Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-23
The School Bill.

The following are some of the leading
features of the School bill adopted in Com
mittee of the Whole in the Senate, and
recommended for passage:
The first section provides for the estab-
lishment of a uniform system of public
schools, and in the second section it is pro-
vided that Sc i'd school system shall be ad-
ministered by q STATE Superintendent,
County Superintendent and District Di-
rectors.
In sections three and four it is provided
that the State Superintendent shall be nom
mated by the Governor and confirmed by
the Senate; that he shall hold Office two
years unless removed, and be allowed an
annual salary of $1,000. The duties of
said State Superintendent are then detailed
at length. r--
Section eight provides for the election
of County Superintendent by the County
Courts, to hold Office for two years, and re-
ceive such pay as the County Court shall
allow.
After defining the duties of these officials,
it is provided in section ten that there
shall be three directors for each school
three years. Among other duties of the
SGpdlGIC SCLlOOtS tOE NulbC duU
colored children are required, and that no
director shall be teacher in the pulic
schools of his district. A clerk, who also
acts as treasurer, is appointed in each dis
trict, WHO is -equired TO take a census in
July of each year of all persons residing in
his district entitled to school privileges; to
keep a record of the proceedings of the
Board of Directors, and to discharge all
such other duties as may be required of
him, for which service be is to be paid not
to exceed one dollar per day.
The school districts are to remain as they
now are or may hereafter be established
under the provisions of this act.
All officers and teachers in the schools
are prohibited from having any pecuniary
interest 10 supplying books, apparatus or
school furniture to the public schools of the
State.
Teachers are required TO keep a daily
register Of facts pertaining to their schools.
The public schools shall be free to all
persons between the ages of six and eigh-
teen years, the branches taught being,
spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, gram
mar, geography, elementary geology of
Tennessee, history of the United States,
and vocal music may be taught.
The permanent school fund shall be
Sl,500,000. To this shall be added the in
terest which has accrued on this sum, (re-
cognized by the State Constitution as the
permanent school fund.- and not paid by
the State, amounting, Jan. 1,
1873, to Sl,012,5OO, making the entire
school fund $2,5I2,500. For this
amount certificate of Indebtedness shall
be issued, signed by the Governor and de-
posted with The Comptroller, and drawing
interest at the rate of six per cent, payable
semi annually, commencing on the LIST of
July, 1873. To this fund is to be added,
from time to time, the proceeds of all es-
cheated property, Of all property accruing
to the State by forfeiture of all lands sold
and bought in for personal effects of intes-
tates having no kindred entitled thereto,
the principal of which school fund is to al
ways remain unimpaired, the income only
to be used in maintenance of the schools.
Every male inhabitant of the State, sub
ject thereto, is required to pay poll tax of
one dollar for the support of the schools,
also a tax of one mill on the dollar is to be
levied annually on all taxable property,
which sum is to be used in the county in
which it is collected. In addition to this,
the voters of any school district may vote
upon themselves any further tax necessary
to support the public schools in that dis
trct.
The bill is to take effect from AMI after
its passage.