Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-12
THE CITY.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Memorial from Alderman Patterson
Protest against Suspension.

At an adjourned meeting of the CITY
Council on Friday night, Alderman Patter-
son presented the subjoined memorial OF
protest against the suspension of the Public
Schools, a subject that is creating much
interest at this time: --s
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
| Board of Aldermen Some time ago when
| the proposition to close the public schools
of this city for the purpose Of economizing
the funds Of the city, began to be mooted
IN certain private circles and by few close
listed tax payers, it gave me no cause of
anxiety as to the safety and prosperity of
| that institution.
But when members of the City Council,
members of the Board of Aldermen, not
only discuss this question, as if to deter
mine its practicabihty, but declare them
selves in favor of it, l am not only alarmed
! for the safety of the schools, but I am over
whelmed with astonishment.
1t seems to me that this Board cannot,
that it 1oiB not, seriously entertain a propo-
sltion to close up and blot out this, by far,
the greatest and most important public in
terest Of this city.
Let US see what it involves. Let MS, if
we can, form some estimate of the mag
nitude of the interests which are involved
IN the closing of these schools
This city owns about $500, 900 worth
of school property. About 5000 or 6, 900
children are in attendance on these schools.
Now in all candor let me ask YOU what
will you do with this school property p
what will you do with the school buildings?
VIII you sell them will you rent them
ont What can you rent them for? Who
can or would use them so as TO be able to
pay the rent.
Perhaps you will allow them to stand
Idle and go to decay as monuments to the
wisdom, hberality and enlightenment of
the present generation
And then think of turning out these
5000 or 5000 children into the streets,
two-thirds of whom must inevitably grow
up IN ignorance without the aid of the pub
lie schools.
Is 1t necessary for me to seriously make an
argument before this Honorable Board and
before this enlightened public, upon the
subject OF the duty of every community to
provide education for all its scholastic
population g.?
Does any one controvert the proposition
that every government is in duty bound to
place good common school education
within the reach of all its subjects?
viii not insult your intelligence by
making such an argument.
But l am told we have not got the
money! Then, say, cut off expenses at
some other department. Let everything
IN the way of street work be abandoned,
as well as all other expenses, except such
as are Absolutely indispensable.
And then, if need be, this people will
submit to be taxed still higher, rather than
give up the advantages of public education.
feel perfectly safe in saying that this
people have always and do now paw the
school tax far more cheerfully than anv
other tax, and will continue to do so.
No one has ever complained at the school
tax, unless few misery, narrow-souled
creatures, who would not be satisfied to
pay any tax at all if they could avoid it.
Abandon these schools, and such a uni
versal cry of indignation as was never heard
before will go up from this entire pOpula-
ton.
- Abandon these schools and what will
become ofall your scheme ofimmigration ?
What would people abroad think of a city
Of the size of Nashville without public
schools?
Who would immigrate to this city, or
who that Is already here would remain,
with no schools to send his children to!
Abandon your schools, and you will drive
one-fourth at least of your best population
beyond the limits OF the city, to avoid
taxation
No other institution of your city has a
hat the influence to keep people within
the limits of the corporation that these
schools have.
No other institution does one 1.-THE of the
good IN proportion to the cost, and no
other expense is half so cheerfulIv borne
by the people.
Am | told told that every man ought to
be able to educate his own children ?
The answer is that four-ffths of them can
not and do not do 1t, and propose to deal
with things as l find them.
would not even consent, so far as ! am
concerned, to have the efficiency of the
schools impaired by too great reduction
o. salaries
Besides there are several other depart
ments that can be carried on with much |
less expense than at present, without seri-
GUS injury. And l again repeat that the
people will cheerfully pay still higher taxes,
provided the money Is spent in carrying on
the schools.
have said nothing of the immense de-
probation in the value of property, that
would Immediately follow if these schools |
should be closed.
II this Board wishes to make itself a
name that will last for all time to come-if
1t wishes to erect a monument TO It's own
memory, which shall stand forever, let its
vote be recorded in favor of abolishing the
city free schools of Nashville.
Take vote of this people and see what
the result would be. No one would vote
for the destruction of the schools except a
few, as l said before, who never would pay
any tax If they could avoid it.
The large property owner would, in a
pecUR5dIy sense. be the greatest sufferer,
for the reason that his property would de-
preciate in value ten-fold more thanit costs
him to pay his school tax.
Besides, who, that has the pride and pub
lie spirit of a Tennesseean would be will
ing for it TO go abroad that Nashville, the
proud Capital of his State, had abandoned
her public schools that she had permit
ted her magnificent school buildings, the
prOudest monuments she possesses, to go
tenantless and to stand in silence and desc
lation, where the prattlings of innocent
childhood and the voice of instruction had
been often heard
Permit me to hope, gentlemen, that this
Board will stand by and protect and defend
the public schools at all hazards.
Let me say to you Mr.. President and
gentlemen, that this city is not yet quite
bankrupt; her assets are more than sufi-
cient to pay all her just debts.
The property owned by this city amounts
in round numbers to about 81, 900, 900,
while her just debts do not exceed 81, OO0,-
600 or thereabouts
Imost sincerely hope TO hear no more
about closing the schools.
r. S. PATTERSON.
Off For the South.
The Peak family who have been enliven-
ing our people with their wonderful bell
music, having closed their entertainments