Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-03

tendent has also attended to the pnr-
chase Of the books, instruments, ink,
chalk, &c which the Board has ordered
fsom the North In all such cases, how
ever, a list Of the ar icles is first made
out ~ the Boarl AID the prices usually
liked before hand. In all purchases made
by the superintendent, the accounts are
exam ned by the Board before being al
lowed. These matters are attended to
without extra charge by the Superintend-
ent; do no. interfere with his other duties
and as they are not of sufficient ma nitnde
10 Justify the employment of a person
under salary, to perform them, your
committee approve of the course pursued
by the Borrd of Education in this regard
Your committee will here add that they
heartily commend the zeal. patience and
faithfulness with which these extra-offi-
eial duties have been performed by the
Superintendent; Mr. Pearl.
lie committee have found no evidence
of extravagancei ia the purchases made by
the Board of Education for the public
schools. On the contrary, they are of
opinion that the Board have invariably
guarded the interests of the corporation
and of parents with extreme care. The
interest that they have manifested in this
matter, is deserving of great praise. The
particular instances OF alleged extrava-
gance, which have been brought TO t he
notice of the committee, are of too tri-
vial d character to merit a separate ex-
planati IN of the several charges.
As to the complaint that pupils are ad-
mi.ted to the schools who are not entitled
by law to attend them, the committee
have had some difficulty in arriving at the
facts as fully as desired. The rule on
this subject is that no pupil is entitled to
admission, whose parent or guardian does
not reside within the corporation limits of
the city. In the large number of chill
dren who attend the schools, it is a matter
or some difficulty to guard against the
violation OF this rule in all cases. The
committee are satisfied that the rule has
sometimes been violated, but to what ex--
tent they have not been able 20 ascertain.
/ arenGs sometimes, living in the corpo-
ration at the beginning of the session,
start their children and afterwards move
outside the limits and continue to send o
the Schools, without the removal being
made known to the teachers. 40 doubt
pupils have at times been en- cred,
who had no right from the beginning TO
attend the scho Is, their admission Icing
affected either by desl.n on the part of
pa, ents or from Ignorance "a To the law
on the subject. Inc Board II Educ~ulo.
have always Instructed the lea les to
guard as strictly as poos Die again u sucn
cases. The superintendent has INFORM
Ed the committee that he has in few
instances admitted pupils WIN did not
reside in the corporation, His state
ment to The committee was that at the
earnest and repeated solicitations of
parents and sometimes the children
themselves, his sympathies have at times
been SO enlisted that he has consented TO
the admission of pupils who were not en-
titled under the law. He further states
that the children thus admitted by him
would not exceed twelve In number since
the Schools were organized, that they
were either orphans or children of parents
who professed to be unable to educate
them in any other way either from want
of means or want of other schools; and
finally that these admissions have not
been made when the schools were there
by incommoded In the case of Mr.. Bar
rvs child who was admitted to the
schools and which was published recent
ly in the Patriot, both the nuperintend-
ent and Mr. Barry were aware that the
child could not legally become pupil in
the School us its patent resided outside
the limits of the corporation.
The committee are of opinion that the
rule as to the admission of pupils should
be strictly and universally enforced and
that no exception should ever be made
without the express consent of the City
Council, very urgent solicitations are fire.
quently made in this matter and it often
seems very hard case, strictly to enforce
the law. And although the committee
are convinced that the Superintendent in
admitting such pupils, was actuated
alone by motives of kindness and has
erred on the side Of humanity, yet they
disapprove his action in this matter, and
again urge rigid adherence to the law on
the subject.
The Superintendent is no doubt some
times i'm posed upon in regard to the resi-
dence of children and the committee rec
ommend that it be made the duty of the
teachers to inform themselves as to the
limits ofthe corporation, residence of the
upils, and immedia ely rerort the name
of every one Illegally in the Schools
They also recommend the passage of an
act by he CRY Council, making the vio-
lation of the law upon this subject by pa
rents or others q Enable offence
The committee recommend that au-
thors, booksellers and advocates of new
systems of instruction shall not be allow
ed to visit the schools or teachers during
school hours for the purpose of exhibit
ing or advertising their intellectual
wares.
In relation to the compensation of
male and female teachers, the committee
are of opinion that their salaries should
be equalized, as far as possible. They
can see no good reason why female
should receive less pay for the same SER
vices and talents than male, although
the custom is of almost universal prevail
ence
Before closing the report, the commit
tee beg leave to refer to the Board of
These gentlemen receive no
for their services; their
position is one of great responsible lily,
requiring in an eminent degree, the ex-
ercise of patience, diligence, impartiality
and intelligence. In the opinion of the
committee they have performed the
duties faithfully and well. and In man.
ner that entities them to the gratitude of !
the citizens of Nashville.
All of which is espectfully submitted. |
J. P. COLEMAN, Chm.