The school law of the State of Georgia is admirable. The affairs of the office of the State School Commissioner seem to me to be conducted with an eye single to the very best interests of the cause of education. The schoo] system of Georgia needs money--more money. Better school houses and better school furniture are badly needed. Our teachers are poorly paid, and then must needs wait until the close of the year before they can get even the small amount promised them. This ought not so to be. I consider it a shame. In fact, it is but little short of outrage. Some provision ought to be made by which the State of Georgia could pay this particular indebted ness promptly. Excepting public school teachers, who waits on the State for money due for services rendered from six to twelve months?
Very respectfully, H. P. BEENABD, C. S. C.
COEFEE COUNTY.
Kirkland, Ga., July 9, 1890. Hon. J. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga. :
Dear Sir--During the year 1889 there were more schools in progress in this county than the year previous, with a larger attendance and considera bly more interest manifested in the educational cause.
The drawback here in the common schools is the mode of paying off teachers. If we had a law enabling us to settle with teachers at expiration of their schools, instead of keeping them out of their pro rata of the public fund until the end of the year, it would be much more satisfactory, and have, in my opinion, better results. Yours respectfully,
JNO. FUSSELL, C. S. 0.

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COLUMBUS, GA.
Columbus, Ga., October 2, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Deak Sir--The Columbus Public Schools made a most splendid record during tbe scholastic year, ending June last. A Night School was put into successful operation; a High School was organized, and three more rooms opened for pupils. The schools were fully supplied with the best quality of maps, globes and other apparatus. The city council appropriated $30,000 with which to erect another school building.
Our schools are fuller than ever before in their history. Educational enthusiasm in our city is above any former high-water mark.
With live, progressive teachers, a wise, conservative Board of Trustees, a liberal City Council, a broad-minded public and the wise, efficient adminis trations of my honored predecessors, Prof. Dews and Mooty, success is nevitable.
Congratulating you on the general improvement of the schools in Georgia under your administration, I am very respectfully,
W. H. WOODALL, Superientendent.

COWETA COUNTY.

Hon. Jas. S. Hook, Atlanta, Ga. :

Newnan, Ga., July 22, 1890.

Dear Sir--It is my pleasure to state that the schools of Coweta not only

maintained their ground but made steady advance in 1889. The county

may well be proud of many of her schools. Many sections are enthused on

tbe question of education, and will, in my judgment, soon be willing to

adopt higher measures to advance this great cause.

I scarcely know how the State School Fund, in its inadequate state, can

be better managed than at present. With increased funds many change*

for the better might be made. If the fund were doubled, it seems to me

that the good resulting therefrom would be tripled, if not quadrupled.

Boards of Education see what ought to be done but are debarred by scanty

means. Very respectfully,

DANIEL WALKER, C. S. C.

COLQUITT COUNTY.
Felix, Ga., July 21, 1890. James S. Hook, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--It affords me pleasure to state that there is a greater interest taken by the people in the public schools this year than for any previous year.
We have in successful operation twenty-three schools, including soma whose terms will soon close.
In making my official visits, I find a full attendance in almost every ehool, and the progress made by the pupils show a devotion on the part of the teachers worthy of their high calling.

50
Being asked to make any suggestion for the benefit of the public schools, I most certainly say that some plan should be adopted that the teachers may receive their pay at the close of their schools. Our public school teachers are poorly paid at best, and it is gross injustice that they should be compelled to wait from four to six months for their money.
It is to be hoped that steps will be taken soon to remove this evil. Respectfully, N. N. MARCHANT, C. S. C.
COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Appling, Ga., July 16th, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--I will state that ,we had for 1889 an almost thoroughly effi cient corps of teachers.] The schools were patronized more largely than ever before. The short lectures and advice given by. the Commissioner to the schools have resulted in a great measure in more active energy and better work in the school-room.
The people, as a rule, are more earnestly m accord with the public school system than ever before. Patrons and teachers are working more in har mony with each other, and that within itself adds vital interest to the better workings of the school system.
I would recommend that the next Legislature pass a law appropriating a sufficient amount of money to supply the schools with necessary apparatus, such as maps, globes, charts, etc., this appropriation to be made from some other source than the present school fund. I would recommend a larger appropriation for schools, sufficient to keep them in existence nine months instead of four.
I do urgently request that the Legislature pass a law increasing the salary of the_State School Commissioner to three thousand dollars, with the same assistance he now has. Respectfully submitted.
J. T. SMITH, C. S. C.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Musella, Ga., July 14, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dkar Sir--Will say that the improvement in teachers and progress of children were much better than the year previous. As to white schools, we had better teachers, better attendance and better progress of the children, and more interest manifested by patrons. . Colored schools were well attended, but a decrease in number of school* oh account of not being able to get teachers that could make the required per centage in examination, j
I have only two suggestions to make in regard to amending the present school laws: First, appropriate enough of the school fund to compensate

51

members of the Board of Education for actual attendance on Board meet ings. Second, arrange, if possible, to audit and pay teachers' accounts at the end of each month.
Of course, we all agree that an increase of the school fund to run tha public schools longer is the one thing needful.
H. F. SANDERS, C. S. C.

CAMDEN COUNTY.
Bon. J. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Oa. Dbar Sir--1st. Let it he enacted that all moneys except poll tax be paid
into the treasury, and be paid out to the teachers at once at the close of any school.
2nd. By enactment, secure competent, experienced superintendents ot country public schools. How ? Let the State School Commissioner for ward sealed questions to County Board of Education, who shall open ques tions in their presence, and the president or the hoard shall provide and see the questions answered by applicants for County School Commissioner, and at one seal up the questions and answers signed by the applicants and for ward the same to the State School Commissioner, who shall examine the answers and license or relect, all, according to the merit exhibited.
Frequent or radical changes of the law do not work well, but such modi fications as experience and wisdom recommend, ought to be made.
The graded schools prosper because the superintendents are competent,, and the people awake to the importance of proper school work.
S. W. BAKER..

