Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-11-06
THE KNOXVILLE WING.
Knoxville, Tenn, November 6, 1867.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Oflcial Letter from the state Superln
tendent.
OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC, OBSTRUCTION,
NASHVILLE October %, 1867
AZ HeAAaouAo
BY BRowNLoW & HAWs.
STATE OF TENNESSEE,


OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT Pubic Ns1KUCTIoN,
NASHVILLE October %, 1867.
Sir-In communicating to you the notice of
your appointment 20 County Superintendent of
Public Instruction, l take the opportunity 10 adj
dress you in detail upon the work before you.
II Of great importance that you should enter at
once upon the discharge Of your duties with all en-
ergy, earnestness and prudence. Numerous letters,
as well personal representations reached me from
different portions Of the State, before the law gave
me any legal authority, and consequently before 1
could reply officially asking information in refer
ence to all the details Of Organization under the
new school law, manifesting great and gratifying
interest in the object of the law and in some cases.
not little impBtience 10 see in schools the results
Of the taxes already paid.
The gain Of ignorance and Of vice, through the
interruption of educatona linstrumentalities during
the war, and the tens Of thousands formerly pro-
hiblted the advantage Of schools, just now crying
aloud for knowledge of letters, unto in suggest
ing considerations, rendering it most important
that there should be unnecessary delay in organ-
ling the schools in every district in the State Spe-
cial responsibilities are imposed upon yeu by the
terms Of the law. These have been increased by
the delay Of organization. II the acts of March 5,
1867, under which the. schools are now 10 be con-
ducted had been fully executed up 70 this time you
should DO able 70 report 10 this Office, forthwith at
least:
LIST. That on the first Saturday in June, at the
usual voting place in each Civil District Board
Of three School Directors elected fer each sub
district.
3D. That the records of that election were proper
y certified TO the Directors chosen, for preservation
Sd. That these Directors, duly qualified and or
ganized by electing clerk, proceeded in the dis
charge Of every duty.
18th. That the Clerks so elected have organized,
required, as the Board of Directors for the Civil
District and met at least in regular session, the
"Hrst Monday of September
9Th. That "the Director in each sub-dstrict,"
between the first and third Mondays in May took
ian enumerationo of all the white and colored youths
between the ages Of six and twenty years." and
ported as per section Z.
From some counties portion of Ethese facts can
be reported; from others, none The organization
Of Boards of Directors and the taking Of the schO-
astic population, are essential TO the execution of
the law. Lack Of information has been largely the
Of these omissions. The progress Of time has
rendered compliance with the law, according TO the
special dates, impossible but the object and spirit
Of the law remain. The undischarged obligations
are still binding The great pubic good to be ac-
complished, demands tbet every obstacle should be
overcome in meeting these obligations. The spirit
Of the law not only implies a correction of these
omissions but the terms Of the law provide for that
correction specifically in part It requires the
State Superintendent 20 devote his time to the care
and improvement of common schools, and the pro-
motion OF the general interests of the education OF
the State"
This Office is made the medium of communicating
the information necessary for the execution of the
laws relating 10 schools. The Superintendent must
not only furnish copies TO the Superintendents Of
counties, but must accompany them with appro-
pirate forms and instructions for carrying said law
into execution" Each County Superintendent re-
ceves a corresponding responsibility for his county
The County Superintendent Of Education shall
have the care of the educational interests Of the
county He shall visit frequently the sub-district
schools of the county, counsel with and encourage
Directors and teachers, that the common school
law Is properly enforced aud do all things TO pro-
mote the cause Of education in the county"
Now, therefore, in the discharge Of my duties
and for tue furtbersnce Of the discharge of yours
in bringing the execution of the law up 10 the pre-
sent time, by promoting the doing Of what has been
omitted, l most earnestly press upon your immedi
ate attention and prompt compliance with its spirit
and rs far as possible with its terms; and do there
foro instruct you TO convey to each civil district
and 20 each sub-distrct, as far as known in YOU
county copies Of the law (it would be we'll if YOU
should do this in person. calling special attention
l. To section 4 of the School Act of March 9Th
1899, and furtherng, by every means in your con
troll, the organization according 10 its provisions
The best men, who will do most, without cOmpen
sation for the education Of the people, are neede
as Directors The manner Of caring for the record
Of their election and the manner of their qualities
ton as well as Of their organization, should De "a
same as if they had been elected in June Shout
there exist any doubt in regard TO tho boundaries
sub-distrcts YOU should cali attention TO section
which provides that "every organized civil dlstrlc
shall compose but one school district Tor oil purpo
ses connected with the general interests OF educs
ton and further that fthe several districts whic
now are or may be hereafter established, shall ,
regarded as sub-districts." The old school dlstri'
here recognized as has been understood, was a.
cording 70 section 9sl of the Code, civil dlstric
unless the Commissioner "laid OFF, the county dl
ferently These Commissioners were required
furnish pan of the district or districts, altered
created, 20 the County Court Clerk, "to be regi
tered in his book IT. on application to the Cler
Of the County Court, no information can be obtsir
cd upon any such subdivision OF the civil district
nor authentic information from any other sourc
then, according 70 the terms Of the Act OF Mare
5h and of the Code the civil district must be trea
ed as a sub. district in organizing Board Of Dlre'
tors You will observe, also section provide
where there is but one subschool IN any civil on
tricl Of the State the Directors thereof shall di
charge the duties conferred on the civil distfi
Board Of Education, until such time as Nv
or more sub-district schools are organized; that
# any civil district was divided, as proven by u
Code into sub-dstricts each subdistrict is 20 be
gtaized as provided in section ( and If civil dl
trc has not been 50 divided, then IL Is 10 be org
ni-ed 81 in the case OF a sub-district. Each o.
school district whether its territory is embraced
or more civil districts, is TO be regarded as
tuh-dis,rict" The organization Of the Boards
Directors completed you viii call attention.
II. To the duty of each Board 20 take an enum
ration Of ssthe scholastic population eolorod al
white male and female, between the ages OF SIX al
YOU should give the names Of each enc OF the sen
lastc population. These reports you will conso
date and forward here required. Section z pr
vides: In case Of omission, by the proper sub-di
trict officers 20 take this enumeration az The desi
mated date that st shall be the duty OF the Gle
Of the Board Of Education for the civil district
employ competent person % do the same, and q
low reasonable compensation for his services p
There having been no directors in the sub-distri
there can, of course be civil action taken for
omission Of this season. suggested in that seciS
II any civil district fails TO organize, and there
therefore, no Clerk Of tho Board Of Education 10
this case Is presented for which there Is no s
cine provision in the law; but the necessity for
enumeration remains. The law, moreover, is
perAtive, and fixes the penalty Section 40 provi
that "Any school district, city, incorporated 70
or village, which shall have failed 70 make and
turn the scholastic enumeration required by
act shall not be entitled 70 receive any portion
the Common School Fund" The absence Of
enumeration Of scholastic population in sin
civil district will in the first place. deprive
children Of that district Of all benefits from
school fund and, second, will interfere with
distribution Of that fund throughout the State
every county To you alone, this Office looks
rectly for the report Of the scholastic population
Il il 70 be most earnestly hoped that no civil (
triet win, by falling 20 organize create deran
merit 50 serious. Should any one fall your wisd
may be able 10 devise means, through voluntary
iafia Of pnhlle spirited gentlemen IL tho county,