Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-05-21
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER SCHOOL Or
GANIZATION

The successful Inauguration of our new
State school system is a matter of the ut
most Importance to the people of Tennes-
see, and especially would we desire to inn
press q conviction of this fact upon those
of our own section. Beginning right will
be half the battle. a very grave response
bility rests upon those County Courts
which have not vet taken a forward move
ment. 1t will be their duty under the law.
at their July term, to elects County Super
intendent and also to provide for a tax
sufficient to run the schools of the county
five months in the year. Less than half
the counties in the State have elected
Superintendent and a much smaller per
cent. have levied the requisite tax. Most
of the latter responded nobly and provided
for more than five months school.
There seems to be an idea abroad among
some that County Courts have the power
to defer action until another year, and in
support of such a policy it is argued
that there will then be an accu-
mutation of funds to carry on the schools.
Such propOsition'is erroneous, not to say
hazardous, conceding that it were possible.
The present law is under State control and
and is, besides, explicit in its declaration
of the duties of County Courts, The courts
have no option in the case as under the
former County system. The law express
ly SAYS that County Superintendent
"shall be electedb by the County Court at its
April or July term, 1873" and that if the
State fund is not sufficient to keep up a
school for five months in the year "the
County Court shall levy an additional tax
sufficient for this purpose or shall submit
the proposition to vote of the people, and
may levy tax to prolong the schools be-
yond five months" And were it even
possible to delay, such proposition should
not be entertained for a moment. Delays
are always dangerous, and especially in
such a case as the present 1t would beget
want of confidence and general
apathy among the people and lead
most likely to an utter failure. The
sure policy is to strike while the iron is
hot. The required funds under the new
revenue regulations will certainly be forth
coming at the proper time. With a fair
trial free schools in Tennessee cannot be
any longer failure.
As we have said, a grave responsibility
rests with such County Courts as have not
yet complied with the law. Too much care
cannot be exercised in selecting a man to
fill the Office of County Superintendent
The law requires that "he shall be person
of literary and scientific attainments and
when practicable of skill and experience in
the art of teaching 1t might we'll be
added that he should also be a man of gem
eral culture, and wide awake to the spirit
of the progressive age in which we live a
man who will be capable and seek to make
himself acquainted with, not only our own
school system, but the systems of other
States and countries. He should be man
of comprehensive views and possess the
faculty of collecting and assimilating facts
relating to the best interest of his schools.
He should also be practical as well as theo-
retical, and be able to adapt his work to the
necessities of his constituency, and last but
not least, he should have his whole soul
in the work and sustain a reputation
which will give him the confidence of the
people. There is danger in supposing that
1t is better to elect a man who possesses
but few of these qualities because he will
work cheaper. More talent and general
capability will be required in the inaugu-
ration of the system than at any other
time of its existence.
The present is to be- we trust, great
turning point in the history of our State.
IT certainly will he if all interested do their
duty. Every friend of education in Ten
nessee will look forward with deep solicit
tude to the developments of the next six
months.
THE contrast between Tennessee and
Kentucky Democracy affords a striking
| evidence of the chameleon-like qualities of
that corrupt and now defunct old organiza-
ton. Not long ago Governor Brown dined
1 gaUa a n. 4