CLINCH COUNTY.

Homerville, Ga., July 9th, 189(1.

Hon. Jas. 8. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:

Dear Sir--I visited the schools and found the teachers doing their whole-

duty and pupils striving to learn. Teachers and pupils are all progressing

finely. We have no high school in my county, hut hope we soon will.

Yours truly,

G. W. NEWBERN, 0. S. C.

CHARLTON COUNTY.
Trader's Hill, Ga., July 14. 1890.. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--Yours of the 4th instant is before me. The few schools put in operation in 1889 were well managed and a good average, and the pupils were much advanced and progressed wonderfully for the short term of sixty-five days. I don't know that I have any suggestions to make in rela tion to the school laws. I think the law ought to he the same all over the State and not have so much changing and local laws. I am opposed to the Trustee law. I think the law should not require a certain number of pupils

52
to start with. Teachers should only be paid on the average attendance, and if patrons stop their children they should make the time good to the teacher. With kindest regards, I am very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES THOMPSON, C. S. C.
DbKALB COUNTY.
Decatur, Ga., July 18th, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook. State School Commissioner:
Dear Sir--I had in successful operation forty-five schools for white chil dren, twenty-one of which were contracted with under the long term sys tem, on an average of 6J-J months each. I found these schools to give gen eral satisfaction in the way of improvement of the pupils, etc. I also had twenty-four three months- schools for whites. They were taught mostly in the months of July, August and September. But few of them were kept up the three months, as the children were put on the farms. There were nineteen colored schools, all on the three months system, and but a few of them holding over ten weeks. I found in my visits to the schools, all in good condition and advancing. Some of them quite interesting, and pupils seem to be fully impressed with the desire to learn. I find the interest of parents on the subject of education increasing, and better attendance, better improvements and comforts of the school room, and there has been some new school buildings erected and others repaired, and some enlarged, which speaks well for the people and the interest in the public school system, and as the increase of funds advances, so the interest among the people increases. I find from past efforts and experiences that the common county schools can't be held in operation much over three months in succession. I find the months of January, February, March and April the longest of any season of the year.|( July, August and September gives an average of two and a half months, and in order to encourage long term schools we have allowed a vacation of May and June, and resume again in July, thus giving all a chance to make the full term of four months. The town and village schools can and do continue for five months, but farming children, that need the greatest help are deprived from the privilege of attending; but how to help them is a question that is hard to solve. The present system is doing good work, and the school and school interest is increasing, and will continue to increase, so long as the present system is properly carried out. The only plan that 1 can think of to enhance the school interest, is to increase the fund so the schools couldbe run four or six months entirely free. Such a system would induce some to send who do not send now.
J. W. KIRKPATRICK.
DODGE COUNTY.
Inglewood, Ga., July 15th, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--I feel justified in saying the present year will witness some

53

changes that will raise the standard of education in our county, and result in better school facilities than we have had in the past.
We have a good School Board and competent teachers. Yours respectfully, J. BISHOP, S., C. S. C.

Note.--I regret that this most competent Commissioner came into the office too late

for him to furnish a somewhat fuller report which I know would have proved very

interesting and instructive.

J. S. HOOK, S. S. C.

DOOLY COUNTY.
July 11, 1890.
Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--Schools in 1889 : white 40, colored 15, total 55; six border schools in other counties aided by us. On enrollment: white 1681, colored 1054, total 2735; average attendance, 1895J. School population of 1888: white 2324, colored 2041, total 4365.
Thus it will be seen that 62J per cent, of the children attended school, and that the average attendance was 69] of the enrollment. The progress of the schools in 1889 far excelled any previous year--in attendance, in length of term, in efficiency of teachers. This is owing mainly to some provisions in the present lawT, notabty the manner in which licenses are ob tained, and the abolishment of fourth grade license, and the disposition of the Legislature to strengthen the funds for educational purposes. Then State examinations have 'done wonders for us in getting rid of all weak and worthless teachers and in elevating the standard. I hope the law will not be repealed or amended, so far as examinations are concerned. Let u have two examinations a year and one day only at a time.
Repeal the discrimination in favor of Milledge'ville and Dahlonega, and require all to come under the same examination, let them come from where they may.
By all means compensate the County Boards--they are the only officers of the State required to work without pay--their labors are continually in creasing and the responsibility becoming greater as the school term is lengthened and the appropriations enlarged. It is simply unreasonable to expect competent men to assume such duties and responsibilities for nothing, merely because they are elected by the Grand Jury. It is sometimes diffi cult to get Board meetings for the reason that these men cannot afford to leave their business and ride long distances at their own charges and pay tavern bills to work without pay. Indeed, I look upon it as one of the greatest hindrances to efficient school work.
I would like to see the term extended to five or six months--of coursa that means more money.
O. P. SWEARINGEN, C. S. C.

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FANNIN COUNTY.
Morganton, Ga,, July 16, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Oa.:
Dear Sir--In 1889, I visited each school in this county one term and most of them twice. I delivered, to the best of my ability, about thirty lectures. Six new houses were built, several repaired, some new books and additional school appliancies added. A deeper interest upon the part of all concerned, and a greater progress by the pupils, in the branches taught, were apparent.
I would suggest an additional appropriation by the Legislature sufficient to extend the school term to five or six months entirely free, and pay teach ers a liberal salary monthly, for their work.
Respectfully, ADAM DAVENPORT, C. S. C.

