Goodspeeds, 1889
The earliest schools were 'pay schools,' held in private houses or other convenient, at times quite primitive places, by itinerant pedagogues. The old school system was not a success, for the common school idea did not become popular until within the last twenty years, and the public school lands were, by the state of public sentiment, allowed to amount to almost nothing in the shape of revenue.

It was largely the wealthy who could educate, and they hired private tutors to fit their children for foreign colleges and academies; or an occasional professional teacher would open a school to prepare students for higher schools. Education was a luxury which poor whites could not have, and as for the negro the idea was not entertained.

Education too, was purely literary, such as it was in many other parts of the country. The practical and industrial phases of it are just beginning to be fully appreciated; the realization gains ground that industrial and practical education, not the literary alone, in the key to all successful permanent program.

None in all the South have been quicker to adopt such progressive ideas and put them in practice than the leaders in the educational movements of Johnson County.

The last published educational statistics of this county are as follows: Enumeration, white, 6,034; colored, 212; total, 6,246. Enrollment, white, 3,018; colored, 114; total, 4,062. Number of districts, 77; number reporting enrollment, 62; number voting tax, 71; number of teachers employed, 83; number of school houses, 77; value of school houses, $14,139. The sum of $15,000 to $20,000 in expended on the schools of Johnson County yearly.

There is a good balance of school fund in the county treasury unspended. The schools are well organized and thoroughly equipped, and for the most part they are exceptionally well taught.