Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-18
For the Patriot
The Free Schools OF Nashville.

No. 3.
How admirable is the Republican sim
plicity of The following organization of a
school for the people: The people commits
sion Mayor and Aldermen to attend to the
finances of the institution. They, the peo-
pie. commission Board of education to at
tend to all matters pertaining to it, as an
educational institution. 10 employ, inspect.
fix the sdlarirs of teachers select bpokS. &c
As an assistant cO-laborer in the teaching -
they elect Superintendent, with ''daiit S
clearly Defined" lie is daily to examine
the pupils" confer and .-advise with al d
make any suggestions to- teachers. He is
the ready assist ant and pleasant companion
OF the teachers. He has duty to perform,
but no power to domneef over, or "sus-
nend teachers and thereby disgrace them.
The teacher is thus allowed an opportunity
to exercise that degree of independents; and
s,l-respect with which no qualified telch-
eT conlI, without decent respect for himself
b. willing 10 retain his situation. The Su-
perintendent i of course expected to be a
man OF high toned, honorable pIiiIcip es, a
gentleman in his manners, and posse SGD of
thorough and varied scholarship. 5 per-
intendent occupying the position here iudi
Gated. has not tue least inducemrnt 10 un-
f.Iithtulness, or the least chance for di>hOn-
cSiy- But transfer the powers OF the BOal d
TO Il Sup TIntrndent, TO correspond with,
send for. Inspect, employ. and six the grade
id salaries of teachers vino ''shaii obey
the instructions of the sup rrinIend mt" to
suspend tracherS," 10 s-icct bouks, tn cor
respond with and purchase from publisher ,
10 make repairs. &c, and a wide gate l.
Opened Tor Injustice, and strong induce
ments TO promote his own interest ~ sacri-
ncihg the institution at every TT p. while
there l. little chance OF lection; aud az
grieved parents. children, and teachers have
little chance Tor redress.
However free the Institution Nasty Q
my have been from ANY IainI uT The kin.
prIdeuc. dictates that danger should b.
guuIded against.
Mr.. Hume ia his report says, that in Bo-
t n tn" Board elected 10y TIL p .oplc, has the
power OF electlnS teachers, liking their sala-
RES, adopting the course al studies TO be
pursued in each division Of the schools. pre-
-cribing the text books t. be used oi ex
aiming the pupiis quarterly, and publishing
the result OF that examination. They are
iiso empowered to d isn.ss teachers hat are
fund to be incompetent, or n-glecifui 4
tneir duties, or guilty of cruelty TO pupil.
1t Is made their duty to have a general care
of The buildings, recommend 10 The Alder
men and Common Council of the CITY, To
make appropriations tor repairs, for addition
al apparatus, or for new buildings. In fine,
the buildings are entirely und their con-
trOl, aud everything connected with tn. Sc
ms itutions, except they have no power TO
appropriate any mo- e,s from the public
treasures. TINS belongs exciuSiv, l. TO the
corporate authorities, as il Oug ht of right TO
dUu
Again, he recommends Board 'electcd b.
10y the p Ople, hos dny il shall be- to al
tend To the entire school Interest. having all
powers in the matter, save in the appropria-
lions Of money. WHAT then Is the duty of a
Superintendent? LIT is made his duty daily
to examine The pupils of the schools, confer
with teachers, advise them in rcfFence tD
their mode of teaching, aud make lazy sug
gestions to them that ne may deem beneficial
to teachers and pupils" Unless h. per-
forms these duties, his office is an expensive
s'necure,, OT at l. asst mere clerk Tor The
Board. Yet parents carefully inquire of their
children, whether any such daily. or even
monthly. examinations are mad, and whcih-
hen made, thy are sufficiently thorough 10
be OF any practical use. Are they, like those
in the New York and other schools, contiB-
uCd for an hour or more on a single branch?
Without, this they are of little use. Il New
York THE character aud qualifications of
the teachers of every grade, the mode in
which their du les are performed. the Orde!
aud discipline of the several classes and
schools, the Attendance of pupils, and their
entire cOuse of instruction, from the lowest
70 m Of the primary schools to the graduating
cl as OF the free Academy, are subject To the
co Isiant and daily overs ght of two Commits
sjouers, eight Trustees, two Inspectors in each
Ward, and 10 tn, periodical visitation and
examination Of the Superintendent and his
assistants. Uniformity aud efficiency are
thus secur'd In the pract cal operation OF the
s'stem.' Even il the country schools Of the
NJrlhern States the people elect a Board OF
Trustee, :, To manage the mon matters. and
Al Board Il Inspectors of teachers aud schools
not of money matters, AID Superintendent
,I not fnauces. hut education.
Again. Mr. Hume say-, "Beware how you
begin The system BE cure you hecin tight.
Spare 40 pains or cXpens /" put your sch oil.
Ga proper basis at iir>t e nplOy the yer,
l.. 81 teacher; adopt a liberal plan OF e,luca-
ton; pass rigid rules for the government ol
these schuul-; enforce strict discipline; d.
mInd high degree Of scholarship. and un-
der 40 circumstances permit any one 10 pass from
az iI}erioT 10 a saYTor class El,fI perfectly pre-
pared 10 do so. | C ru-d.r this point oue of
The most important connected With the sys
tenn. The very thorough scholarship az
quirrd at these schouls j. the only pas pet
u public favor; aud il they fail in this ital
particular. the whole system il destroyed. 1
notice IL some of the cities where schools ex-
it. il is not a very enu,ual thing for one half
81 those applying for adm s-iou into a High
School To be Tejected; and let ID be remem-
bved that r. jection j. not upon The ground
Of iguOr1uc- If the science required, but
that those apply ing are not perfectly famil-
lar with them, and consequently they would
not be able 10 perform the work reqnir d in
the High School. Thyre II a very wide diff
ference between being able. with great d.iii-
Guilty. To- do q thing and doing il with "a e
and CELEBRITY. All men who are p.aCtic
teachers, are aware of this, and hoW much a
pupils advancement in kuowltdg. i r. ar :
ed tor want Of perfect acquaintance ~
the principles of The sehienc- he may be
studying
How different these views from those al pit
ed IN this city, where the pupil may be pass
e into the High School FOR speeirl r,rsoHs
5 atsfac.0Ty 10 tie SapsriatsadeaL What Il e
chance Tor unlimited favoritism WHAT n
iine chance 10 get into the go erac,s OF
s ,iue rich man. by slipping in his unqualified
: "a. much - the lite long injnry Of The son,
while the iath,rl' 30 absorbed in bus ness
pursuits as not IL examine for himself aud |
fad that his son is shameiuily d fici-nt TIA |
th- common English brAnche-. unhe-isa- /
tngly Hss.rt that there : a shameful d ficiea- |
cy ia eienle AIRY know ls-dge oi reading grau-
mer. geography and arithmetic la The pupils |
Of Ia, Free Schools of this city; and VI nol |
Tor want II natural ability. | could give |
many tested Instances oft, were il necessary. |
.hall perhaps De told that THE is mere a.
,srtion. 81 Il is;bIt pronose Ia have. som
lone NIh this satject.
(. | shall next 10. K 1T the ~Raies for tie /
government Of Common Sch9oi-.'
A