Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-08-18
Common School Districts
ofLincOln County.

The following reflections were
suggested from overhearing con.
versation between two School COM
missioners; but not of Lincoln
county-Mr. A. met with Mr.. B.
and enquired, "what about start
ing our public schools" Mr.. B.
"well, l don't know. Have you
seen Mr.. c., the other commission
er p Mr.. A. "No; but I was
thinking as we are ready in my
end Of the district, and Mr.. Bray
is wanting a school, that we would
get together and employ him"
B. Mr.. Bray! I don't know him
He is a new man in these parts ;
is he not? 2" A. swell, yes, rath-
er." B. 81 thought Mr.. Jones
wanted the school" GA. He does
want it, and there are two
others that want it; but I want
Mr.. Bray to get it. Now, if you
will go for my man, / will engage
to go for any man you want in
your beat" Mr.. B. "But what if
Mr.. G. should object2" A. "Well
let him object if he wants to.
You know we can overrasle him
But / will guarantee Mr.. c. is all
right; for ! told him some time
ago, to go ahead and employ any
teacher he wanted in his end, and
l would go for him. 1t would be
ungrateful in him to refuse to sup.
port my man now, you know"
l did not hear Mr.. BIS. reply ;
nor do / know whether Mr.. Bray
was employed or not but / pre-
sumo he was.
Refections.-Was not the. en-
te'stof the act creating three school
commissioners tor each district,
defeated in this, and in all similar
cases 2
Would not the public interest
be better subserved, by having the
school districts laid off smaller,
and more compactly; SO that
each commissioner should feel a
direct educational interest in his
own district.
Lincoln county covers surface
sufficiently large, to give to each
Of the % civil districts an area of
from "a to So square miles; say
35 square miles on an average to
each. Under our present system,
the school commissioners are re-
quired to travel over this vast ex-
tent, once every year in taking
the scholastic list. They must en-
ploy teachers and they are ex-
pected to visit the various schools,
and to superintend the educational
interests of their respective DIST lets
generally. And yet, all this SER
vice, how burdensome soever il
may be, is claimed at their hands
without the least compensation.
Who can wonder then, at the in
difference manifested by many
commissioners? l submit to the
enlightened judgment of all con.
cerned, if it would not be infinitely
better, to have the county laid off
into districts especially for school
purposes. Surely the Legislature
never intended to make the civil
districts of the county, permanent
school districts. If so, why pass
the following act? Art ". Sec.
98l. "The Justices, or Civil Dis.
tricts shall continue to be School
Districts but the County Courts,
two-thirds of the Justices being
present, and majority of said
two-thirds concurring, may ap-
point three Commissioners to Law
off the County into School Dis
tricts." Sec. 9S3. "The Districts
shall be so laid off as to be of con-
venient size for the keeping of
one school in each, and so as to
admit OF a school house as near
as possible to the centre of the pop
ulation." These sections of the
Code are still in force, having nev-
er been repealed.
l am not one of those who think
that public schools can accomplish
all that is necessary in the educa-
ton of our children.
But as we have such an institu-
ton, one not only established, but
also sustained by law, let's make
the most of it we can. The SOON
er therefore we move in the mat.
ter the better. The longer we de-
l. 4