Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-01-01
CITY FREE SCHOOLS.
Report of the special Committee.

The following is the report of the Special
Committee appointed by the Mayor to consider
the practicability Of establishing system of
free schools in this city. The report was adopt
ed on Friday night at the meeting of the Board
To his Honor, the Mayor, o1'd the Members Of
the Common CoWncI
GESTLEMEN-The subject submitted for our
consideration, while not fully Investigated, has
received such attention as we have been able to
give it, since our appointment, and while we
have no doubt as to our general conclusions, the
special measures we recommend require the
careful considerations cf this body.
Few can be found who deny the beneficial
results of healthy common school system, and
those few locate many of their reasons in the
machinery and management of former efforts
in this direction. rather than in the nature of
the system itself It may be well argued, that
the parent should educate his own children, in
which case, an intelligent son would be good
citizen, but in case the parent does or cannot
educate ought the goyernmentto to allow bad cltl-
zen to grow up? 1t cannot be denied that most
of our taxes are imposed for the purpose of con-
and we can perceive no well-founded reason
why it is not as much public duty to train up
good citizens. This labor might well be done
by our State or by our county, but as they do
not fully occupy the field it cen cost no more
and will not be worse done if we do it ourselves,
and besides, many of the childred are new un-
provided for.
The exercises of such athority by this body
would have to be authorized by the qualified
voters of the city, at special election to be
held for that purpose and the successful work
ing of the system, if authorized, would, in its
beginning, meet many obstacles, which could
only be overcome by much faithful labor. But
after viewing the whole held.oyeri we conclude to
report favorably upon the question submitted,
and to recommend q beginning to be made at
once.
The details which appear most practicable to
us are as follows
Let the city be carefully canvasscd by competent
and faithful person ascertain the number of children
from seven to sixteen years Of age inclusive noting
his returns the hs Tfr a NAV m wbea be
mon necessary for full knowledge OF the material TO
be operated upon This labor would cost put smali
asu special election be held the 21st day of
Jannsry ISL to authorize the levying and collection
IA !a4 be M order of election at which those voters IA
Nnnr - sucL system shall have written printed upon
their ballots, Schools" and those opposing, No
Sebool by which the sense of the Qualified voters OF
| tho citv m ay be ascertained on this question.
Ifsaid authority should be voted, when the assess
ments arc made for 1871 let there be assessment
ses Wh;Iethis is so small as to be almost insignificant
Vet we hone it would prepare means to supply about
ten city schools for ten months IN the The amount
realised by the tax would be about zoo and would
entitlc US as assured to 81 600 from the Pea
| bodv Fund which is being distributed among the
Southern cities. The State assessment for common
schools, which nienI oe Ofc[ ueo
city common schools viii realize about $500, making
in all about s. 600 for that purpose. -.
T. Ifthe said tax be legally authorized. let the city
schools immediately begin, under regulatlens by spc
cal committee of this body, or Board oi Edueatlon
the whole TO be supervised by this body without r
cate machinery or further expense. -,
Hoping that the main question may 90 faYoraclIy
received and that the details reported above may DC
adopted or improved, We remain.
Very respectfully.
w. A. HENDERSON,
j. A. RAyL,
Jos. r. MITCHELL,
az Committee,