Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-12-21
WILL OUR COUNTY COURT PR0vBE TOR
THE CHILDREN

I
/ We are decidedly in favor of a system o
| common schools, TO be inaugurated and
fostcred by the state. We think this the
only system through which perfect or
ganization can be expected The people
will not he satisfied 1--WE mean the thinking
portion of thcm,) with anything short oi
this. But we must confess that the pros
poet for free schools under such system
is, for the present, by no means cncourag-
ing. This being so, we must look out for
the next best thing on the subject
BY an act of the Legislature, passed last
summer, County Courts are empowered tc
levy tax for the support of common
schools. Notwithstanding the law is very
defective, it is our only hope for the pres
cnt, and we should 80 to work and make
the most of ii. One of the objections to
the present system, if system it may be
called is its want Of organization. We
have some hope that the law may be so
changed by the Legislature now in session
as to provide for county superintendent,
thus giving the schools head to whom
they can look.
We commend the matter to the favor
able consideration of our County Court at
its next quarterly term. As the law now
stands, the responsibility rests with the
Justices composing the Court. 1t is Il
weighty responsibility. Hundreds Of poor
children throughout the county are with
out the benefits of education. They are
growing up in ignorance and its twin-sis-
ter-vicc Can nothing be done to anchor
late their Condition? Must we give them
over to the hard fate to which they now
seem doomed
These are pertinent questions. Men who
are placed under favorable circumstances
are responsible for the education of those
more unfortunate. The County Court at
its next session should levy a tax which
would insure free schools for at least five
months in the year We do not mean that
this would meet the public requirements,
but it would be good beginning. The
tax should be levied and the schools put in
operation as soon as possible. After the
tax is levied the Court should then look
out for some competent person, selected by
reason of his superior qualifications, and
not from personal or political favoritism,
who shall have charge of the matter, and
see that the funds are judiciousiy cXpend-
ed. Let no one he employed to teach the
schools, except such as are competent. If
this is done, we will soon have schools ten
months in the year. If the counties or
ganizc under this system, and the question
is constantly agitated, as it should be, our
Lawmakers will soon perceive the n1cessi-
ty of taking action, and we will have Il
thorough system Of education, which will
he the pride of the State, as we'll as a sure
foundation for the requirement of popula-
ton and wealth. Tennessee is destined
yet to occupy the position which nature
has assigned her in the constellation of
States but before she cam DO it, we must
educate the people.
Then let US make the most of what we
have. We must repair rs best we may the
injuries inflicted on helpless children
through partisan blindness, and the only
way we can hope to do it is through coun-
ties and municipal corporations. Again
we earnestly commend this subject to the
attention of our County Court
We are decidedly in favor of levyimg II
tax in the corporation of Knoxville, which,
under iudicious management, will keep up
schools for ten months in the year, provi-
ding the means for liberal education to
every child in the city, whether white or
black. We look upon it as being absolute
ly diSgraccfIl to our city, that there are so
many children within its limits who are
deprived OF the privilege Of attending
schools.