Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-25
For the Daily Patriot
Free schools Of Nashville.

| of true man. 1t was the Language not of
party. but of honesty and philanthropy. The
| true way to strengthen any cause or party,
is TO purify its own ranks; and this can only
| be done by exposing error.
! And II Is not 10 DE supposed that any
man will see and expose his own errors; for
that peculiar kind OF knowledge which would
| enable bin TO see the error. would have en-
abled him to avoid committing it.
1t was not those in power who led the way
| TO the American revolution. 1t was investi-
cation before the people, that caused them
to know, understand aud demand their own
rights.
But / learn, through various channels,
that reports are industriously circulated that
l am doing this for party or clique, from
selfinterest, from spite at the Superintend-
ent, and that my facts are not facts. Well,
we shall see; but advise those who are cir
culatiHg those reports to beware, and not de-
ceiVe the people, or show themselves TO be
''drowaiug men catching at straws."
belong to no party, and am not for sale.
My object is to promote the interests of edu-
cation.
SO far am | from promoting my own in
terest, stupid indeed must be the MUD that
does not see, am actiug against my inter-
est i'll every possible view of the subject.
For, with schools conducted as / expect to
propose, there would be little use for my
services; but they are now conducted pu
pills, after being in them for i've years, cume
to me 10 be taught
That 1 am governed by "Spite at the Super
intendent," is contradictcd by the fact that
my articles, in nearly every instance, lay the
blame on the actions mot the motives) of the
Board, aud not on the Superintendent; and it
| is due to the Superintendent to say, that he
should not be blamed for doing those things
which the Board requires him TO do. He is
only responsible tor The manner in which he
does ITEM.
Ny OBJ, ct, in this matter. is to point out
error. and the danger of such error, that the
people may see the need Of better course
aud then 10 point out what | think is that
better course; and in so DONG. l wish to deal
with the facts. and to avoid alluson TO per-
sons, except so far as they stand connected
with those facts; and while / have for seVe-
raj years seen what | thought wrong in the
management of these schools, L will again
say, IN justice to the Board, that l believe
they conscientious.
Let the people Individually. investigate
this subject thoroughly, in all it, bearings;
and it will not injuIe, but greatly benefit the
schools. and render education far cheaper. far
more thorough, and attaiuable in much lass
time. It's nvestigatiOu alone that can lead
to truth; and it will not do for free people
TO say, The King can do no wrong" and all
investigation must be hnshed.
In this investigation of this natter it would
not be strange if should make some slight
errors. JUDGED ii would he strange it should |
not, with only the mcagcr records have
seen: but for any one 10 make use of such |
Insignificant errors, 10 draw away the mind
from the main facts, and perverl the iudg-
ment Ur the public, is certainly catching at |
straws" of very small size, aud thereby ac
knOwledging that be has no better argument |
| believe that all candid minds do, and must
desire careful investigation of the subject.
TO corrlct certain street reports, | w ii re-
state and reaffirm few facts. That seventy
dollars were paid for fourteen diplomas is
shown by two vouchers in the Recorders Of
fee. l showed the two bills. side 10y side
to the II corder's clerk, the other day A k
bin! Ii there is error, il is in the records,
not in me. But it matters not the least
whether 1t was seven or seven hundred. The
question is, shall five dollars be paid for d.
plOmas when far better ones can be printed
for one dollar? We're no diplomas gwen in
1858 and 1853? II not. why were there no
graduates! Ii diplomas were given in those
years, where Is the evidence OF their cost?
January 9Th, 1860" Mr. Pearl and %
teachers, recommend and petition the Board
for the slIion OF Parker d Watson's Sp J.
ling Books. Nineteen days after this. Mr.
Pearl and five teachers again recommend
these books as the best, (see yOuchers.) The
next day, January 25th,' The report was
read and ''ordered that the proposition OF
the agent Of the National Parker d Wat
sOn's) spelling books, large and small. be ac-
ccpted and carried OUT by Mr.. PEARL
minutes of the Board.) Query: Was it
right TO make the people pay twenty cents
for a new edition of this book, published this
year, and then pay Hirty.f0e cents for The same
matter an an old edition OF 1898 merely because
it is made large" by using thicker paper
and larger margin?
1t is asserted that ink cannot be made for
less than seventy cents; but this IL contra
dicted by one OF the vouchers, which shows
that five gallons were bougnt for the schools
at fifty cents per gallon. Others in town
have made it for twenty-five; aud that which
my pupils used last winter | made at live
cents per gallon.
1t is denied that books have been sold in
the schools. This is settled by Mr. Pearls
bills on file. where he gives the following
credits: "lS5S, BY cash collected by teachers
for books 50 1877 1857, Nov, By Ca,n for
books Sc 90" 1855, Oct, BY cash collected
on books Sc 05;" 1851 By cash collected
on books. SO co." This settles the que> tiun
that books have been sold. Now. why should
not a regular account cuIrentr he kept 20
show wllat quantity was bought, at what
price; what sold, at what price what
given away, aud TO whom; nd what profit
Is made, and what is done with it; and an sac
count of stock made out at the end Of the
year, To show what quantity is on hand? IL
Is only in this way that the people can know
what is done with their money.
In every other kind of business detailed ac-
count of debts and credits is al ways given
Why not in Ihs? Why he troubled with selling
the same amounts these credits show? Why
not let the pupils all buy their books at tue
store? IL is asserted that no books have been
bought at the North for the schools. Tue
Minutes of the Board show that, Aug. 3Ist.
1859. Mr. Pearl was authorized to send frI
b. oks, DC. To the amount Of S29I %
Among the items were 500 states, part at Is
cents. aud part At 30 cents-a pretty good
price Ia pay tor states by The hundred Nov.
2d, 1859, the I'LL S2S4 40 was before tn
Board. Holbrook Il CO., deduefing one-sixth
from il las per letter OF Mr. PEARL IL i
customary TO deduct one-iOurth. and some
times onc-Ihrd. find DO bill of tbis, bul
the amount was paid. See Minutes of th,
Board.
-. F. Pearl. Esq, 10 c osby. Nichols a
Co, Boston, Jan. Let. lS60. Nov. 23d - iOt
Towers Primers. 50 90; 100 Towers Seeona
Reader. Sl7 90; 100. Stodard's Arithmetic
IS IS; loo Stedard's INTEL, ciual do. sl3 90
so Towers Elementary Grammar, SIS 50:
200 boxes Crayoas, S34 90; l6 mounted
charts. ) cases 50 25. Total, S92 0S.' Til,
Minutes say, Jan. 25, 1850. "Tbe hill of
Crosby. Nichols a CO.. OF Boston. for S92 os
ordered 10 be paid. Rec. payment.
J. +. PEARL
Last week showed TO the X corder'
Clerk the bill OF II. Cowperthwaith. Feb. Ia
1860. against J. +. Pearl. for 500 Warren
Primary Geography AT Il cents. 200 Com
mon School Geography al so cents-SlOs
What appears Singular, is that | ind nc
accounts OI northern purchases until La
year, while find about the same amount o
credits for .-saiss o. books
Last week The Minutes OF the Board were
removed IRON the Recorders afise, wher,
they have been kept. This suppose was Il
accommodate a meeting Of the Beard. and
that they forgot 10 retnrn them. II th \