Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-18

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
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 extrayagant plans
ought not to be encouraged. The people
want public schools, but to subject them
at the outsetto very high taxes for even such
a popular measures would be dangerous.
We believe an efficient system can be-
secured at 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 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES officer
should have an ample salary, say SO 900
year, with good clerical and Office assist
ants. He should be elected for two years
by joint convention of the Legislature,
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 Gen
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 promoting the cause.
| of education in the State.
8. County SUPPLEMENTARY 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-dstricts, according to the neces-
| sites of the case, and each sub-dstrict
| should have three directors, to be elected
by the people of the district for three years,
one being chosen each year. These Direc-
! lOlSJ III COuJuuCllOn VIII Tie county
| Superintendent, should regulate the schools
of the sub-district. The directors of the
district should report to the County Super
intendent; the County Superintendent to
the State uperintendent, and the State
Superintendent to the General Assembly.
FUNDS.
In providing funds we come to the real
difficulties of the school question but
funds must be provided. L would do ii IN.
| this way:
| STATE FUNDS.
| l. The interest of the irreducible fund.
As the school fund is about 81 500 900, the
interest would amount to about 800, 900.
>. Property given by deed for school pur-
poses.
3. Proceeds of escheats, or lands bought
in for taxes.
4. a fifty cents poll tax.
| 5. A levy of fifteen cents upon each one
hundred dollars of taxable property
throughout the State.
COUNTY FUNDS.
To be spent in the county where raised
l. The levy of a tax upon the county,
sufficient to carry on the schools at least
four months in the year.
2. A county poll tax of fifty cents.
3. Dog tax and taxes on privileges, etc
DISTRICT FUNDS.
The school district should be allowed to
tax itself for school purposes. This is I'M
constitutional, know, but that is so much
worse for the constitution. The friend of
education should not rest until the district
is allowed to tax itself for school purposes.
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