The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-07-06
COMMON scho6Ls.

Edffor PoHi Returning my most unfeign-
ed thanks for the fasor you conferred upon
me in that number Of your paper dated May
25tt; by publishing tny letter y you; On tie
subject Of Common Schools, again offer
few thoughts for The consideration Of your
readers apon TIE same engrossing topic. ]
said engfossing topic, beca1se, perhaps, my
own mind is thus occGpisd father than from
any evidence that the subject u Of absorbing
interest among the people. That the people
Of lower East Tennessee nfe taking more
active interest in the execution of the Public
School system Of this State, do not deny.
On the contrary; atti glad to kfow II is SO.
And am writing this to Ie! them know that
there is one who is engaged in teaching that
sympathizes yith them in their almost
schoolless condition and who is ready to Coz
operate in the work they are beginning to
discover is needed. 1t Is not my only pur.
pose, however, to give notice Of readiness to
do battle to the powers Of known othiug at.
nll.ism, but want to call out from their
sag.nichtal (say.nothing) retreat those who
are, or interd to be, engaged in teaching. i
would say to teachers and to all lcommission.
ers and patrons of these schools, that, II you
wnnt to put down that former doctrine you
must abandon this latter, for opposite as they
are 10 politics they run together 10 education
and literature. Indeed, there will not be right
views Of education and the importance of
schools, entertained by the mass until these
things have been placed fairly before them.
This can be done by writing and lectures
and ! know of no more appropriate class to
begin this nrduous but rewarding work than
teachers. That teachers can not accomplish
the whole alone is very evident but if they
will 60 about the work earnestly their inten.
tons for good will be understood, their ef.
forts duly appreciated and both heartily re.
eiprocated. What paper shall we write for
teachers! Is there any educational Journal
read where this paper is circulated? If there
were It would be very convenient and ap.
propriate channel for our investigations and
discussions. But, probably, there is not
Then let US solicit the favor of the Athens
Post. think the Editor would like to en-.
courage such an effort when not crowded
with other matter. should like TO see an
article each week. l am aware that since but
few schools employ teachers for longer Pc.
riod than three or four months during the
yenr-a period that just exhausts the public
fund, most persons designing to engage this
season are employed ut other things, and
from the nuture Of their most common bust.
ness, farming, can not command the requisite
time without sacrificing, to some extent, their
pecuniary interests. But they are not all
pressed. And there are good number OF
young men attending to their studies at the
various institutions of learning that have
grown up in different sections of the country
upon whom we have reasonable claim for
aid IN the undertaking we propose which
would result in the happiest results, if faith
fully prosecuted and ably conducted. And
now, teachers, would most earnestly urg,
upon you the necessity Of enlisting with heat
and heart in this grand enterprise.
hope now to be INDUCED while takin.
one step further back than did in my lette
Of May. In that letter alluded to a few
Improvements that are requisite, as conceiy
ed.
The step TO which refer Is the necessit,
devolving upon the Legislature to appoin
aplan for the erection OF School Houses il
each School District. If that body has tn
authority, as ail at once admit, to assessa Ia.
? for the support Of such On institution,
should and indeed does have the same powe
to provide for its appropriate and judiciou
expenditure. A review Of the present stat
of things with regard 70 the character o
School Houses and the difficulty nttendin.
their erection, will show the necessity o
adopting speedily a.better method. When ,
School House isneeded in any neighborhood
tits not unfrequent that the sum total o.
every species Of prejudice is brought alons
to the appointed meeting. Difference o
opinion in politics and religion has sepa.
rated the people into number Of parties.-
These parties. are often blind TO any thing
insisted upon or even suggested by one not
belonging to their clique. One party be.
comes offended at some OF the others and
expresses determination not to assist If that
plan is decided upon. The other party or
parties SUDDENLY grow rich enough to carry
the work forward without the aid of their re.
ported contentious neighbors. They resolve
themselves into building committee Of the
whole and attempt to settle upon some plan
Of operation-the excluded party criticising
every effort but sympathizng with none.-
But there are more points Of difference than
one, so this committee itself does not long
preserve its unity Of strength, but radiating
from common centre soon disorganizs and
the work is entirely abandoned for the time.
But the house must b. built. They meet
again. The meeting is probably as uncere.
monious as before. A plan, however, Is adopt
ed-ons company is appointed to make the
boards, another to haul the logs, and thus
the whole, is to the satisfaction perhaps of
all, distributed and she house is expected to
be ready in due season. The work goes on
and sooner or later the house is said to he
ready for the opening Of term Of school,
The committee for inspection comes TO take
a view OF the building which which has been
dignifed with the name Of School House. A
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