The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1869-09-11
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THE FREE SCHOOL QUESTION
HIcKMAN, KY, Sept. 10, 1869

Mr.. EDITOR In your issue of Sept
ember 4th, appears several communiea-
tons rejecting upon the action of the
City Council of Hickman, and upon the
course of individual members. of the
same, in reference to the employment Of
teachers in our free school, which some
may consider demands an explanation
from US. The personal part of those
communications we propose 10 pass un-
noticed and to state plainly the grounds
upon which the Council justified its ae-
ton.
The common school law of the State.
and of the city of Hickman, contemplate
/ the benefit of all children between the
ages of six and twenty, and for this pur-
pose the said school tax is levied and col
lected. To best accomplish these pur-
poses the Council undertook the duty of
procuring competent teachers On the
18th OF August, as published, the COua-
ell created a committee to assist them in
this duty. The Council considered this
special committee upon the same footing
as all other committees that is, bound to
report its action, for ratification or re-
lection, to the Council. We had no idea
that the committees action was to be
considered final, especially when VIZ
knew our City Charter did not permit US
to confer such authority upon commit
tee. The State Legislature vested an
thority in the City Council, and not =,
committee of its creation. nor In d [
individual member, however s JsEs a,riaasf
et----ii as..:---.-..ss MY w y
then had neither desire or authority TO
confer such power upon the committee
as claimed, and we are advised that the
( idea announced is utterly subversive of
| parliamentary law and without precedent
/ in the history OF legislative bodies
| When, therefore, the committee made
! their report to the Council, we thought
/ it expressly for our ratification or re
lection. We should have been glad to
have been able, if our Judgment would
! have permitted, to have ratified in full
the committee action. Our feeling and
good will for all concerned inclined US TO
this course. But we had duty perform
| We felt satisfied the action of the com
mittee would not answer the purposes
of the law, and that by il many boys
coming within the age to be benefited,
would be virtually excluded from school.
The parents of these boys paid taxes as
we'll as the parents of the girls, and We
| felt We could not act so unjustly. Es-
pecially, when the opportunity was be
fore US of employing teacher or teachers
under whom boys and girls, of all ages,
could alike obtain the benefit of the tax
This is the explanation OF our action,
aud we are satisfied from canvassing the
matter with our people. that nine tenths
/ of our citizens endorse our course. The
Council acted in bad faith to no one,
/ If publication was made in the town pa
per that certain parties had been emPtoy-
cd to teach our free school, it was not by
orr authority. Ii the parties themselves
understood their employment as Jiaat it
was not FROM our representation. We
regret the misunderstanding, but refer
the censure to him or them who assumed
such absolute authority. With the ut
most respect for all, we submit the above
in justification Of our action, assuring
the public that we shall adhere to the
position assumed
Respectfully,
n P. HARNESS.