Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-01


pertinent, it may now be satisfactorily
demonstrated that the money to be derived
from the taxes imposed by the State, will
not be sufficient, at least for this and the
next two yesrs, to sustain good schools for
five months in all the counties. Or, at any
rate, with the most favorable returns of
revenue that can reasonably be anticipated,
there will be good reason to apprehend that
the means viii prove Inadequate to the pur-
pose.
1t is highly important, and certainly much
to be desired, that ample provision be made
by all the counties to secure the execution
and full benefit of the law according to its
intent. 1t is not possible, at this time,
with the data in hand, to make a precise
calculation of results. A satisfactory ap-
Proclamation, however, may be arrived at.
The interest upon the school fund will
amount annually to $150,750. The
amount derived from the State
poll-tsx, making allowance for ex-
emptions, non-collections, ETC., will amount
to about $4,000. So that, from these
two sources, there will be derived, in round
numbers, about 100000 for distribution
during the year. The last general enume-
ration of the youth of the State between
the ages of six and twenty, for 1869,
showed scholastic population Of 100000.
1t is quite probable that this enumeration
was inaccurate and excessive; but making
due allowance for general increase and for
the fact that, for three years, parsons be-
tween the ages of eighteen and twenty one
are to be admitted to the public schools, it
is reasonable and safe to assume that the
next enumeration will approximate 400, 900,
of lawful scholastic age. Allowing an at
tendence Of 40 per cent, we will have
100000, for whom tuition must be provided.
The sums for distribution, derived from
State sources, therefore, will afford less
than two dollars per scholar per annum,
or, more accurately, upon the data assumed,
$1S7ka, precisely.
To what extent this individual allowance
will be increased by the one mill tax upon
property, to be collected and distributed in
tie counties, will of course depend upon
the scholastic population and the property
assessments of the counties respectively.
The average may be Appropriated, how
ever, by calculation based upon the sg-
gregSte State assessments. The taxable
property in this State amounted last year,
according to the Comptroler's report to
| S272, 100000. Assume now that the ex-
| pectations of the friends of the new assess
ment law will be realized, and that the tax
able property of the State, in the mex,
returns, will reach S350,0e0,0 600. This
would yield, through a tax of one
mill, S350,0e0, which, distributed, would
afford $2.l8i per scholar, upon the above
| estimate. So that, from all the sources
provided by the State, the amount yielded
to each scholar will be about four dollars
or, more accurately, S406t, precisely. Thi:
| calculation is believed to be in excess o.
what will be realized, but is presented a:
showing what will be required under the
most favorable results possible. In view o.
the difficulties attending the organization
and management ofthe schools, for the first
year or two especially, the expense Of
schoolhouses and other incidental delay
one dollar per scholar per month may b
taken as a very low estimate of the cost o
the schools, and, therefore, the funds pro
vided cannot be relied on to sustain thu
schools for five months in the year, as re
ouired by the law. The Legislature seem:
TO have been doubtful of the sufhcieney o
the taxes imposed, and hence the enact
ment of the 39th section, requiring tn
County Courts TO complete the nee ssaT,
provisions for the accomplishment Of tn
desired end.
1t might with propriety be urged, were
deemed necessary, that it is as much tn
duty of the courts to obey the law IN it
requirement Of an additional tax, as in an.
other of its provisions. But happily, W
have cheering evidences that the courts vii
not need to feel the eonstraint of The law
before taking such action as the public We
} fare demands. So short time elapsed be
tween the passage of the school law and th
J sessions of The April courts, that but fe'
of the counties prepared for action in April
Nevertheless, fourteen of the counties
through their courts, took action in regar
to the additional tax. In almost every IL
stance the responsibility was nobly me
The average result has been to secur
schools in their countie, for six months i
the year. In two or three of the countie
the action was but partial, owing to the fat
!, that the requirements of the law were br
imperfectly known and understood. Their
is reason for believing that these countie
will sufficiently amend their action in July
1t is to be hoped the suspicious beginnin
} already made will be followed up by all tn
) remaining counties in the State, at the Jul
{ terms of their courts. The auguries q
! give promise of such results. lntelligenc
| | from the different divisions indicates th
springing up of q widespread, earnest sent
ment in favor of public schools under th
e new auspices, and the records of the cour
/ that have taken action, show that the cou'
s ties of the East, the Middle and tie Yves
are wing with each other for places OF ho
: or in our educational annals.
: The election of County Superintendent
:. is most important duty OF the Co1n
J, Courts. Thirty-four counties elected Su
e erintendents at the April term of the
e Courts. The selections in most instanc
Y are Of the most satisfactory character, al
! indicate that the magistrates acted win
C due appreciation of the very responsio
e dulles of the position. The law requir
y that all remaining counties shall elect the
Superintendent at the next July teri
" These elections must be made, since tn
5 will be essential to the organization of &
g system. After what has already been sal
;, it need hardly be added that the position
le County Superintendent is no sinecure.
e, the contrary, the very nature of the duti
L implies earnest, persistent work, and, with
Is capacity to give such labor intelligent
Y reciion. Incompetence or incidence in
Of County Superintendent viii, to great
lie gree, practically nullify the law IN his couI
al and cheat the people ont of its beEen
ir Too great care, therefore, cannot be e1