PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH.

PROF. H.H. WRIGHT.

I call your attention to the fact that the Board of Education of the city of Nashville have extended the course of study in the public schools for the colored population, so that there is in existence now a fully-fledged High School for the colored youth, having precisely the same course of study as that of the white youth; and the members of the school are subjected to the same written and oral tests as those of the white school. So far as I know, this is the first instance of the kind in the South. Most boards graduate the colored children from the eighth, or at most, the ninth year of school.

The colored High School of Nashville had public exercises in the Grand Opera House in June, when a class of seven graduated. The Superintendent of Public Schools, the Board of Education, and prominent citizens, white and colored, occupied the platform and gave their approval of the innovation by their presence.

The first class of the white High School was graduated twenty-eight years ago and numbered seven. This class of colored graduates also numbered seven.

A member of that first white class is now the President of the Board of Education, and presented the diplomas to the members of this colored class. Altogether, the occasion was auspicious for better things in the public school system in Tennessee.