The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-04-10
For the Post.
EDUCATIONAL FALLACIES.

also, by hearing, within few weeks past, so
much said, and so much importance attached
to the "Free School" system as II at present
exists in this State. Perhaps there is no
amount Of money expended by the State,
which is so misapplisd, or from which so lit.
tie benefit is derived, as the SO called Free
School money; or TO say the least Of it.
there is less freedom of thought and more of
Ignorance displayed in its application than
in management Of any other fund that is
controlled by public officers. For moment
let us look at the modus operandi, as it is
now practised by most districts in the man.
agement of the School fund. Some time in
the course Of the year 1t is announced that a.
certain amount Of f'mouey has been appro-
priatedsto a'distrct for the purpose of as
sistingin keeping uPs common school with.
in its limits. Previous to this, no one has
taken the trouble to interest themselves upon
the subject, nor would they do it now, were
II not from the fact that few dollars are to
be expended coming from the public treasury;
and how it came there, or who has paid it
into the State fund, not one in ten has taken
the trouble to inquire, only it is "Free mo-
ney'-never stopping to think that the mo-
ney was taken from the pocket of the tax
payer, and from there finds its way to the
County Trustees fund, to be used as the
"Free money" for the support of education.
But now some one who has formed the idea
that he would like to appropriate the money
to his use, and thinking that school teach
ing" is very easy work, (Which, by the way,
is n fallacy OF the first magnitude If the
teacher does his duty,) and that HE is just the
best qualified Of any one to fill this respon-
sible station; and, furthermore, feeling him
self fully competent to teach every thing that
comes under the head Of the three "R's," he
starts out. The only idea that he has
(nnd that not orginaD is this: that an educa.
ton is complete when a person can Read,
Write and Cypher. The School Commits
! sioners now have to be consulted, and, gen.
orally speaking, they are men who think that
their whole duty is performed by employing
tho man who will teach the longest time for
the least money. The teacher now goes to
work, very frequently in some cabin without
windows or desks, and never with any other
seats than rough plank with four holes to
receive the legs for its support, and these too
of such length that the greater proportion
Of the scholars cannot touch their feet to
the floor; and last, though not least. the ever
\ ready hickory completes the furniture and
apparatus of the school room. And here the
self dignified pedaeogue rules and reigns, and
not unfrequently storms-no one ever taking
the trouble to enquire il he is doing his duty
or whether the scholars are supplied with
books, or whether there il any improvement
in the pupils, but every one being sure to
send because it is free, or, in other words
THEY don't have topay for it. This is another
fallacy in the system Of education, as at pres
ent carried out in this State.
In this manner the school is carried on un
| til the free money is expended, when tn,
's"uo' 10 H'ofpou' wy, 'he euueal'o'
VI 'ne sch''"rs eo','P'e'eG' Is lnere no ne
eessity ior seh"oi any longer IN That dis
lr'ct' fias the parent iutll:ed all the obliga
uohs no Is under TO the chlId! Is he unde
no obil lgatons TO the community In which hi
HVes-to the government wh'ch he IN par
IS oound TO supports In answer to any o
ail OF these interrogatores he VIII tell yol
there is no more free money" Ask hin
| L.. IL. l. 4
wheh tne schooi VIII be resumed, he VIII say
when they get some more "iree money
Make the suggestion that, perhaps, IN the in
terVa' 'he chi'd may forget What he has al
reaoy 'earhed' ana nt the commencement o
Tue next term ne VIII be under the necessity
OF gong over the same ground; the paren
VIII agree wlth yon' but VIII Jnslify himsel
oy saying the "iree money" Is all gone. AsI
me parent u II wou'd not DC to his lnteres
to Keep up school at least eight months il
the year. ana he wlll reply yes certainly, bu
the free money Is not sufficient to do it,
Inquire why they do not keep up the schoo
by their own means, and he will immediately
shake MS head' ana with a significant shrus
OF the shoulders. tell you he cant afford it
Is too poor, VIII have to get along with wha
little "free money" is allotted to them. An'
me very last thought ne has is, where die
| tnlS money cOIIle from, Dut let MN Trace n