Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-04

I
! SCHOOLS or NAsHvILLE.-Editors Union and
American: I propose to lay before your readers
brief outline history Of the public schools of our
city. In 1919. Mr.. ALFRED HUME. an honored and
highly accomplished teacher Of this city for many
years. wrote for one more of the city papers. a
series Of articles urging upon the attention of the
people the Importance and feasibility Of public or
/ FREE schools for the city. The following year the
| Board Of Alderman being well disposed to his
views. sent him on mission OfinspectiOn through
/ the Northern and Eastern States, to look into
their school systems. and to report n plan Of or
! ganizng and putting in operation a system Of
/ free schools in the city lie returned in the lat
/ ter part Of the summer Of 1850, made an able and
| elaborate report, which eminently satisfae-
| tory. The work was commenced. but progressed
slowly. and it several years before the schools
/ were opened in the Hume Building" the ele-
| CANT structure at the corner of Of Broad and
/ Spruce streets. bearing the worthy name Of the
| true founder Of the system in Nashville. UnfoT-
tunately he died before realizing his hopes and
frution Of his labors-having died universally la
mented in 1859.
In the meahtime, in the year 1919, charter had
been obtained for the town Of South Nashville
which comprised all that territory now covered
by the eth and Sth Wards Of the city and had been
erected in 1880 into the organized municipal cor
poration Of South Nashville-with a separate
Postofice. n Mayor of its own and Board of
Aldermen. One Of the irst subjects engaging the
attention of this thriving and energetic young
corporation was that Of free popular education.
They went vigorously TO work. outstripped the
old corporation. and got their schools in opera
ton some three years in advance of the city of
of Nashville-as the following resume of events
will show:
A committee was appointed by the Board of
South Nashville Jan. l, 1851. consisting Of DIR. J.
IL. McEwEN. DIR. c. A. BRoDIE and C. II. CoxGER,
Esq. to inquire into the feasibility Of establish
ing a system Of free schools. the benefits of
which were 10 be extended to all white chill
dren living in the town Of South Nashville,
between the ages Of six and eighteen years. This
committee went earnestly and theoretically 10
work in the prosecution of their duties, and du-
ring the same year secured by subscription the
sum Of lsl0 for the purpose Of erecting a suitable
building
They were very much encouraged in the per-
fomance of their Iabors by several citizens offer
ing TO give lot Of ground upon Which to erect
said building
The proposition Of JoHN TRMBLE, Esq. to give
a lotion the corner Of Market and Franklin streets
ha ANNtpteNt anu NulAhE AAN year inc
ing. now known as the Trimble Building. was
erected. The school established thereon was first
known as the South Nashville Institute. which
building was of sufficient capacity to aeoommo-
date 200 pupils
The first bill for the establishment of Free
Schools in South Nashville was introduced by DIR.
J. II. EVEN. February s. 1851. It provided for the
organization Of public school to be known as the
South Nashville Institute said school to be under
the control Of Board Of Trustees composed Of
seven persons. TO be elected annually by the
Board Of Mayor and Aldermen. on the LIST day Of
January Of each year,
A tax # one mill in the dollar was assessed on
all the taxable property to defray the expenses Of
the school.
The first permanent School Committee appoint
cd by the Board was composed Of the following
persons, viz: Or. c. X. WINSTON, DIR. J. H.
McEwEx. and c. S. Macy. Esq.
The following are the names Of the first Board
Of Trustees, via Judge WEST II. IuNPHREY. DR..
JNo. d. LNnsLEY. Or. c. A. BRoDIE, b. WINSTON.
c. II. CoNGER GEo. W. LINCOLN, and w. L.
Nance, Esqrs
The School was first opened for the reception Of
pupils, on the first Monday in August 1851, under
the supervision of Prof J. G. Pillows. as Prin-
cipal. with two assistants. The school was in
augurated with appropriate ceremonies. about
two hundred pupils being admit ed during the
first session. 1t was conducted upon the plan Of
two sessions day, instead Of one as at present
in our city schools. The system. though in some
respects defective the best school Of the kind
that had been previously established in Tennes-
see, and on that account Deserve prominent
place in the history Of public schools in our
State.
During the second year the number Of pupils so
increased. that il became necessary to employ an
additional teacher. and before the close of the
third year. such had been the increase that ad-
ditional school accommodations became neces-
ssry. Tomcet this want the basement Of the
Prmitis Baptist Church was rented aud branch
school established, with Rev. W. n. CHAUDRrN as
tcac her The humber Of pupils in attendance at
this time was abouttwo hundred and fifty.
Thew schools were IN the main wen conducted
and resulted in great good 20 The people Of South
Nashville Among those who fnora prominent
and active part in organizing 1ying them
on. the names ofCol W. " n lssAo PAUL.
JouN BURKE. G. W. NASoE JAcoD MILLmoN,
Huen CaRnoIl, W. II. WILKINSON. and JAMS
N. MrRRuI. Esqs ought not 10 be forgotten.
During the year 1853 the subject Of uniting the
town Of South Nashville with the city Of Nash
willie was taken into consideration by the auhori-
ties Of the latter. and after considerable negotia-
iious. resulted in the union Of the two corpora
tions under one city government. By this means
the South Nashville schools we're transferred to
the original city. and became part Of our present
admirable system Of public schools,
Thus ends brief and historical sketch Of the
South Nashville Institute. and althoueh il may
seem a small beginning it. together with the
names Of its worthy founders. deserve. in the es-
tiiaaiion of the writer. prominent place IN the
history Of schools in Tennessee. from the fact, il
for no otbcr reason that It was the first school Of
the kind established in the State I propose At
some future time 70 say something about the
present city schools. TEAcHER.
A ,r.r, - - w., q, e,as,r,r,v,-- So,