Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-27
Educational.

The almost universal interest manifested
by the people of this State upon the sub
ject of education, plainly indicates the
great importance attached to the subject
by those deeply concerned. The people
have Il right to demand of our lawmakers
| n common school system adequate to the
wants of the masses. They want q law
! that will provide thorough and efficient
system of common schools in every coun-
ty in the State. 1t will not bc saying more
! than is the truth when we say, that too
! little legislation has been had upon the
| most vital subject ever brought before a
! legislative body. 1t is not necessary at
! this enlightened day, to speak of the abso-
| lutte necessity of education to people that
! is as free as we are. 1t has passed into a
! truism that education is the main bull
wark of Republicanism - and it is further
true that nothing can more eftectually add
vance the physical and moral power of Il
nation, and promote the happiness of the
people, than intellectual and moral cul-
ture.
1t is truth that cannot be successfully
contradicted that no school system, for
the benefit of all the people, can be put in
successful operation without the superin-
tendence of thoroughly qualified super
intendent of public instruction. Without
the watchful care exercised by such an Off
titlll blltOI, IL Will DC ill ulbtl
ty to secure universal beneficial results, for
which the common school system is de-
signed.
There should also he i'm every county, or
in every Congressional District, Il county or
district superintendent to cooperate
with the State superintendent. The
county superintendent, think, is pre-
ferable.
There is another subject that has not
haan apitatn1 aS fnr 7 hoNrn pl.nrN-aI
and that is Il library for every civil district.
a well selected library of books will prove
one of the greatest blessings in advancing
mental and moral developement, not only
to the children, but also to adults. BY
this measure, all of the people, children
and parents, are brought under the good
influence of n well selected library of
books. We were n reading people before
the war, but Il door has been opened 10y
which many thousand more of our people
can enter and read without fear AS the
number of persons to be educated are in
creasing, our Legislature ought to increase
the means by which this mental fund
may be obtained If we wish to perpetu
ate our civil and religious institutions,
there is no better way than to educate all
the children i'm our nation. Give us COM
mon schools and Il circulating library of
good books, and all this will be accom-
plished
There should be in every school district
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. The
merits of this book, and its value as
school book, all will admit. 1t affords
greater facilities for learning the English
language than any other book eXtant. 1t
is in the common schools where the rising
generation are to qualify themselves to dis
charge the responsible duties of public and
pyivate life. Tax payers have the oppor
tunity of rearing AN intellectual and moral
edfice that will stand as monument of
future glory and grandeur when they
shall have passed from time to eternity.
An educated virtuous people will possess
power enough to defend and perpetuate
those institutions which will secure to eve
ry citizen of our Republic life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness"
Ina conclusion, we hope the day is not
far distant when the State of Tennessee
wiz have Il public systeEA worthy of the
high position she now occupies as one of
the States in this great andgrOwing nation.
L. +. DRAKE.
ATHENS, Tenn, July =, 1870.