PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF PARIS

The public schools of Paris were organized, as stated below, in 1867. The enrollment of white children. numbered at that time 268; Colored, 137; number enrolled white children in 1884, 323; number Colored children, 168. Under the management of the different principals and teachers the schools, both white and colored, have done well. The object of the teachers has been, not only to raise the schools to a higher grade, but to so conduct them that their utility would be recognized and acknowledged by all. How well they have succeeded is seen in the interest manifested upon the part of the citizens of Paris at each commencement; in fact, everybody is now a friend of the public schools.

The following in reference to the public schools of the town, furnished by T. B. Robinson, Esq., embraces many interesting facts and figures.

The school district of Paris was organized under special law for the organization of towns and villages on the 12th day of August, 1867, with the following board of directors: William J. Howell, president; T. B. Robinson, secretary; William T. Nesbit, treasurer; D. 0. Bean, A. B. Long, Ephraim Ashcraft.

Teachers, session 1867-68: Principal, 11. A. Bodine; salary, $800 assistants, Mrs. R. A. Weedon, $50 per month ; Miss Nannie Bennett, $40 per month; Miss M. L. Brown, $50 per month. Colored school, Miss Hawkins, $30 per month, and Miss Martha Anderson, $40 per month.

The white school was taught in the Female academy building and the colored school in the Colored Baptist Church. The tax levy for 1868 was three-fourths of one per cent for school purposes. The term was 40 weeks.

In 1868-69 the board was the same as above.

The white school was taught in the Female Seminary property for 40 weeks, and the colored school at the, colored church 28 weeks. One-half of one per cent tax was levied for 1868.

For 1869-70 the board of directors were J. J. Armstrong, president; T. B. Robinson. secretary; D. 0. Bean, treasurer; Cicero Alexander, E. Ashcraft and W. J. Howell.

A term of school of eight months was taught in the new Baptist Church.

On the 1st day of March, 1870, the board bought of E. M. Poage the ground situated on Main street, the site of the present school building, for the sum of $1,300, and afterwards having, adopted plans and specifications drawn up by R. E. Hageman for a school house, advertised for bids for the building, of the same. These bids were some of them satisfactory to the board, and on the 18th day of June, 1870, a contract was made by the board with Messrs. Eggleston & Willard, of Macon City, Missouri, for the erection of a two story seven roomed brick school house for $10,277, the same to be completed by the 1st of September, 1870, in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by them and adopted by the board.

The board appointed Mr. John Nesbit as superintendent of the work under said contract.

To pay said building bonds were issued and sold by the board, bearing, 10 per cent interest, and running from three to nine years after date to the amount of $11,000, and a tax was levied to pay for ground interest oil bonds and to run the schools of 1 1/2 per cent for the year 1870. The school building was completed about the first of January, 1871, and was furnished with the best iron double desks and seats sufficient to accommodate 200 pupils, the capacity of the entire building when furnished being 400 pupils.

In 1870-71, the board was the same as before. The school opened January 8, 1871, and continued for a term of 6 months. The school was first graded this session, and a course of seven grades, embracing a year in each grade, adopted for the grammar school and a course of four years in the high school, embracing the elements of the natural sciences, algrebra, geometry and trigonometry, general history, English literature, mental and moral philosophy and political economy.

In 1871-72 the board consisted of A. M. Alexander, president ; T. B. Robinson, secretary; D. O. Bean, treasurer; E. Ashcraft, R. N. Bodine and W. J. Howell. The teachers were : F. B Wilson, principal ; J. A. Scott, assistant ; Misses Jennie Marr, L. Lewis, Nannie Pool, Kate Bodine. Colored School -- -Miss E. J. Campbell, E. Barnett, Assistant ; H. C. Terrill.

The school term lasted eight months. The tax levy for 1872 was 1 per cent.

In 1872-73 tile board was A. M. Alexander, president ; T. B. Robinson, secretary ; William Bowman, treasurer ; R. N. Bodine, W. J. Howell, E. Ashcraft. The teachers were : Principals, W. D. Collins and M. B. Almond ; Assistants, Misses Hattie McNutt, Mrs. M. E. Lasley, Mrs. Sallie Shearman, Misses Nannie Burnett and Kate Bodine. The colored -school was taught by H. C. Terrill, assisted by Mrs. Mary Vivion.

