Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-25

share of the public fonds Ia addition TO these sources Of
revenue, which deay but little more than half the
expenditures fur the support OF schools independently
OF the outlay required for sites, buildings furniture fuel
books, and stationery the inhabitants of the several districts
called upon at the expiration Of each school term to con-
tribute raaby to the liquidation of the balance the teacher
after the application Of the State county, and town funds in
proportion TO the number OF days and OF children by each
exemptDg INDECENT persons, and eyyng their propoonate
share Of the balance thus due upon the taxable property Of
| the district generally.
New York however, mainly indebted for the sushine
condition and prospects oil her common schools the excel
lent organization she has adopted and the thorough
which has induced Her entire territory embracing excu-
svey the waters of he great Lakes 65s
miles, subdded into eleven thousand school districts
averaging about four miles, The inhabitants of each of
these districts elect three trustees who have the general SUI
pervison of the property and affairs of the district oy the
teacher procure the e for the erection aud repair
Of the schoohouse and provide it with necessary furniture
fuel &c. levy taxes voted by the inhabitants all the pur-
poses OF their organization, receive and expend public mo-
ney, and make bills for the teachers wages They
hold their Offices Tor three yearone being annually elected
and at the expiration OF each year make full report Of all
their proceedings. and Of the condition of the district under
their charge 10 the inhabitants and to the supentend
ent This officer is annually elected by the Inhabitants Of
each towns chargedwh receipt and distribution among
the several districts OF the share of public money appoonel
to the town, with the formation aud alteration Of school dis
cs, with the examination and inspection OF teachers and
with tue general supervision Of all the schools his town. He
is required annually Iepor to the officer next in grade, the
county Is plennaiy CHOSEN ny the num-
cpa authority of tho county, the board Of supervisors and
charged with the gene supervision of the schools of the
~, the hearing and determination in the first instance Of APP
pea from the proceedings Of any of the inferior officers
neced with the administration of the system, the licensing Of
Teachers and generally, with the advancement and improve
nent OF the Of education throughout his Jurisdiction
BY periodical visitation Of the several schools committed to his
charge, by occasional and familiar lectures friendly counsel
and advice and by corporation with his colleagues
in different sections of the State and with the head Of the de-
partment at the of Government this officer is enabled
inuse spirit and interest in behalf of education which
other agency has yet been found adequate accomplish He
the connecting link between the State superntend
ent, to whom he annually reports and with whom he keeps
up constant correspondence and The several town and dis
ct organizations, and in this capacity fus most important
and beneficial function in reference the efficiency and ha
mony Of the system, of which he forms part.
The Secretary Of State is by virtue of his office, Supen
tendent OF Common Schools and the chief executive and judi
cia officer connected with the administration of the system in
all its parts He apponns to each county and town its dis
bave share Of the public money, in the ratio of its popula
ton hears and determines finally oil appeals growing out of
local controversies in the several districts and which the
spentendents to whom they first be referred, have
failed satisfactorily to adjust settles all legal questions arising
from the practical administration of the laws relating
common schools and reports annually to the Legislature
all matters connected with pertaining to his Office. He
is allowed deputy to aid bin in The performance Of this por
ton Of his duties State officer
Having glanced principal features Of the New FORK
system of common school instructions proceed compliance
with request TO you my impressions to the prac
caly of ENGRAVING this SYSTEM in substance upon the in
stuons and municipal organization of Tennessee. In my
judgment there but obstacles in the way of such
enterprise, should receive the sanction Of the Legislature
and the people. The is the sparseness Of the popuaon
ndeng the territorial allotment districts modelled like those
of Nfw York. difficult and in most instances aogehermprac
ca and the other the absence of those minor divisions
of thu counties townships, which would deprive
the ss Of portion al least OF its efficacy, by the want
of those connecting links between the county and the district
Offices which in practice have been found SO beneficial and
sautly. Neither of the obstacles are, ii to in
supeble. With reference to the first in the formation of
schoo districts the great 10 be kept constantly in
should be the ability, in pecuna point OF view, to main
tain efficient organization, and to keep up good schools,
taught by competent and wequafed teachers III the terri
tory comprised in each district conguoushat Is, not
paraed by territory belonging any other dstrc-t is
paraivey Of little consequence how extensive how limited
that territory may be, provided adequate accommodations
afforded by the location Of school points convenient
y accessible to the children OF the district In one district
comprising Of four square miles, schoolhouse
ITALY located would suffice for the of the inhabitants,
while in another requiring territory Of greater dimensions,
in order to bring within it sufficient number Of families aid
Sufficient amount OF wealth TO warrant school district organ
zlion provision might be made in the first instance for
schools, the subsequent maintenance Of which would
involve bat slightly increased additional expense. Another
mode and which experience has shown TO be not only Ell
acious but beneficial under similar circumstances TO
those above would be the establishment Of central
school o the older male pupils Of the district to be taught
by experienced male teacher Of high qualifications anked
by auxiliary schools, under tie charge OF female
teachers male teachers Of inferior petensons Tor TIE bene
fit Of the Younger children In either of these modes the dis
aVaniages incident districts sparsey populated would VIZ
tuay be avoided.
The absence Of municipal organization intermediate the
district and the county, would operate peudciay to the IN
Of education otherwise than by devovng upon
officers latter charged with the general supervision OF the
schools more onerous and laborious responsibility This
might however, adequately be met either ty an
increase Of the number Of such officers assigning specified
a Inv Tho O
Of Education the members Of which should jointly coope
in the task of supervision and in the performance OF the
various other duties incident their position The former
mode would my Judgment be greatly preferable, especially
the Supentendens derived their appointment either direct
" the people Of their respective counties, from the de-
part,nent which they Immediately responsible
Your school fund amply adequate 10 all the purposes Tor
which designed and aided it should be- by local
taxation to an equal to its sppoionmen weuld UNI
permanently provide the requisite funds for the edu
cation Of every child Of proper age participate in its bene
FITS ncludog these invaluable aduncts every enlightened
plan Of elementary instruction, district Libraries, and instu
tons for the education Of teachers.
Were called upon indicate a OF policy on the
part Of the Legislature OF like yours best calculated TO
secure the blessings Of sound and thorough elementary edu
cation TO every child Of the sae and duse through every
avenue of the civil and social economy those elements OF we'll
being and prosperity which alone pepeuaie the existence
Of nations and communities should advise the enactment OF
law requiring the municipal authorities OF each county to as
upon the real and personal estate Of the county an
amount equal to its distributve share OF the common
school fund the appointment election in each county
Of county supernteDdens whose duty should
be- under proper limitations and restrictions TO receive and
1alfar