FAYETTE COUNTY.

Flat Creek, Ga., July 14th, 1890.

Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:

Dear Sir--I usually visit and lecture all schools twice during school

terms. Generally schools are well managed and students advanced rapidly,

much more so than in former years.

So far as legislation is concerned, we need more money to make our Com

mon School System a grand success, and that teachers ought to be paid at

the close of each month, thereby commanding the attention of first-clasi

teachers.

Very truly yours,

W. T. GLOWER, C. S. C.

FORSYTH COUNTY.
Claiming, Ga., July 10, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Oa.:
Dear Sir--The public schools proper began in July, as usual. The ex amination of applicants showed a gradual improvement, but not such ai would warrant those examined to quit study and yet expect to succeed af terwards in the examinations. A visit to the public schools was, in the main, satisfactory, indicating in many cases superior ability on the part of the teachers in school management, classification, government, etc. As a whole, the schools were an average, and progressed to their close without any serious trouble or friction. There were 31 long-term school* and 20 short-term schools in the county. It will be seen from statistics furnished that children who attended long-term schools had nearly twice the time in which to make the 65 days, the public school term, than did those who attended the three months schools. It is perhaps true that a ma jority of the school children cannot attend school three months in a year. Be that as it may, I suggest that the distinction between long-term and

55
short-term schools be abolished, and the State School Commissioner be em powered and required to make known, on or before the first day of January in each year, the number of months, not less than three, that shall consti tute the public term for the next year, the time not to be greater than th school fund will pay for the time fixed.
As the young will always constitute the majority of the teachers, the law ought to authorize the Board of Education to encourage them to prepare themselves for teaching. Where not fully qualified at first examination discretion ought to be lodged with the Boards to grant them licenses to teach, provided they will agree to go to school on the money at least as many months as they taught--failure on their part to do so to he made a misdemeanor. The High School or College in every county capital in the State should be declared a Normal School, to be auxiliary to a State Normal School, which the Legislature should establish. The attendance on these Normals should he compulsory, but no one should be admitted who does not know 60 per cent, of the definitions and elementary principles of the elementary branches. One month in each year, as a special Normal, should he provided for, at which tuition should be free, and the Boards authorized to hire a Normal expert for the time, pay him out of the school fund, and pay such other expenses as necessary; provided, not more than $100 he used for all purposes. Elementary drawing should he added to the branches to be taught, and this study should receive the attention of the first special Normals. The law should provide for County Institutes and make attend-' ance on them, at least once a month, compulsory.
Members of Boards of Education ought to be paid for each days' service, not less than the per diem pay of Grand Jurors in their respective coun ties.
The pay of County School Commissioners should he so fixed as to he uni form throughout the State, as much so as is the pay of tax receivers and tax collectors. There is no reason why County School Commissioners should not receive the commissions received by said officers on all amounts received and paid out by them, which should be full pay for all work, ex cept visiting the public schools. For that service the Board should regu late their pay as now provided by law; provided, that when added to the Commissioners, the entire amount, in no case, shall exceed five per cent, on the amount disbursed. Respectfully submitted.
ISAAC S. CLEMENT, C. S. C.
GREENE COUNTY.
Woodvillk, Ga., July 18th, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The public schools ot this county are taught in the sum mer and fall months, and we have made arrangements to run a fourmonths public school for 1890, and the schools are now getting under way.

56
I think we will ha^e a school in almost every school house in the county. I will commence my visits next week if I am well.
We have had thirteen long-term schools in the county---a larger number* than for several years. So far as my information extends the term has been a very prosperous one. The people are becoming interested more and more in the public school system, as manifested by a larger number of long term schools, and improvement in the school houses and school furniture. I think the Commissioners, at their session at the Institute, embodied in a set of resolutions to the incoming Legislature, all the amendments nedbseary in the school law, except a larger appropriation for the public schools. I think a small additional tax to present sources would give us a six months school, and if we could get this, and say $500 or $600 to employ competent instructors for the year, and hold an Institute of one week or more in each county in the State, and require the teachers in the county to attend itr would give an impetus to the school work that would be felt for years, and add greatly to the efficiency of the teachers.
Respectfully, JAMES M. GRIFFIN, C. S. C.
GILMER COUNTY.
Ellijay, Ga , July 13th, 1890. Son. J. S: Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.: | Leak Sik--The schools of my county have made very rapid progress. Our great need now is good school houses. As to legislation for the benefit of schools, I think that the resolutions presented by the committee at the Chautauqua set forth all needed legislation at the present time.
Very respectfully yours, W. F HILL, C. S. C.
HARRALSON COUNTY.
Buchanan, Ga., July 14th, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The school-room work in this county for the past year has not been entirely satisfactory to myself; but we have some good teachers, whose methods are thorough and progressive; other teachers who are young and inexperienced, but most of them are industrious and energetic.
The progress of the schools was as good as could be expected under the circumstances, but it is absolutely impossible to have good schools in such houses as we have in this county as you will decide from my report of school houses.
The houses are so bad that we are compelled to have our public term in the summer season.
There are but very few houses in the county in which there can be a win ter school at all.

57

Now, as to legislation for tho benefit of schools, I will say that we need

school houses in this county worse than anything else, and as the pat

rons will not voluntarily build school houses, I am in favor of a law to

compel them to do so. I think to levy a tax upon the property of each

school district would he the fairest way to raise the funds, as some districts

have already built houses; however, I am not particular about how the

school funds are raised so it is done; any reasonable way will satisfy me.

