Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-01-21
COMMON SCHOOLS.

COMMON SCHOOLS.
On motion by Mr. BULLOCK the House passed
over the unfinished business on account of the sb-
sence Of Mr. Turner of the discharge Of his duties
as a member Of the Bank Investigating Committee,
and took up Mr. Taylor's bill 1851 TO amend the act
regulating the qualifications Of teachers of common
schools-the question being Mr. Carter of Har-
din 5 amendment TO exempt Hardin county from the
operation of the bill, and that of the lst and ID
sections of the school act of Feb. Is, 1856.
Mr. BICKNELL proposed to amend b. way of a
bill in lieu, simply repeating the first and second
sections of the school act of Feb. Is, 1856
Mr. TAYLOR opposed this attempt to strike down
every standard qualification for teachers in the CON-
mon schools. On the other hand, the act of 1861
placed the standard of qualifications too high. He
had attempted to strike the proper mean in his
bill.
Mr. WE submitted his views rather in favor Of
retaining the old law between that and the bill
in lieu.
Mr. BICKNELL defended his proposition.
The bill in lieu rejected by yeas l nays As;
the question then required on the adoption of Mr..
Carter of Hardin's amendment.
Mr. CARTER of Hardin submitted and enforced
the considerations which induced his amendment.
They could not use their school money in Hardin
county, because teachers could not be obtained of
sufficient legal qualifications.
Mr. DAVIDSON argued that, as the school fund
belonged to the State-the people-the Legislature
had right to prescribe the rule for its appropria-
ton. He was opposed to exceptions and partalties
in legislation, and would move to lay the amend
ment on the table.
The motion was agreed tO-yeas II, nays 40
and the question now required on the third reading
of the bill.
Mr. BICKNELL proposed to amend by adding
"And if upon examination the applicant is cOnsid-
cred competent to teach such branches as the COM
mon school commissioners of the district may re-
quire taught, he shall receive the certificate of
the county commissioner"
Mr. DAVIDSON moved to lay this amendment on
the table, but withdrew fer
The SPEAKERS ruling Of the amendment as out
Of order, being tantamount to Mr. Bcknells bill in
lieu.
Mr. HAMILTON demanded the previous question.
Mr. RANDOLPH desired the gentleman TO with
hold the demand for his amendment, giving dis
erection the commissioners to require the school
sessions to commence early the first Of August.
The yeas and nays were demanded, ordered and
taken on the demand for the previous question, re-
sulting yeas 90 nays $3.50 the House refused 10
second the demand for the previous question.
Mr. RANDOLPH proposed to amend by adding
provided that hereafter it shall be the duty of the
common school commissioners in this State, and
they hereby required, to employ teachers so as
to have the free schools in their districts
on the first Monday in August in each year, or soon
er, If possible"
On motion by Mr. ALGEE, the amendment was
laid on the table.
Mr. BICKNELL urged his amendment again, but
was again overruled by the Chair.
Mr. BENTON moved indefinite pOstPonement Of
the whole subject.
Mr. WE demanded the yeas and nays, resulting
yeas u, nays $3.50 the House refused to post
pOne.
The House then adjourned until 9 A. NJ. to.mOr-
row.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20, 1858.
The journal Of yesterday was read.
PETITION.
Mr. THOMPSON presented the petition of sundry
citizens Of Mount Pleasant, desiring amendment OF
charter
CENTRAL SOUTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY
Mr. NEWMAN, from the Committee on Internal
Improvement returned the bill mo 307) to release
the State from certain liabilities and for the beneht
Of the Southern Central Railroad Co., with an amend
ment for the benefit of the Atlantic, Central, and
Ohio Railroad COmpany--the Committee recon-
mending the rejection Of the amendment, and, as
thus amended, ma ority of the Committee recon-
mending the passage Of the bill.
PROPOSITIONS PASSED THE FIRST READING.
Mr. BATE introduced a bill (No. 1861 to increase
the power of the County Courts, in regard to the
estates Of minors
Mr. BENTON introduced bill mo. 1867 to amend
the act TO amend the revenue laws and to provide for
a proper assessment, passed Feb. %, 1856.
Mr. LOW introduced a bill No. 397) to preserve
order at negro preaching.
Mr. ESTES submitted a resolution directory to
the Committee on the Penitentary proposing inqu-
ry into change Of the present system Of labor in
that institution as to prevent convict labor from
coming into conflict and competition with the labor
Of the mechanics of the State, sc.
Mr. COOPER introduced bill No. 3qSl to pro- |
- dfg|ri I,fsoV nF
tain cases.
CIRCUIT COURTS IN oBIoN &C
On motion by Mr. STOVALL, (by unanimous con- |
sent the House took up his bill 1857 to regulate
the times Of holding the Circuit Courts in the coun
ties of Dyer Gibson, Obion, and Lauderdale, doth |
circuit, Sc, and with verbal amendments, and
Mr. LAMBS proposition to amend, by prescribing /
the times Of holding the Circuit Courts in Judge /
Fitzgeralds circuit viz: in the counties Of Carroll
Benton, Humphreys, Henry, and Weskley, which /
was adopted
The bin passed the third and last reading in the
House of Representatives, by yeas Ga, nays 0, and
was ordered to be Immediately transmitted to the
Senate.
COMMON SCHOOLS
The House now returned TO the unfinished business
10 wit: the consideration on the third reading of
Mr. Tavlor's bill 1887 to amend the act of 1856, to
amend the law regulating the employing common
school teachers.
y
10 Provided That if those persons living within the
pounds of any school house district, where free
school is authorized to be taught, shall desire any
person to teach such school, they may
make the same known by petition, and it shall then
% the duty Of the commissioner to employ such
,ersonE aud the order of the commissioner sha
,e proper voucher for the pay Of such person"
Mr. c. supported this amendment in little speech.
Mr. Taylor opposed the amendment as destructive
# the Law requiring proper qualifications for teach
rs.
Mr. BLACKBURN supported the amendment, up
n the ground of the ultimate right of the people TO
manage these thing in their own way. He went
ntO the argument at some length.
Mr. RICHARDSON. The peoples representatives
rere certainly the guardians Of the school fund;
nd he was opposed to the amendment because he
aW in 1t what seemed like attempt to lower the
tandard Of qualifications in the educators of the
hildren Of the people, to whose hands we're to be
ommitted the destinies Of this government. The
resent standard Of the Law was Low enough; but il
sntlSmsn we're determined TO repeal ii, let them