Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-16

a correspondent VI hhC
Banner suggests the following important
features of what is believed to be good
school law Of this State:
OFFICERS.
l. A State Superintendent-This off
Ger should have an ample salary-say
$4,000 a year, with good clerical and Of
fee assistants. He should be elected
for two years by 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
TO the General Assembly, and in every
respect be the best man in the State for
the office.
BOARD of Edueation-This board
should be composed of the Governor,
COMPTROLLER, Treasurer, State Superin-
tendent. the Speaker of each branch of
the General Assembly, together with the
committees on education from the two
Houses.
The Board should audit the accounts
of the State Superintendent, decide upon
questions aud appeals referred to them
by the Superintendent, and cooperate
with the Superintendent in promoting
the cause Of educatica in the State.
3. County OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
should be appointed by the Board OF Ed
ucation for the first term, and thereafter
be elected by the people Of the respect
i've counties. They should serve two
years and until their successors are
qualified. -,
The County Superintendent should be
o the county what the State Superinten-
dent is TO the State.
DISTRICT DIRECTORS.
A Each civil district should be di.
vided into sub districts, according TO the
necessities 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
wear. These Directors, in conjunction
with the County Superintendent, should
regulate the schools of the sub-district
The Directors Of the district should re-
mort TO the County Superintendent; the
County Superintendent to the State Su-
perintendent, and the State Superin-
tendent to the General Assembly.
FUNDS.
In providing funds we come to the
real difficulties of the school question;
but funds must be provided. | would
do il ia this way:
STATE FUNDS.
The interest Of the irreducible fund.
As the school fund is about 81 ,5OO,O eO,
the interest would amount to about $780,
600.
?. Property given by deed for school
purposes.
3. Proceeds Of escheats, or lands
bought in for taxes.
4. A fifty cents poll tax.
8. 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.
/. The levy Of 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
unconstitutional, / know, but that IS so
much the worse for the Constitution.
The friends Of education should not
rest until the district is allowed TO tax
itself for school purposes.
...ur -~rsr cruonf LAW gHOTLD WORK.
1 We should lay out from every
source Two millions Of dollars the hrst
?. There should be six thousand
teachers at work
q Three thousand school houses
should be built
Three hundred and fifty thousand
children should be in attendance upon
he public schools Of the State.