I am yet very young. It has been but a short time since I was a twelveyeiar-old boy, and had to sit upon a saw mill slab in these shacks, from

morning until night, five days in the week. Now, when I visit these schools

and find forty or fifty children crowded in one shack, with slabs for seats, I

know how to sympathize with them. By all means we should have school

houses.

Next, to make the schools more successful we should have more money to

run them wtih; and I, for one, am in favor of any reasonable appropriation

by the State for that purpose. I think those resolutions passed by the

Commissioners last week at the Institute, as to the compensation of Boards

of Education, and the examination of applicants to teach, would be beneficial

if they were to become laws.

There are some other changes that could be made in the statute that I

think would he beneficial, but I will not refer to them now for fear I make

my statement too long; perhaps I have already made it longer than you

would prefer.

Yours very truly,

G. D. GRIFFITH, C. S. C.

HARRIS COUNTY.
Hamilton, Ga., July 21, 1890. Hon. J. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--I would say that it is much to be regretted that we find still some opposition to public schools. The particular system is not so much the objection as the school itself. Many are clamorous for the abrogation of the system as a whole. Under these surroundings, I am of opinion that the schools are accomplishing much good. The system of examination of teachers is bringing into our schools more competent and thorough teachers. This has been one of our lacks, and necessarily wrought dissatisiaction and opposition. This is fast disappearing, and I think in a short while all dis position to oppose or hinder the public school will disappear. One great difficulty has been in the past, of securing uniformity in text-books. Un der the old regime, any book the pupil had was taught. This difficulty is vanishing.
We have serious trouble in selecting a term for the public schools, so that they may be taught through consecutive months. The laboring classes that greatly need the benefits offered by the public schools can hardly be persuaded to leave off work that they may become the beneficiaries of the system.

58

We are making progress along all these lines, however. I have been

assiduous in my labors, visiting the schools and endeavoring to enforce

spirit and life in pupils and patrons, and flatter ourselves that we are meet

ing with, at least, partial success.

Of course, we need better teachers, longer terms, and this demands more

money.

Trustees in the various sub-districts are hardly expected to do their full

duty without compensation, hence, this work is not as efficiently done ai

we could wish.

On the whole, much good is being accomplished. Nobler aspirations are

being born and stimulated among the poor classes, and many a boy and

girl are looking hopefully through the public schools to positions of useful

ness, that otherwise they could not attain.

I feel satisfied that Georgia will realize in the near future that she has

been amply repaid for every dollar of appropriation on this line.

As my report shows, we have no school property in our county. We

have been compelled to pay out all monies appropriated to payment of

teachers, and they are not then satisfied. As you requested that I be brief,

I will close.

Very respectfully yours,

W. A. FARLEY, C. S. 0.

HEARD COUNTY.

Fbanklin, Ga., July 11, 1890.

Hon. Jas. S. Hook, S. S. G., Atlanta, Ga. :

Dear Sir--More than usual interest was taken in the public schools of

this county last year by the citizens of every community.

Under the (present system of written examinations, each year gives us

better and abler feacbers.

My official experience as County School Commissioner has been too short

to advance any suggestions relative to the administration of the schools.

Yours, etc.,

FRANK S. LOFTEN, C. S. C.

HOUSTON COUNTY.
Perry, Ga., July 10, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--During the year 1889 there were 43 white schools and 50 colored taught in Houston county. Two public terms were taught by the same teacher in the same house at different times ; with the whites, it was allowed to accommodate the poor children that were obliged to work during the spring months; with the colored, it was allowed because assistant teach ers could not be procured.
In most of the schools, both white and colored, the children were well taught during the short-term of three months. The colored people manifest a great desire to have their children educated--their schools were kept full and the average attendance was good.

59
The colored children of our county outnumber the whites almost four to one, and all their schools are full to overflowing whenever opened. In some parts of the county the white people are so sparsely settled that it ia impossible for them to have schools.
Respectfully, W. F. KILLED, C. S. C.
HANCOCK COUNTY.
Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta., Ga.: Dear Sir--There has been a steady improvement in the public schools
of Hancock county since 1888. 1st. The schools have been operated 85 days instead of 65, and in some
instances were prolonged by private subscription several months. 2nd. The per cent, of public teachers who held first grade licenses in
1888 was about .32; in 1889 about .55; in 1890 about .60. 3rd. Teachers of immoral habits have been rejected from our service. 4th. Public sentiment is becoming more favorable to the common school
system, and efforts are now being made to establish high schools throughout the county in connection with the public schools to run the greater part of the year.
I would be glad to see the school law modified thus: 1st. The Board of Education ought to be paid. 2nd. The County Commissioners ought to be paid not by the day. It is simply impossible to know how many days are occupied, because of the broken days. 3rd. Our common school work ought not to be confined to "the element ary branches of an English education. 4th. Our terms ought to run six or eight months.
Very respectfully, JOHN R. LEWIS, C. S. C.
IRWIN COUNTY.
Minnie, Ga., July 10, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Hear Sir--during the year 1889 there were in my county thirty-one schools taught under the public school system, twenty-four white and seven colored.
I am gratified to state that much improvement in the mode of teaching has been made over that of previous years, as evidenced by the progress of the pupils in attendance. These happy results I attribute to the class of teachers employed and the increased interest of the patrons. Our people now endeavor to secure the very best and most efficient teachers they can employ. The same may he said of our colored people also.
Yours very truly, WILEY WHITLEY, C. S. C.

