Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-01
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Circular from the State Superin-
tendent.

The Leading characteristics OF the
school Law-Suggesttons Touching
Its General Reguiremenis-ImpO
ant Information for the People.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE,
NASHVILLE, April "a, lS73.-In sending
out pamphlet edition of the new Public
Schc d Law of Tennessee, deem it not
improper to note few of its leading cha
racteristics, and to offer few general sug
gestions touching its requirements. In
doing so, [ am but endeavoring to dis
charge cue of the many duties imposed
upon me, as State Superintendent, by the
Law ikself.
Il will be well, at the outset to under
stand, and continually bear in mind, the
true object of the law, to-wit: The inaugu-
ration and establishment Of general sys-
tenn of public schools 10 Tennessee, where
by free opportunity will be afforded to
every child in the State, Of capable age, to
acquire an elementary education.
The system proposed to be established
will commend itself to popular approval,
certainly, by its marked simplicity Of Or
gsnization. Its official appointments are
three-foid, only, to.wit:
A State Superintendent;
A Superintendent for each county;
Three Directors for each school district.
These comprise sll the departments of the
system above that of teacher, 10 whose pa
tient work, in fine, all the other labors Of
the system will be but preliminary. True,
provision is made for a District Clerk and
Treasurer, but the very important duties OF
this Office will appertsin exclusively to one
of the district directors.
The appropriate duties of these officers.
however laborious, delicate and response
BILE they will undoubtedly prove to BEL
detail, may be briefly comprehended IN a
general statement, taking them inversely as
70 rank, as follows:
The District Directors elected by the
people of each district-will find it their
duty to take the scholastic census of the
districts; to craw the funds belonging to the
districts; to superintend the discipline of the
schools-in a word, to be responsible Iol
the organization and management OF we'll
ordered schools, in their districts, to com
pliance with Law, and under the supervisor
Of the County Superintendent.
The County erintendent-elccted by
the County Court of each county-wil ex
anime sud license teachers, under the direc
ton of the State Superintendent; exercise
rigid general supervision over school opera
tions in the various districts in bis county
requiring q strict enforcement Of the Law
ard compliance with all regulations undo
i. ard, in general, it will be his duty to SCI
that, hy all reasonable and lawful means
the int rests of the public schools 10 bi
county are promoted.
The State Observation-Disclosures by
bv the Governor and confirmed by the Sen
afe-is charged with the general duty Q
seeing that "the School laws and reguls
tiops are faithfully executed" and, to tina
end, will have supervision of all the Public
School operations of the State,wit author
ity in sll matters of detail over the Count
Superintendents and District Directors a
NAV be warranted by the express term
and obvious intent of the law. What spa
cal thipgs he may do, and what be may nc
do. it lie not the intention here to discuss
the present purpose being simply to max
such q succinct, general presentation OF To-
relations Of the several official divisions
the system to each other, as will be easy o.
immediate comprehension.
1t will be seen that, while the officer
each division of labor is, TO some exten
independent in his sphere, there is, neye
tbeless, such an interlinBing of responsible
ty-su. dependence, one upon another
that punctuality, energy and capacity wi
be required in each division to give etflcieI
cy to The other two, and a cordial spirit
co-opeIatiGn, throughout all, be essential
the success of the whole system. The Di
trict Director is made responsible for Il
due execution of the groundwork OF Il
svstem, Under his immediate supervision
and through his personal effort, the scboo
must spring into life and flourish, ar
through negligence or incapacity on b
part, The laboTs of the County Superinten
ent will prove, TO that extent, futile. Shou
the County Superintendent prove incomp'
tent, or lack tue requisite zeal in bis wor
not only will the regulations OF the Sta
Superintendent become relatively valueles
but confusion will fall upon the school Of
erations of his county. And the fact is fl
ly appreciated, that, without strict and u
RENTING surveillance on the part Of q
State Superintendent, as required by u
law, to the fullest extent, the operations
the entire system will tend to disorder al
be coIespondiDgly unfruitful Of benefici
results.
The system of Public Schools in tn
State, attempted to be established by Il
act of 1870 containing many excele
Gestures and passed under circumstanc
oujte different from those which now pI
Systematically failed because of its inhe
ent weakness as a whole. Wanting ger
raj head, it lacked unity and vitalil
Though well designed for local applicable
where it might chance to be adopted, the
was no sanction of State authority for t
enforcement of the law; and, while 4
counties presented, here and there, praii
worthy exempIifications Of liberal pub
spirit, the results in many OF these WI
uaceable to uncompensated and Volunts
individual effort.
The system provided by the present
is neither State system nor county g
tenn, distinctively, but draws Its ieaal
characteristics from both these-Presentn
as is believed, happy combination OF
better features of each. While the Sts
through its SUPPLEMENTARY, asserts lis
thority over the subjec-, and declares
uurpose to enforce the law strictly In eV'
locality, and to supervise the operations
ibe system throughout all its details,
TN of tho eAVQ