Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-05-23
School COmmissiOners-Their Duties-Im.
pOrtant Election. Il, ~ .--.--.-i

4
| EDITORS CHRONICLE: On the Sd of June
next, the citizens of this county are called
upon to vote for three school commission
ers for each district. This is one of the
| most important elections, and it is neces-
sary that the public should understand the
Importance of it and appreciate the neces-
sity of electing good men, honest men,
and men qualified to fill this important
truts. 1t is not paying offiee-there is ne
pay attached to it, and the gentlemen who
will allow themselveslto become candidates
for these offices, must be men who are an
imated by patriotism, beneyolepce and
charity only. They must be men who,
owing to their social position, can COM
mand the respect and confidence of the
community. They must also be men,
whose condition and circumstan ces wi u
permit them to sacrifice their time and
labor for the benefit of our children. 1t is
noble work-truly a work in the vine
yard of the Lord. Who will offer him.
self? Who will place himself in the front
to shoulder the awful responsibility with
out any remuneration, having only the
good of the community at hearth ia't haa
In order to show the duties of these COM
missioners, i quote section 29 Of the act
passed July Z, 1870, entitled "An act to re-
organize and regulate common schools. :.
"Be 1T further Onacied, That the COM
school districts in the several counties of
the State shall constitute a Board of Edu-
cation for their respective counties, and
shall have the control and regulation of the
common schools therein, and shall deter
mine the plan thereof, and prescribe the
rules for their government.
"To admit, if requested, as members of
said County Board of Education, the mem
bers of the Boards of Education, trustees
or of ou0h cities and fnonrr,r.l
rated towns as may establish systems of
public schools for such cities or towns.
"To contract and employ teachers, &c.
ITO give advice and direction to the
teacher in regard to the government of
the school and the course of studies to be
persued therein"
1t will be seen from these extracts that
the commissioners are to regulate our
whole system of education, and hence the
necessity to have men well qualified for
that position, MEN Of sterling Integrity, of |
large views, enlightened minds, free of any
or sectarian prejudice, and men |
who are not and cannot be Influenced by |
any party creed or sect. .,-,..s.,,..-.
We have here in the city Of Knoxville |
the 1st and parts of the I'd and 18th dis |
tricts, add to this the city Board of Educa- |
ton, and the portion Of the Peabody fund |
to which we will. be entitled, we can, if |
in harmony and with a will, establish |
such a system of common schools as |
will reflect credit to our city and become |
a pride to our citizens, and the men who
come forward and lend their energies to- |
wards establishing that system, will build |
themselves monument in the hearts of |
our people, a monument Of greater worth |
than the bronze statue of mighty con-
querer, and their names will live forever |
in the hearts of those thousands of chill |
dren who will drink from the fountain of
knowledge which will flow from the COM
bined efforts of these commissioners. Is
there prouder mission than that? You
speak about establishing missions to do
good. Here at home we have an import
ant mission to perform, and the people are
called upon 10 elect the commissioners.
May they realize the Importance of that
election We owe it to the State, we owe
it to the country, we owe it to society, we
owe it to our families, we owe it to our
children to go to the polls and elect good
and trUsty men to superintend our schools.
# COSPoMoPoLTTAN.