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JASPEE COUNTY.
Machen, Ga., July 14th, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--I further certify that there is not a child of school age in the county, white or black, but what has a school house conveniently located, and can attend school most any kind of weather, and that greater interest is being manifested in education, particularly the whites. We have betterhouses, better teachers and larger attendance than we have ever had.
Kespectfully, WILLIS NEWTON, C. S. C.
JACKSON COUNTY.
Jefferson, Ga., July 12th, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Comnnissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The efforts made from year to year to elevate the standard of education in Jackson county, have resulted in moving the schools of 1889 many steps in advance of those of former years. Erom twelve schools in 1871, when the public school system of Georgia was inaugurated, we have gone to one hundred and four, a majority of which are so well sustained that on an average, two teachers are required for each school. The course of study, the methods of instruction, the discipline of the pupils, the better grading, the addition of school appliances, the increased enrollment, the greater demand for able teachers and the better spirit which pervades the whole, all unite to show that our people are arousing themselves from the lethargy of the past, and with the increased facilities hoped for, will, a few years hence, take rank fully abreast with the most progressive communities in the State. But perhaps the greatest improvement made is in the erection of good school houses. Of the one hundred and four occupied, two are splendid brick buildings, two stories high, elegantly finished and well furn ished. Of the others, seventy-four are fairly good and twenty-eight poor> all aggregating a cost of about $45,000.
Teaching is fast taking the rank of a profession. It is expected that within a few years it will become almost wholly so, and we are looking for ward to the time when the best results will bo secured to \is by the best method known. To effectually secure this, however, the State must come forward to a more liberal help of all the people.
First. We must have enough money to pay the'full tuition of every per son of school age in the State for a term of at least five months in the year, and taking that portion of the school fund which is not apportioned to those who fail to attend the full term, or who do not attend at all, apply it to the longer-term school as far as it will go. This would he an active stimulant to establish long-term schools throughout the country, and would in a fetv years make them in reality what they now are only in name--common schools. Public schools are not pauper schools, but they are common, alike

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for the rich and the poor, and constitute the wisest and most economical way of giving all classes a chance to secure the rudiments of an education.
Second. The payment of teachers must be made monthly. No other laborer waits so long for his money as the Georgia school teacher. There is now no way by which he can secure pay for bis services before it is nec essarily consumed in ordinary living.
Third. Normal schools, for the instruction of teachers, should be. estab lished in every Congressional district; or Teacher's Institutes, under the auspices of the Board of Education, should be required in every county. In either case, employment in the public schools should he made contingent on some defined time of attendance as students in these preparatory schools.
Eourth. Boards of Education should receive pay for their services. Mem bers are selected from the best class of people, and it is a shame that such work should he exacted without compensation.
Fifth. School Commissioners should not be allowed to countersign the licenses of teachers who reside in his county at time of examination.
G. J. N. WILSON, C. S. C.
LUMPKIN COUNTY.
Dahlonega, Ga., July 25, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner:
Dear Sir--I had about 35 schools under my supervision for the year 1889, showing an average attendance of about eleven hundred, which is an increase over any former years--which, of course, indicates an increased in terest upon the part of parents.
I would suggest that the County Board of Education be paid $1.50 per day for actual services, which, in my judgment, would be an advantage, as it would enable us to have a good and efficient Board, who would more promptly attend the meetings of the Board and thereby add interest to the cause of education. Yours respectfully,
J. B. BROWN, C. S. C.
LINCOLN COUNTY.
Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Oa,.: Dear Sir --The public schools of Lincoln county were conducted during
the year 1889 with remarkable success. In my official visits to the schools I noticed a decided improvement in the discipline executed, and also in the method of teaching adopted, largely contributing thereby to the material advancement of the pupils.
I recommend legislation, as follows: 1st. The State School Commissioner should be relieved of the duty of fur nishing the questions for examinations. 2d. The election of County School Commissioner by the Board of Educa tion should be taken as a guarantee for his fitness, and he should he re lieved of the farce of an examination.

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3d. The maximum number of pupils in school supplied by teachers of 1st, 2d and 3d grades should be regulated by law, to-wit: 3d grade, 30 pupils; 2d grade, 35 pupils; 1st grade, 40 pupils.
4th. The time for paying teachers should remain as now established, the pay being based on average attendance. The average cannot be ascertained until the reports are all closed and the fund received by the Commissioner.
H. J. LANG, C. S. C.

MITCHELL COUNTY.

Camilla, Ga., July 11, 1890.

Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:

Dear Sir--The educational interest of our county has greatly improved; attributable in many sections of our county very' largely, if not entirely, to the public school system, which may be wanting for happier features in some particulars; yet, inspite of drawbacks, much and great good is being

done. In some portions of our county, the people are uneducated, and at one time seemed to be indifferent about the education of their children; but

latterly hoping to improve proffered help of State, and feeling that they would be loosers, because of tax to make up public school fund, were prompted to send their children to school. Children being greatly inter ested, has awakened an interest upon tho part of parents, until there is a clamor for schools in every direction. The colored people of our county are very manifest in their interest of education. Many of our colored schools, if allowed, are crowded beyond accommodations. We have, generally, a better class of teachers. I feel quite proud of the growing interest and future prospect of education in our county. I feel that the law is lame in some particulars, but I am not just hero prepared to suggest an improve ment. The greatest difficulty is for the want of more funds and a longer

term, etc.

Very respectfully, J. H. POWELL, C. S. C.

MURRAY COUNTY.
Sumach, Ga., July 15, 1890.
Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.: Dear Sir--Murray county had 42 schools in 1889; 38 white and 4 col
ored. Our teachers were employed for four months public schools, with an earnest request that they have five months, thus giving the children five months in which they might make an average of eighty days and secure the entire benefit of their public money. A number of our schools were thus run and they were free. I visited about all of them once; they gave general satisfaction. Our sub-district or the militia district, as adopted by the Board for school districts, are divided into school wards. Some of these have as many as four wards in them. These ward lines are to the wards as county lines are to the counties, and are so governed.

