Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-22

We find in the Banner of yesterday
card from the instructors of the Montgomery
Bell Academy, relative to our public
shoots in reply to an accusation against
them by one of the City Board Of Educa-
ton as reported in the Banner Of Sunday
The case is so pregnant with practical,
good sense that we cannot refrain from ex-
tracing it from it. The instructors of the
Montgomery Bell, all of whom we believe
have been teachers in our public schools,
say:
Collectively, as active members of the
Faculty of the Montgomery Bell Academy,
and as individuals seyerally interested in
the present and future development Of the
educational interests Of the city, we take
this means of assuring that none would
more earnestly deprecate or more sincerely
deplore than we, any such action in regard
to the High School or any department Of
the public schools, and this for two rea-
sons:
First, our own discipline, grading and
general school management are very
greatly assisted by the neighborhoOd OF a
thorough, well graded system of public
education in all departments, from the pri-
mary to the high schools.
Secondly, the policy of any Board OF
| Trustees or instructors of an institution like
| ours. would be short-sighted and narrow
| indeed, if it hoped to build itself up on the
ruins of a free educational system.
| seThese selfish reasons alone, to say moth
/ ing of our interest as citizens IN the pros
perity and enlightenment of al classes
| In the city, induce us to sincerely believe
that the suspension of the city schools
would be, in all respects, a public calamity,
| one to be avoided by all possible means,
We can but concur in the opinion that
f'the suspension of the city schools would
be in all respects a pubic clkaDatty, one to be
avoided by all possible means Nor can we
see the necessity for the suspension. The tax
levied for school purposes Is specific tax,
and cannot be appropriated for any other
than the purpose specified. The tax has
been levied for the scholastic year ending
| the first of next July. If there are abuses
in the system, let them be corrected. Ii
there are wards which pay no taxes
let that difficulty be properly adjusted
At any rate keep the schools in operation
Have the Mayor and Boards of Alder
| men and Council the right to suspend the
| schools? The law says that the Board Of
| Education is required ''tO file with the
Mayor a statement of the amount Of
money, as nearly as can be estimated
which will be required for the maintenance
Of the public schools for the succeeding
scholastic year, beginning July l; thai
when the lists of taxes are properly made
out, sufficient per cent. shall be LEVIED
upon the assessment to provide schOo
, fund for the twelve months beginning july
1, in the amount required by the othcla
statement of the President of the Board o.
Education, which levy shall be paid in cash
that it shall be the duty of the Tax Col
| lector to pay over to the Secretary o
Treasurer of the Board of Education, a
said Board may direct, such sums as h,
may collect belonging to said school fund
, at such times as he settles with the Clt
! Treasurer, ETC.; that the money thus pau
q over shall be subject to the direct manage
ment and control Of the Board Of Educa
ton, subject to such restraints of oheckln
and cOuntersigning of checks as may b
considered expedient by them.
We cannot see what power the Mayor
Aldermen and COuncilmen have under thu
], law to suspend the schools before the e1
Z piration of the scholastic year. The Who'll
4 subject, it appears to us, is with the Boar
4