Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-19
Our Schools.

Our Schools.
EDITORS CHRONICLE The subject of
education is broad one, and of never fail
ing interest to those who have the cause of
humanity and the advancement of the ma
. on at heart, and the expression of this
interest by many, must, naturally increase
Is popularity, and give encouragement to
hose who have been working so earnestly
the good cause. A single withe may be
weak and of little effect by itself, but if
added to a bundle of the same it materially
strengthens il.
do not altogether unite with Pope in
his well known lines,
"a little learning is a dangerous thing,
Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring"
1t is well, it is glorious, to "drink deep"
It the fountain of learning, which has the
pleasant property of some of our mineral
springs here in East Tennessee-ene drink
,uffices but short time, when we thirst
ior more, and in imbibing improve our
bodily as the other our mental health; but
Ill have not this ability, pecuniarily or
otherwise, and shall they, therefore, be de-
barred from the proper growth of the mind
which God has given them. A thousand
lines, mol
1t is true that some who have had very
opinion of their requirements that did the
luble and truly learned Newton, but what
would they have been without the "lit-
le?n
And if, as some say, enlarging the mind
increases the capacity for suffering" does
L not in the same ratio increase its capaci-
Y for happiness?
Is it to the very highly advanced educa-
ton of the upper ten thousand that we
must look for the ennObling aud improv-
ng of the country at large? think not.
fhe work is good SO far rs it goes, but we
must go further, and endeavOr the raising
into healthier mental life of the body Of
vhe eOple themselves.
What can achieve this great end so COM
,etely as u well organized, well carried on
ee school system? This subject has been
Igitated, and with some success, but there
must be more agitating, and more determi-
latiOn, for what glory and honor can
hele be in stepping half way across the
DrOOk to help al invalid over, and then
irawing back when her hands are extend
"a? or, on the other hand attempting to lead
her down the middle of the stream, at any
ime in danger of being engulfed, or at the
east walking in an uneasy and unseemly
manner, and with bruised feet?
Do not let us have small lots or small
iOuses,-regard the greatness of the pro-
,ect, and do not lower it beneath contempt
n place the scattered remnants on the out
,kirtS of society.
Look at New York, Philadelphia, Gin
;innati! These have fine buildings and
Why, in proportion, should not we? Is
Knoxville 50 poor that she can not afford
e? or does she lack the progressive spirit
of the age?
know a city spreading over three times
IL, f II will nd nf
large schools are enough for her; and
she freely expends $4,000 in the erection
IF one. Three would be enough for US,
one in each division of the city, placing
he largest in the city, proper, and they
need not be as expensive. These should
oe graded, and teachers employed suited to
ach grade, with salaries in proportion to
advancement, not sex.
A graded school would really be less ex-
pensive, while at the same time more eff
cient, for instead of having to employ, in
each of a number of schools, those fitted
o teach the few advanced scholars, one or
Two in each large building would be suffi-
cient, and the salary to the others not ne
cessarily so hight. Now there is on the
financial side, and when we look to expe-
iiency, do we not see that the teacher
who has regular grade of scholars will be
much better able to instruct them to ad-
vantage, than one whose attention must be
divided among many classes of various de-
grees of advancement?
am glad that so much has already been
done in this noble enterprise, and desire
equal opportunities for the colored as for the
white children, though, of course, in diff
ent buildings, this latter, think will be
more agreeable to all parties. And in
founding these schools let us not forget the
Bible, and music.
We have had one bonnie 6Ouche, but are
still waiting with as great respect for 1.-The
powers to be" as Oliver Twist, and with
equal hunger, ask for "mOre." Does the
public pulse beat too feeble on this mat
ter? A little more of the tonic of educa-
ton, if you please. and the generation we'll
treated in this respect, will carry on the
good work for the next. A LADY.