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As to my idea of the law, etc.: From experience I think the law might he improved in some respects; hut for fear of injuring, if we can get enough money to give us eight months in the year, we can manage the present defects. More money is the greatest need, in my opinion.
The next Legislature certainly will pass an act to pay teachers earlier than the present law pays. Yours very respectfully,
S. H. HENRY, C. S. C.

MONROE COUNTY.

Foksyth, Ga., July 14th, 1890.

Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:

Dear Sir--The teachers in our public schools generally seemed to enter

upon their duties with zeal and earnestness, and the work in a large majority

of the schools was quite satisfactory. There is an increasing interest on the

part of parents on the subject of education. Attendance in the schools for

white children, especially last year and this, has been decidedly better. I

think we are on the up grade as to educational interests.

The great difficulty in our way is the want of an adequate school fund.

With money enough for eight months schools we could secure the services

of more efficient teachers, and the quality of the work done would be greatly

improved.

Yours truly,

THOMAS G. SCOTT, C. S. C.

MILTON COUNTY.
Alpharetta, Ga., July 14, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir'--The progress of the children for 1889 reasonably good--sat isfactory to the parents, as well as to the Board of Education and Commis sioner. The children of the bounty all attend the public schools, except a few whose parents are indifferent. Yery respectfully yours,
GOLSON M. HOOK, C. S. C.

MADISON COUNTY.
Danielsville, Ga., July Uth, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--I have been Commissioner only a little over a year, but I hope and believe that the change for the better is very clear ; but it is not what it should be, nor will it be what it should for some time yet.
1st. There is a much greater interest on the part of the people in the edu cation of their children, and the Board too, than ever before.
2d. The teachers seem to have a better opinion of their profession, and are not following it only until they can find something better, but prepar ing themselves by taking educational journals and other works on teaching, trying to get up the latest and most approved methods of teaching.

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3d. A better system of discipline in the school room, which I consider

one of the first and most important things in school, both for the advance

ment in the studies, and in forming a character for business success and

future usefulness.

Concerning school legislation:

1st. I think the next Legislature should provide for the paying of the

Board of Education, per diem for actual attendance.

2d. I think the Legislature should provide $1.20, $1.40 and $1.60 per

pupil per month, according to grade of teacher, for at least three or four

months during the year, or I think'still better, a small appropriation extra

for one high school in each county. There are so many young men and

young women too, that can get a common school education, which if aided

a little in getting a higher education, would not only be an ornament to

their community, but a power for the upbuilding of everything that is good

in their circle.

B. N. WHITE, C. S. C.

MORGAN COUNTY.
Madison, Ga., September 20, 1890. Hon. Jas. 8. Hook, Atlanta., Ga.:
Dear Sir--In regard to suggestions to aid you, or the cause of education in the State, I would suggest:
1st. That first grade teachers be paid $15 cash at the end of every public school month; second grade teachers $10, and third grade teachers $5 ; letting the Commissioner use his judgment whether more should be paid. Then each teacher make a monthly statement of his school to the Commis sioner before the payment of the money.
2nd. That from the 15th of Juno to the 1st of July, the Boards of Education be required to hold a "Teaphers' Institute" of one week, to which every teacher in the County will be required to attend or he will not be allowed to teach a public school in said county; and that the Board pay each teacher $2 a day to cover his expenses.
Yours, &c., W. H. COCKOFT, C. S. C.

OGLETHORPE COUNTY.
Crawford, Ga., July 24th, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The schools of 1889 indicated an increase of interest in the work and a decided increase of efficiency on the part of the teachers. Patrons seemed to be more thoroughly aroused to the necessity of giving their chil dren better educational advantages,
When the day comes that every good citizen feels his individual responsi bility in the education of the rising generation, we may expect longer terms, better schools and better teachers. Very truly yours,
J. F. CHENEY, C. S. C.

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OCONEE COUNTY.

Hon. Jaynes S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:

Dear Sir--Upon the whole, there seen ed to be more system in the

management, and greater rivalry in the schools last year than usual. I

believe the teachers, generally, labored faithfully; yet, under many disad

vantages. Most of the houses are small, the furniture very poor, and the

attendance quite irregular. The public term is too short, for many rely

upon that alone; the public fund is not sufficient even for the time taught,

for the teachers collect little besides. Eor these and other reasons, many

tutors of experience and ability have abandoned the work and sought em

ployment that pays better and lasts longer.

What inducement, then, is there to enter this as a profession ? Mostly

the light now rising, yet dimly seen adown the vista of time. No wonder

so many enter the field only to prepare for other vocations.

Truly, " Oconee County is suffering from this skeleton school system."

But since the skeleton has taken on a little flesh, in increased appropria

tions, the bones and sinews (teachers and pupils) are somewhat nourished ,

so that even last year, the skeleton smiled and made a step forward with

firmness and alacrity. A teacher well paid is full of courage, more cheer

ful and labors more faithfully; while the children partake of the same

spirit, and everything moves along smoothly.

"Educate your children and the country is safe." It requires money

to do this and it should be furnished liberally. "Ignorance and vice

go hand in hand, " and are dearer than education at any cost. But, by

no means tax the whites to educate the blacks. This has made a " skel

eton" of what otherwise, would have been a corpulent and muscular

man--a giant.

