Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-08-09
ADvERTFSENEST.
Free Schools of Nashville

Claws were not made to bind men of hon
| or but the Williams of society," What part Of
| a law is it, that gives it restraining pow
| er? Certainly nothing but It's p nllty and
without penalty it would be no law. What
silly nonsense it would be to talk of restrain
| ing laws without penalty. Why The vii
| lians of society" would laugh in derisiOn in
the very face of n court that should attempt
| to try them by a law without penalty. The
| penalty is the standard by which to weigh
| the Importance of obedience. Readers, what
would you think if | should tell you that
| there is no penalty attached to the violation
of any of your school laws, and that all re-
dress for their violation must be sought out
side of municipal legislation. Law making
| is always an expensive business to the peo-
| pie. and when they have paid the expense
| and trusted to the wisdom aud justice of their
representatives. what cruel mockery of JUS
tice to leave their protective law so that
q 'Tis but broken reed at best, and oft a spear
On which, peace blecdS and hope expires"
What would be thought of one who should
make and sell us life-preservers that looked
fair to the eve until the perils of flood and
fame revealed their worthessness? Is Nash
Vile now, and is it always to be place
where only ''saints and angels reign; that
no penalties are needed.
From the want of something clear and eX-
plicit as to what the organization is in reali-
ty, it would be almost useless, to look to the
laws as they exist, and the constant disre-
gard of them in practice leaves the whole
subject mass of confusion.
Two things are clearly manifest; First,
the funds are under the control of the Board;
Secondly, the actions OF the Board are not
subject to any check, control or Investigation by
any other parties whatever. The money
must come. where it goes is for the Board
alone to know. Suppose Board and SUI
periutendent should choose to agree to use a
portion Of it for their own advantage, where
would be the means of detection. What bet
ter plan can be devised for opening the way
for dishonesty and bargaining without the
chance of detection.
Mr.. Hume says of Northern Boards, "They
have no powers to appropriate monies from
the public Treasury"
Money aud Education are two very differ
cnt things and should be managed by a dil
ferent set of men here as IS done in other
places. No one set of men can properly
perform the duties of Trustees, of Inspectors
and of Board of Education. They cam t
afford re time and it is Injustice 10 them
and bad policy for the people.
But let Us look at the laws here, and at
few of those in New York and Philadelphia.
Sept. 9TH. 1853. The Board shall consist of
six members, one Of whom shall be elected
from each ward by the qualified voters
thereof at each annual election for the city
officers, except at the first election, which
shall be by the Board of Mayor and Alder
men at the first meeting in Oct 1858"
Why was this law repealed in few months
after Mr.. Pearl commenced his labors here?
Sec. 2. The Board shall draw up plan
of instruction and a system OF government
for the High. Grammar and Primary Schools.
and which. when adopted shall not be deviat-
ed fom unless it is so ordered by a two-thirds
vote of the Board of Education. which plan
shall be submitted TO the Board of Mayor
and Alderman for their approval or rejec-
ton" When they had made this plan, why
has it been So constantly deviated from as |
have heretofore shown?
Sec. .. There shall be located in the several
schoOl districts of the city, Primary Schools
for children between the age of four and six |
years, and there shall be established in the |
several school districts of the city; interme- |
date schools for the instruction OF pupils |
from the age of ten to sixteen
This was wise aud judicious law and had |
it been carried out would have prevented the |
erection of such an expensive absurdity as |
the Howard Building, and would have allow |
I'd play ground for the children at each |
llstrict school instead of the cruel want of it |
Is seen at the Hynes Building. He who is fit |
10 know that physical Developments is the |
rue basis of moral and intellectual culture, |
md that 10 deprive the lungs of air and the
muscles of action, is TO debase the moral |
perceptions and weaken the intellectual |
powers. This law is based On the advice of |
Ar. Hume to have (besides a Grammar and
. High School building) g four houses suit
lille Tor the Primary schools, in convenient
,arts of the city, forlthe benefit of small
children This number of houses would of
course be increased. Buildings of this dis
ription could easily be arranged TO have
Jack and front play ground which is one of
be most important objects to be attended to.
lr. H., says, 4" But the greatest good effected
y these Primary schools is, that they train
hildren to obedience to parents and teach
RS, 10 have order and quiet. Good moral
is here given to the very young,
irtuous conduct commended and rewarded,
ice frowned upon and punishedChildren who
ASS through these schools with credit have
n excellent foundation to build upon when
hey enter the Grammar School," These
choois of course devote large amount of
ttention to exercise for bodily developments
nd but little to study of books. Parents, go
D the Hynes building and see from the little