The term of school was for nine months.

During 1873-74, the board had for president, A. M. Alexander; T. B. Robinson, secretary; William Bowman, treasurer; R. N. Bodine, E. Ashcraft, P. T. Boon. The teachers were: Principal, B. S. Newland; Assistant, D. C. Gore; Mattie McNutt, E. M. Carter, Kate Bodine. Of the colored school, R. C. Terrill was teacher; Assistant, Mrs. Mary Vivion.

The regular term of school was fixed at 36 weeks for both schools.

In 1874-75 the board of directors were A. M. Alexander, president; T. B. Robinson, secretary; Wm. Bowman, treasurer; S. S. Bassett, M.W. Speed, P. T. Boon; W. F. Buckman in place of Mr. Boon who resigned. Teachers-B.S.Newland,prinicipal;Assistants, Miss Lizzie Kable, Miss Mattie McNutt, Miss Kate Bodine, Miss E. M. Carter. Colored School, H. C. Terrill Mrs. M. Vivion.

The tax levy was nine-tenths of one per cent.

The divectors for 1875-76 were A. M. Alexander, president; T. B. Robinson, secretary; S. S. Bassett, treasurer; B. B. Broughton, T. B. Bashaw, M. W. Speed. Teachers---J. B. Bradley, principal; Assistant, W. S. Sears, Miss Annie Bishop, Miss Mattie McNutt, Miss E. M. Carter, Miss Mollie Ashcraft. Colored School, F. L. Barnett, Assistant, Georgiana Mead.

The tax levy for 1876 was nine-tenths of one per cent.

On the 18th day of September the board made an order for the refunding of $8000 of the outstanding building bonds at 8 per cent interest and falling due in one, two, three, four and five years after the 1st day of January, 1876, and the new bonds were issued and sold at par to Col. P. Williams. This term two students completed their high school course and received certificates of graduation, to wit: Willie H. Robinson and Tirey Ford.

In 1876-77 the board was the same as last year. Teachers J. B. Bradley, principal; Assistants, A. H. Jamison, Miss Anna Bishop, Miss Mattie McNutt, Mrs. S. A. Iglehart; Colored School, W. H. Grant, Assistant, Sadie Stone.

The tax levy was nine-tenths of one per cent.

During 1877-78, the board was comprised of G. W. Moss, president; T. B. Robinson, secretary; Wm. Bowman, treasurer; D. O. Bean, A. E. Gore, Thos. Brace. Teachers--J. B. Bradley, principal ; W. E. Chambless, principal ; Assistants, A. S. Houston, Miss A. M. Bishop, Miss E. M. Carter, Mrs. S. A. Iglehart. Colored School, Clay Vaughn, Assistant, Sadie Stone.

The tax levy for 1878 was nine-tenths of one per cent.

Prof. Bradley resigned March 2, 1878, and the Rev. W. E. Chambless was employed to fill out the term.

For l878-79, the board was the same as last year. The teachers were, Principal, W. E. Chambless ; Assistants, A. S. Houston, A. W. Riggs, Miss Nannie Duncan, Miss Julia McBride, Miss Mattie Nutt, Mrs. S. A. Iglehart. Colored school, Clay Vaughn; Assistant Rebecca Winn.

A tax was levied for 1879 of nine-tenths of one per cent.

Mr. Houston left the school February 21, 1879, and Mr. Riggs was employed to fill out his term as first assistant. This term there were seven graduates who received, under the order of the board, diplomas of graduation in the high school department , to wit : Misses Mollie Dawson, Lucy V. McNutt, Viola B. Rawlings, Kate Moss and Carrie Wilson, and Messrs. William H. Bratner and Ebon Alexander.

In 1879-80 the board was G. W. Moss, president ; T. B. Robinson, secretary; William Bowman, treasurer ; D. O. Bean, A. E. Gore, T. T. Rodes Teachers-Principal, W. E. Chambless Assistants, A. W.Riggs, Mrs. L. A. Higgs, Miss Julia McBride. Mattie McNutt, Mrs. S. A. Iglehart. Colored school, Clay Vaughn. and Mrs. F. D. Vaughn.

The tax levy was nine-tenths of one per cent. The graduates this term were: Misses Sallie Bell McNutt, Nora Lasley, Kate M. Blakey, Maggie Graham and Callie Broughton, and Anderson W. Buckner and Edwin G. McGee.