Eearing this is too lengthy and not to the point intended, I am,

dear sir, yours, etc.,

W. C. CARTER, 0. S. C.

PUTNA.M COUNTY.
Eatonton, Ga., July 31, 1890. Judge Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The colored schools are on a great boom this year. There are more children attending school in the county this year than ever before at one time. The people are aroused and deeply in earnest.
In regard to your request for suggestions as to the needs of the hour re garding the school question , I will say that we need now, more than all else, more appropriations. We need enough money to make the common schools of the State absolutely free for at least six months in the year-- better nine months. They are virtually free now. That is, the majority of people in the State, especially in the rural districts, are relying altogether upon what the public fund pays for schooling their children. They are la boring under the false impression that the public fund was intended to cover

66
the entire period of a child's school days without any supplemental aid from them, and they are unwilling to add anything to it. In consequence, tlm average teacher of the county is very incompetent. The pay is too small to secure the services of educated teachers. Asa result of all this the instruc tion of the great majority of the schools is very poor. For this the Legis lature is responsible. We should have more money--negro or no negro! Something is necessarily obliged to he done, or the whites will not keep up with the darkey.
Our county, though, as you will see from my report to the Grand Jury, has turned over a new leaf, and is now booming. With much regard, I am
Yours very truly, M. B. DENNIS, C. S. C.
[Note.--The report of this able Commissioner to the Grand Jury of his county is a very strong paper in educational and school interests, and I re gret that I cannot find space for it.--J. S. H., S. S. C.]
PIEECE COUNTY.
Blackshear, Ga., July 10th, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Oa.:
Dear Sir--I have held the office of County School Commissioner of this county seven years. When I took charge there was opposition to the pub lic school law, and very little interest in education--very few school^, and they poorly managed. The average attendance was 500. Most of the teachers at that time were' very inefficient. In 1889 we had 1,250 in the schools. Average attendance, 930. Our county is laid off in districts. We own most of the school sites. The buildings are fair, and exhibit considera ble improvement. Where shades are not already growing the patrons are planting out trees, mostly oak. These sites are permanent.
The whole county is enthusiastic in educational matters. The schools are full--well attended. In some districts every child of school age attends. The public schools improve the parents. Society has improved one hundred per cent, in the last ten years. The uniform system of text books has been a great help in classification, and gives Ihe teacher more time for work on black board, and outside of the text-book.
The^written examination has given us a better class of teachers,|and com petent teachers are the most essential to the success of the schools and edu cation.
Our public schools run from January 1st to December 15th. This plan enables one teacher to teach two terms, and sometimes three.
We are scarce of teachers. We are encouraging our young men and women to qualify themselves for teaching.
With the masses enthused, good, efficient, professional teachers at the helm, and money enough to run the public schools four months in the year, the present system is good enough. Four months is all we need. This

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Legislature should raise enough money to run them absolutely free, and it

it could be arranged to have the money on hand and hire the teachers at a

regular salary and pay them at the end of the term, it would be a great

help. It is a great hardship for a teacher to have to wait perhaps twelve

months for his money. I have known good, competent, hard-working

teachers have to sell their school accounts at ruinous discounts. The uncer

tainty of what the county will pay puts them at a great disadvantage-

They could afford to teach for much less if they could have some assurance

of what they were to get. I hope some law can be enacted that will remedy

these things.

Kespectfully,

J. H. HARPJSR, 0. S. 0.

PIKE COUNTY.

Mimes, Ga., July 12, 1890.

Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:

Dear Sir--There has been a slight increase in the number of colored

schools. Attendance about as last year.

A number of schools and teachers in Pike county, equal to any in the

South. I have held the office of County School Commissioner for eighteen

years, and have given the subject of public schools the best thought of which

I am capable.

Respectfully,

A. P. TURNER, 0. S. C.

. RABUN COUNTY.
Clayton, Ga., July 23, ISQO-.. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--We had in the year 1889 four first grade teachers, eight of the second grade, and fourteen of the third grade. Generally very good work was done. The progress was also generally good.
Your obedient servant, W. B. WATTS, C. S. C.

ROCKDALE COUNTY.

Conyers, Ga., July 16th, 1890-

Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlamta, Ga.:

Dear Sir--I hand you herewith reports as per your request.

Inasmuch as I was not Commissioner for 1889, I cannot respond properly

to your request for "short statement of work done in 1889, together with

suggestions derived from official experience," etc, etc. However, if it

should he your desire, I will take great pleasure in offering such suggestions

as would in my judgment, by proper legislation, bring about that healthy

educational interest you are laboring so faithfully to promote.

Yours most truly,

R. J. G WUINN, C. S. C.

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RICHMOND COUNTY.

Augusta, Ga., July 14, 1890.

Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Oa.:

Deak Sir--In reply to your suggestion of July 4th, I beg to report to

you that the public schools of Augusta and of Richmond county have in

creased in enrollment, efficiency and popularity during the year 1889. The

schools in the country districts outside of the city were in operation for

seven or eight months, and the salaries were large enough to command

good talent, and the schools were sufficiently numerous to leave no child in

the county more than three miles from a seven months' school.' In the

country districts there are twenty-three school houses huilt and owned by

the Board of Education, costing from $300 to $1,000 each. Also a large and

flourishing high school at Hephzibah, with an enrollment of over 100 pupils.

In the city we have extended and enlarged the Kindergarten features at

tached to the public schools, enrolling over 200 pupils aged from four to six

years. These I believe are the only public kindergarten schools in the State.

We have also established evening schools for the benefit of the factory popu

lation, to which we admit young men and young women, "whose necessities

and age force them to work during the day, yet who desire to obtain the

rudiments of an education. New buildings, better teachers, more pupils,

the rooms filled up and the people satisfied are the proofs that the public

schools here are doing a great work for tho community.

In conjunction with many others I am anxious to see the State School

Fund increased until all the counties can have at least a six months school.

