Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-12-21
NO PAPER NEXT WEEK.
4 SchosI LaW.

\ correspondent OF a Nashville
paper suggests the following impor-
tant features OF what Is believed 10
be a good school law OF this State:
OFFICERS.
/. \ state Superintendent This
officer should have an ample salary
say $1,000 a year, with good cleri-
cal and Office assistants. He should
be elected for two years by a Joint
convention of the Legislature, and
should give bonds for the faithful
discharge of his duty. He should
have oversight over the schools of
the State, make annual report 10 the
General Assembly, and in e7ery
respect be the best man in the State
for the Office.
,. Board Of EducatiOn--This
board should be composed of the
Governor, Comptroller, Treasurer,
State superintendent, the Speaker
Of each branch of the General As
sembly, together with the commit
tees on Education from the two
Houses.
The Board should audit the ac-
counts of the State superintendent,
decide upon questions and appeals
referred to them by the Superinten-
dent, and cooperate with the SUI
perintendent in promoting the cause
of education in the State.
3. County Observation-Disclosures
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 Su-
perintehdent is to the State.
DISTRICT DIRECTORS.
4. Each civil district should be
divided into sub-districts, according
TO the necessities of the case, and
each sub-district should have thres
Directors, to be elected by the peo-
pie OF the district for three years,
one being chosen each year. These
Directors, in conjunction with the
County superintendent, should reg
ulste the schools of the sub-district,
The Directors OF the district should
report to the County Superinten-
dent; the County Superintendent
to the State superintendent, and
the State Superintendent TO the Gen
eral Assembly.
FUNDS.
Im providing funds We come to
the real difficulties of the school
question; but funds must be proVi.
ded. would do it in this way:
STATE FUNDS.
/. The interest of the irreduciblG
fund. AS the school fund is about
81 ,5OO,0 the interest would 3
mount to about $4,000,
.. Property given by deed fol
school purposes.
8. Proceeds of escheats, or land;
bought in for taxes.
4. 4 fifty cents poll tax.
3. A levy of fifteen cents upon
each one hundred dollars of taxable
property throughout the State.
COUNTY FUNDS.
To be spent in the county whes
raised.
l. The levy Of tax Hpon thu
county, sufficient to carry on the
schools at least four months in thC
year.
>. a county poll-tax of fifty cents
3. Dog tax and taxes on priv.
legcs, etc.
DISTRICT FUNDS.
The school district should be al.
lowed to tax itself for school pur.
poses. This is unconstitutional, ]
know, but that is so much the worse
for the Constitution. The friend:
of education should not rest until
the district is allowed TO tax itself
for school purposes.
HOW THE SCHOOL LAW SHOULD
WORK.
l. We should lay out from every
source two millions of dollars the
first year.
,. There should be six thousand
teachers at work.
3. Three thousand school house;
should be built.
4. Three hundred aud fifty thous
and children should be in attend
ance upon the public schools Of thC
State.