In 1880-81 the board was G. W. Moss, president; T. B. Robinson, William Bowman, treasurer; D. O. Bean, S. S. Bassett, T. B. Bashaw. Teachers- - Principal, W. E. Chambless ; Assistants, A. W. Riggs, Mrs. L. A. Riggs, Miss Julia McBride, Miss Mollie Bowman, Mrs. S. A. lglehart. Colored school, G. B. Vivion ; Assistant, L. V. Gordon.

The tax levy was six-tenths of one per cent. The last of the bonds issued for building the school-house were paid off January 1, 1881. Graduates this term: Miss Jennie N. Burgess and John M. Burgess.

During 1881-82 the board had as directors: G. W. Moss, president; T. B. Robinson, secretary; William Bowman, treasurer; S. S. Bassett, T. P. Bashaw, W. F. Buckner, D. H. Moss to fill vacancy. Teachers-- Principal, J. M. McMurray, Assistants, N. W. Riggs, Mrs. S. A. Riggs, Miss Mollie Bowling, Miss Julia McBride, Miss Jennie Burgess. Colored School, G. B. Vivion; Assistant, L. V. Gordon.

The levy of nine-tenths of one per cent included three-elevenths of one per cent for buying site and erecting a building for colored school. Dr. G. W. Moss having died in August, 1881, the board, on the ninth of September, 1881, elected D. H. Moss to fill out his term, and Mr. S. S. Bassett was elected president of the board. Graduates this term : Misses Jessie Holdsworth, Nellie Ann Hayden and Mary E. Cunningham, and Messrs. William H. Bassett and William H. Alexander.

In 1882-83 the board was S. S. Bassett, president; T. B. Robinson, secretary; William Bowman, treasurer; W. F. Buckner, D. R. Moss, T. P. Bashaw. Teachers--- Principal,. J. M. McMurry; Assistants, A. W. Riggs, Mrs. L A Riggs, Misses Mollie Bowling, Jennie Burgess, Carrie Wilson, Joan Ross. Colored School - G. B. Vivion; Assistant L. C. Johnson.

The tax levy was eighty-five one hundredths of one per cent. On the 27th day of May, 1882, a severe wind storm carried off the roof of the school building, and the board appointed Mr. D. 0. Bean as commissioner to employ the necessary hands and buy the necessary material to repair the building, and in payment of his bill for such repairs, amounting to $983.23, issued to him warrants for that sum bearing 8 per cent interest from date. The action of the board, though not strictly authorized by law, was afterwards ratified by the district in voting, the necessary taxes to meet the warrants issued for costs of such repairs.

Graduates this term were Misses Mary Alexander, Annie Moss, Carrie Bean, Ida Bryan, Lillie Blanton, Pauline Caplinger and Nora Burgess.In the summer of 1883 the board had erected on the lots purchased of T. L. Fox a substantial two-room brick school house for the use of the colored schools, at a cost of $1,125, the work being done under the superintendence of a committee consisting of Messrs. James N. Powers, T. P. Bashaw and T. B. Robinson. The building has a seating, capacity of 100.In 1883-84 the board was S. S. Bassett, president; T. B. Robinson, secretary; William Bowman, treasurer; D. H. Moss, W. F. Buckner, A. E. Gore, R. N. Bodine. Teachers - Principal, J. M. Mcurry Assistants, J. T. Vaughn, Misses Joe Gwyn, Carrie Wilson, Mollie Ashcraft, Joan Ross - Colored School - G. B. Vivion, L. C. Johnson.

The tax levy was seventy-one hundredths of one per cent.

Mr. Bowman having died in November, 1883, Dr. A. E. Gore was elected by the board to fill out his term and Mr. Buckner was elected treasurer of the board. The graduates for this term were Misses Ida B. Harley, Stella L. Bassett, Gussie L. Holdsworth, Carlotta V. West and Eva L. Dawson. The following corps of teachers are elected for the next school year commencing September 22, 1884 : Principal, W. D. Christian Assistants, J. T. Vaughn, Misses Susie F. Powell, Carrie Wilson, Sallie B. McNutt, Mollie Ashcraft. Colored School----G. B. Vivion; Assistant, Mrs. L. C. Johnson.