I would certainly insist that the public school teachers be paid their salaries

as soon as their schools close, and not forced to wait for it six months after

they have earned it. For the better training of our teachers we need a

complete system of County Normal Institutes, supported by the State in

addition to a regular college for supplying Normal graduates. That all

these will come some time, and that patience will be rewarded by securing

the best school system in the United States for our own dear Georgia, I con

fidently believe.

Respectfully,

LAWTON B. EVANS, C. S. C.

SCHLEY COUNTY.
Ellavilue, Ga., July 9, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Oa.:
Dear Sir--The whole territory was occupied and the schools were, as a general thing, under better management with a better class of experienced teachers than heretofore. The average attendance was better, but not so good as might have been, owing to a change of time from three to four months. There are many pupils who cannot or will not be spared to attend the school for four consecutive months, and it docs not appear to be advisable to divide the school term.
On the whole, there was a step forward in 1889.

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The most important suggestion I can make, and one that should be urged, is that provision be made for monthly payment to teachers. No other class of public officers have to wait until the end of the year for their pay; and I see no good reason that it should be done.
To make boards of education efficient, they should have compensation for the time employed in public school work.
A very serious drawback to the successful operation of schools is the want of proper school houses. If tho appropriation for school purposes are not sufficient for the building of school houses and pay the teachers to run the schools four months, it would be better to appropriate the whole amount for school houses and suspend the school until it is done. This may seem extravagant, but it is impossible to do good work with the miserable subterfuges for school houses throughout tire county.
Yours truly, C. H. SMITH, 0. Si O'
SCBEVEN COUNTY.
Sylvavia, Ga., July 12, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--I will refer you to my reports returned to your office from year to year. You will find a gradual increase in the attendance in the public schools, as well as an increase in average attendance. There is a good and growing interest in this county upon the subject of education. The legislation necessary, in my opinion, is:
1. A local option law, (such as you proposed last season) so that the Board of Education of each county may supplement the funds they get from the State to run the schools six months.
2. Give the Boards authority to use so much of the school funds, as will run a Teachers'Institute tour weeks in each county and require teacher* to attend the same.
3. Make arrangements to pay teachers every one, two or three months. 4. Some measure that will authorize the State to advance the seventy thousand dollars that will be realized by the Hall amendment to the appro priation bill, so it can be used for this year's school purpose.
Yours respectfully, Wm. L. MATHEWS, 0. S C.
TWIGGS COUNTY.
Jeffersonville, Ga., July 18th, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The public schools of Twiggs county for 1889, were conducted to good advantage, and fine progress made.
Owing to the small additional appropriation made by the State, we were

70

enabled to secure the services of more competent teachers, which is a great

item in educating the children of the State.

Give us more money and longer terms and our school system, with a few

minor changes, will be inferior to none other.

I would be glad to see enacted a more strengthened law relative to the

collection of the poll tax. In 1889 X received only $405 in poll tax, when it

should have been $1,080.

Yours truly,

AUG. J. GLOYEE, G. S. C.

TEOUP.
West Point, Ga,, July 15th, 1890. Hon. Jas. S. Hook, Staje School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sib--Our school work for the year 1889, was fairly satisfactory. We are trying to do good work. We stress reading, English and arithme tic in the elementary schools. We teach the natural sciences (elementary) in the grammar schools. We continue English through the high school course. In this school we attempt accuracy of scholarship, self-reliance in achievement, and to develop, train--train the mind of the pupil to logical processes of thinking.
As regards especial legislation, we need more money -- nothing more. We have the system, the teachers and the children. We are lacking in school appliances.
Our Legislature should give us more money. The systems of the smaller owns need it as much as the country. Truly,
W. G. McKENNIE, Principal.

TALBOT COUNTY.
Talisotton, Ga., July 11th, 1890. Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir--The work done in the public schools under my charge for 1889, indicates comparative progress. The average qualification of the teacher is of higher standard and the school work more progressive and satisfactory in its results. yThe question system for examinations used by the Hon. James S. Hook, State School Commissioner, has been salutary in its effects, and serves as a valuable auxiliary to the County Superinten dent in his efforts to raise the standard of acquirements on the part of the teachers, and thus advance the interest of the common schools.
In my official visits to the schools I am pleased to observe a disposition on the part of some teachers to adopt, as far as they may be able, a more Normal system of instruction, in which they are to some extent assisted by the improved character of the text-books used. I further notice a more decided progress in the schools where this modern school work has been introduced. While this is gratifying as a partial result, much advance in this direction cannot be made, by reason of the absence of approved school appliances.

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There is a pressing need for desks, globes, charts, recitation seatings, etc., first, and afterwards of more convenient and comfortable school buildings.
I am pleased to note a satisfactory increase for 1889 over 1888, in both the number of pupils admitted, and average attendance in the schools for this county.
A more pronounced interest on the part of the people in the matter of common schools, is an indication of a growing appreciation of popular edu cation and a more liberal disposition to patronize the public terms. In order to increase their efficiency and more nearly subserve the educational "needs .and demands of the people, the public school term should be extended to six months, with a legislative appropriation sufficient to meet the expenses in full for such extension of service. Should the term he so lengthened it -would bo a protective feature to have teachers submit to the County Super intendent a monthly report of all pupils admitted, with age, district, date of admittance, number of days attendance, etc.; these reports to become the property of County Boards of Education, and to serve^as data for the Su perintendent when the total or consolidated reports, covering public schools, shall be placed in his hands for audit.
Most respectfully, O. D. GORMAN, C. S. 0.
TATNALL COUNTY.
Reidville, Ga., July 1, 1890. Hon. Janies S. Hook, State School Com