Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-12-17
PETITION FOR SCHOOLS.

Several friends of the school cause have
suggested that we prient the outlines of
general petition for general school law
and urge upon the friends of public schools
in every county the propriety of procuring
the signatures to the petitions of the best
men to be found. We give below form
which eau be copied off on paper ready for
signatures. Will not some school man in
every civil district see that this petition is
signed and handed to the legislator elect
for presentation to the Legislature?
To the General Assembly Of the State Of
Tennessee
The undersigned petitioners, citizens of
the comfy of ---, believing the edu-
cation of the people to be the best safeguard
for civil liberty and a free government and
the best means known to promote general
prosperity and happiness, respectfully
petition your Honorable Body to provide
a State system of public schools, which,
by imposing reasonable tax shall give us
good public schools in every county in
Tennessee. The details of the system and
the rate Of taxation we leave to your judg-
ment. Believing the time is at hand when
prompt measures should be taken to re-
move from the character of our State the
reproach cast upon it by the census returns
of the General Government, which places
it second in the Union on the roll of tlite-
rdcy, we hereby promise our heartysup-
port and endorsement in all reasonable
efforts to give the children of the State
free education.
A FRIEND of public schools has written
to the Nashville Banner some suggestions
as to the system to be inaugurated. We
are glad to see that plans are being pro
posed, for we are satisfied the members of
3 the Assembly, so soon to meet at Nashville,
will be glad to have all the information on
this important subject that is available.
We should adopt the best system within
our means. Wild and extravaganza plans
ought not to be encouraged. The people
want public schools, but to subject them
at the outset to very high taxes forever such
popular measures would be dangerous.
fa We believe an efficient system can be
secured at a reasonable expense. These are
the points to be aimed at. We give below
some of the features proposed in the COM
munication referred to and hope it may
awaken the friends of the cause to prepar-
ing for submission to the Legislature their
suggestions as to the legislation required.
OFFICERS.
/. A State Superintendent officer
should have an ample salary, say S., 900 a
wear. with good clerical and office assist
ants. He should be elected for two years
bya Joint convention of the Legislature,
and should give bonds for the faithful dis
charge of his duty. He should have over
sight over the schools of the State, make
annual report to the General Assembly,
and in every respect be the best man in
the State for the office.
2. Board of Education-This board
should be composed of the Governor,
Comptroller, Treasurer, State Superintend-
ent, the Speaker of each branch of the Cen
eral Assembly, together with the commit
tees on education from the two Houses.
The Board should audit the accounts of
the State Superintendent, decide upon
questions andappeals referred to them by
the Superintendent, and cooperate with
the Superintendent in promoting the cause
of education in the State. "a
8. County Superintendent These should
be appointed by the Board of Education
for the first term, and thereafter be elected
by the people of the respective counties,
They should serve two years and until their
successors are qualified.
The County Superintendent should be
to the county what the State Superintend-
ent is to the State.
DISTRICT DIRECTORS.
4. Each civil district should be divided
into sub-districts, according to the neces-
sites Of the case, and each sub-district
should have three directors, to be elected
by the people of the district for three years,
one being chosen each year. These Direc-
tors, ia conjunction with the County
Superintendent, should regulate the schools
of the sub-distriet. The directors of the
district should report to the County Super
intendent; the County Superintendent to
the State Superintendent, and the State